If Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2012-13 state budget is passed, public libraries will lose about $3 million in funding.
"We have taken cuts the past several years, we are beyond the bone," Nancy Smink, director of the Pottsville Free Public Library, said last week. "Another cut is not a good thing for people who use our libraries.
"People take us for granted," Smink added. "We are a very important component of education in this country. Basically, we are a people's university and if we are to make progress, people need to have access to the information they need."
According to the state Department of Education, the public library subsidy, which makes up most of the state's funding for public libraries, will decrease by 5 percent, or $2.675 million, from $53.507 million in 2011-12 to $50.832 million in 2012-13.
Last year, the subsidy only saw a decrease of about $6,000 after previous cuts had brought it down from $75 million in 2008.
The latest reduction includes cutting back library grants, a loss of $284,000 in state grants and $114,000 in extra spending from the general fund in the proposed 2012-13 budget. The general fund is the primary fund for the state and can be used for nearly all government programs that do not have their own financing.
Due to recent cuts, Smink said, the library reduced its hours by 3.5 each week, from 65 last year to 61 1/2 this year. At one time, Smink said, the library had 20 employees, but it is down to 13 this year.
Smink said the Pottsville Library has done little things to conserve money, like turning off lights in areas not constantly used, using both sides of paper and recycling everything.
Unlike Pottsville, the Tamaqua Public Library maintained its 46-hour work week and staffing levels from previous years. According to Gayle Heath, director.
Heath said the Tamaqua facility has eight part-time workers. She is the only full-time employee.
Heath said when she became the library director in 2008, the book budget, which also covers movies and other materials, was about $30,000. She said the following year, it was cut to about $25,000 and is now $19,800.
"That is one area where we took a significant cut," Heath said. "Even though state aid has been reduced, state standards to qualify for aid have not. All the criteria that have been put in place are still there."
For example, Heath said the library is required to spend 12 percent of its yearly budget on materials.
Heath said she does not anticipate cuts in one of the most important programs at the library, its free preschool childhood literacy program.
"We are very proud of our children's program," she said. "We don't want to cut out any part of the program because it is so important. The kids really have fun and socialize and it gives parents another care giver. It is also a small part of the library's budget and I don't foresee the program being cut."
However, Heath said salaries make up most of the library's budget and if more cuts are needed, then they might have to consider decreasing the number of employees.
While state funding for public libraries has been decreasing the past several years, more people have been taking advantages of the free services libraries offer.
"Right when the economy saw a downturn, that's when we start to see an increase," Heath said. "That's very telling. Our computer usage has also increased."
Heath said the Tamaqua library is the only library in the county that has free Wi-Fi and a lot of people come in with laptops.
"It saves households a significant amount of money," Heath said.
Smink also said the computers are used heavily at the Pottsville library, but a reduction in hours has limited access.
"I believe that in a democratic society, people need to have free access to information," Smink said. "Access should not be limited to those with money in their pocket who can buy it. We have people that come here to use our computers because they can't afford their own computer or the monthly Internet charges."
There are 14 libraries in Schuylkill County. Smink said the Pottsville library is responsible for distributing state aid to seven smaller, or branch, libraries that do not qualify for grants on their own.