Despite public library popularity and heavy per capita use, the library budget is usually the least increased in good times and takes the biggest cuts in bad. Why is this?
Public library funding decisions are made by local elected officials: councilmen, aldermen or county legislators – whatever they are called in their respective communities. It’s hard not to notice and generalize, and there are plenty of wonderful exceptions, but I believe the problem is in the nature of those who run for local office.
I’ve had the privilege to direct four public libraries in four different states, each year preparing and presenting a budget to the powers that be. I never did a formal study on this, but can not help but observe that, with marvelous exceptions in every community, the people who decide the library’s budget are less disposed to support the library that the population at large. The reason for this, I believe, is in the nature of people who run for local office and the funding structure of the public library itself, that is, being a step removed from the people who use and appreciate them.
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