Right now, Queen Anne and Magnolia residents have almost no access to the Seattle Public Library system (SPL). They cannot check out books, reserve materials, use computers, attend classes and tutoring on the premises or do homework, apply for jobs, read to their kids or get lost in great novels for hours upon hours.
Links to the website, spl.org, are disconnected. Staff is on leave. For the week of Aug. 27 through Sep. 4 it’s as if the libraries really aren’t there.
Which may be why the Seattle library levy passed on the Aug. 12 primary ballot, snagging 62.4 percent of the vote. The property-tax levy will provide approximately $123 million in funds for the Seattle Public Libraries, with up to $17 million to be collected in 2013. The effect is to not only prevent further cuts but to undo cuts in the past.
The average home owner will pay an additional $53 per year.
“The library has had severe cuts to hours, collections, computer technology and building maintenance,” said Andra Addison, director of communications at SPL. “The levy will supplement city general fund revenues in order to support four library services: open hours, collection of books, computers and online services and building maintenance.”
The Queen Anne and Magnolia branches will benefit from the funds starting in Jan. 2013, as will the other 26 branches and Central Library.
Addison said the Queen Anne and Magnolia branches will benefit in all the four essential service areas,” which have been hard-hit the past several years. Members of those branches can expect increased hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, as well as hours on Sunday, starting in January.
“Patrons will be able to increase the number of items they can place on hold,” Addison explained. “There is currently a 25 per person limit and that number will increase to 50.”
“They will also have access to more new books, including electronic books, as well as movies and music. There will be reduced wait times, particularly for popular titles,” she said.
Members can expect increased materials and digital content, as well. All locations will be open at least six days a week, including Sundays.
Addison said the children’s collection of books that support early literacy and early learning will be expanded. Computers, software, printers and copiers will be replaced, though the timeline for that is unknown.
“This levy will help the library restore severe cuts to the budget made in previous years,” Addison said. “For example, the budget for books and materials has been cut by 13 percent since 2009. Budget for major maintenance was 50 percent of what it was in 2009. [The levy will help us] get through this difficult economic period.”
The library has shut down one week per year – as it is currently – for the past four years to reduce costs. The money saved, however, comes from staff members who are not paid during that week.
This levy was needed to raise property taxes. Under state law, property tax increases are capped at one percent. Only a voter-approved measure could raise that amount.
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