Carnegie Library Must Open Books Before City Forks Over Cash

PITTSBURGH - THE PITTSBURGH CHANNEL.com

Don't close any libraries and open your financial books -- that's the message from city leaders who are putting new pressure on the Carnegie Library's board of directors.

The Pittsburgh City Council delayed its vote Thursday on a plan to release $600,000 in funding that could save the Carnegie Library's Beechview, Lawrenceville, West End and Hazelwood branches from closure.

Before a vote is taken, a group that includes state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, City Council members Doug Shields, Bill Peduto, Jim Motznik and Theresa Smith and City Councilwoman-elect Natalia Rudiak is calling on the library's board to show financial data that justifies the planned closures.

"Specifically, show us the numbers for these branches, and the answer that I've received so far is they don't have those numbers," said Wagner, D-Beechview. "So how on earth can you say closing these branches is going to save the library money to fill their deficit when they can't even show us the funding?"

Carnegie Library Director Dr. Barbara Mistick announced plans last month to close the four neighborhood branches and merge the Knoxville and Carrick branches. She has said the library system is facing a $1.5 million budget shortfall next year.

The library board said that the city of Pittsburgh's annual contribution of $40,000 has not changed since 1895, when the library was founded.

Council President Shields had introduced legislation which authorizes a grant of surplus money from the city's fuel fund to help save the libraries. He said there's extra funding left over because fuel prices have dropped since the 2009 budget was passed last year.

After Thursday's developments, it's unclear when a vote on Shields' plan may be taken. Wagner and the council members want the Carnegie Library to hold its Dec. 14 board meeting in public in the council chambers downtown and to provide a public forum for Pittsburghers to communicate about the planned closures before that meeting.

In his 2010 budget proposal, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl proposed a 1 percent tuition tax on college students to help fund the libraries, among other city needs. The library system said it wants to review Ravenstahl's tax proposal before commenting on it.

Previous Stories:

• November 11, 2009:Supporters Rally For Carnegie Libraries
• November 5, 2009:City Council Proposes Funding For Carnegie Library
• November 1, 2009:Hazelwood Residents Rally In Effort To Save Library
• October 24, 2009:Pittsburghers Decry Library Closures At Meeting With Mayor

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