Budget cuts cause bare shelves at city libraries

06:48 PM CDT on Friday, June 17, 2005

By Wendell Edwards / 11 News

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Over the past five years, budgets cuts have not been kind to Houston's public libraries. Since 2000, 30 percent of library material funds have been slashed. That has forced some communities to raise funds of their own in support of their local branch.

KHOU

At the Johnson Library in southeast Houston, the empty shelves tell only part of the story.

At the Johnson Library in southeast Houston, the empty shelves tell only part of the story.

"Because that means there are books that should be there that the kids are not getting," said Bessie Swindel, a community activist.

Swindel is on a mission to raise money for books, computers and other resources.

"I want it to be where they could find every resource book they would need, so they know they have a chance out there and their chances aren't limited because we don't have the resources for them," said Swindel.

Swindel hopes proceeds from a barbecue fundraiser on Saturday will help put books back on the shelves where they belong.

Officials tell us budget cuts over the last few years have forced the library system to do more with less.

Many branches have depended on community fundraisers to supplement branch materials. So extra money is not only welcomed, librarians say, but also needed.

"It would give us more materials for both the students and the adults and more computers for both," said librarian Marcia Chapman.

After five years of budget cuts, there is a proposal in the city council's budget to increase library materials by 15 percent. It is a proposal that, if passed, would affect every branch across the city.