City Cuts Library Budget 5%

by Carol Luers Eyman
Outreach & Community Services Coordinator
Nashua Public Library

The Nashua Public Library's budget was cut 5% for FY2007. To meet these numbers, the library has reduced the number of pages on staff, begun opening at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m., reduced the materials budget, eliminated funding for film licenses and AV equipment, and temporarily closed the Chandler Memorial Branch Library.

The branch library, just a half mile from the main library, had been underused for a number of years. Library trustees are considering the eventual sale of the building, with the proceeds to be used to fund the renovation of the library's unfinished East Wing. All this, however, depends on a determination by the court, since the building was originally a gift to the library.

Partly in response to these cutback, the library began revitalizing its long-dormant Friends groups last winter. The group now has a full slate of officers, over 50 members, and $5,000 in the bank. Fundraisers have included two book sales and the sale of canvas book bags and of "Nashua: Then and Now," a book of historical photos.

One program of the Friends has been funding raffle prizes. In a recent survey, parking was the one area with which Nashua Public Library customers consistently expressed dissatisfaction. Parking is at a metered city lot and costs 50 cents per hour from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. In response to the survey, the library is holding a series of free monthly raffles of electronic parking cards with 20 hours' worth of parking on them. The hope is to increase awareness of the parking cards' availability.