News Release

07/11/2006
PPL Board Moves to Give Elected Officials Decision-making Authority Over Municipal Neighborhood Library Services

In order to give Providence more flexibility in considering options for allocating and funding its municipal library system, the Providence Public Library Board of Trustees voted July 10 to create a new municipal library board. The new board, which would consist of appointees of elected officials, would be responsible for decisions regarding neighborhood library service and the spending of the City’s $3 million annual library budget. The formation of the new municipal library board will also serve to provide structure and clarity in the sometimes strained relationship between City officials and the private Library.

The move is especially timely since the Providence City Council is acting on the City’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget and has expressed concern about oversight of city library money. The creation of the separate non-profit, its members appointed by City elected officials, will provide a direct pipeline between taxpayers and those responsible for spending taxpayer money.

The Library has cautioned that a level services budget for municipal library services is more than $800,000 short and while there may be band-aid approaches to compensate for the shortfall in the current fiscal year, a long-term approach towards sustainable neighborhood library services must be pursued.

The formation of the Municipal Library Board, as a new non-profit, sets in place a framework to transition to a sustainable, structured system modeled after other urban libraries, including New York City.

“This new non-profit, with a direct connection to elected officials will enable the City to incorporate Library services as it maps out the vision for a progressive school system in emerging neighborhoods. The City is already exploring co-locating public and school libraries and is in the process of a comprehensive plan for neighborhoods. Giving City officials oversight on the spending of public funds will provide greater flexibility in designing and implementing new innovations for municipal neighborhood library services,” said Mary B. Olenn, Library Board Chairman.

The Library has been involved in a Strategic Planning Process and the initial report of the Team recommends pursuing co-location and community learning sites to supplement branch libraries.

“We still have much work ahead of us,” said Dale Thompson, Library Director. “The Library is committed to making sure there is continued access to library services and a transition period is essential for all city residents.”