Two months after proposing a $234.6-million capital expenditure plan for a new downtown public library and renovated branches, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell trimmed the library's annual operating funds from $4 million over the next two years to $1.6 million in a preliminary 1999-2000 budget released last week.
City Librarian Deborah Jacobs told the Seattle Times May 12 that the decreased funding would prevent the library from upgrading its computer system, improving its collections, and keeping all branches open 48-60 hours a week. But Deputy Mayor Tom Byers said the intent was to challenge the library and other city departments to find more efficient and creative ways to run things.
Jacobs countered by saying the library had been scrutinizing its budget for the past six years: "We already challenged ourselves to be creative." The city is not expected to finalize a budget until the end of August.
Posted May 18, 1998.