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Seattle Plans to Cut Bookmobile Service to Close Budget GapTo help the city close a $20-million budget gap, Seattle Public Library plans to eliminate its bookmobile services for elderly and disabled patrons. Mayor Greg Nickels asked the library to reduce its spending for 2005 by $2.1 million, the Seattle Times reported September 25.In an e-mail to staff, City Librarian Deborah Jacobs said the library also would trim management costs and streamline its government-documents program, but would not cut hours; budget woes resulted in three weeklong closures over the past three years. Jacobs’s message said “eliminating Mobile Services was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make” and that the library would try to find alternative ways to reach the affected patrons. Casey Corr, a spokesman for Mayor Nickels, said, “We’re confident she’s going to make good on her pledge that homebound patrons will get services.” Carrie Tuckwood, president of Local 2083, suggested that patrons might convince the city council to save the bookmobile service. “Mobile Services employees are going to encourage patrons to lobby. They’re going to be visiting patrons,” said Tuckwood, whose union represents some 400 library workers. Although about 15 union workers will be affected by the elimination of the service, she expected they would be moved into vacant library positions. Posted October 1, 2004. |
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