PG Library Budget Cuts Would Reduce Service, Threaten Safety, Workers Say

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Employees of the Prince Georges County Memorial Library System – members of UFCW Local 1994 (MCGEO) – are urging the County Executive and County Council to call off proposed budget cuts to the County library system, which could include cuts of up to 15%. Since 2008, the library system's budget has been reduced 24 percent while library usage increased 11.8 percent. "The libraries are already significantly understaffed," said Joe Dickson, a circulation supervisor at the New Carrollton Branch and Local 1994 executive board member. "We have already had to cut programs, cut library branch hours, cut back our collection management, and close all of our branches on Sundays." The union says library budget cuts have also cut security to the libraries. "We used to have deputy sheriffs in the branches to help protect the customers and staff from disruptive visitors," said Eileen Taddonio, a children's librarian at the Bowie branch and a member of Local 1994. "That part of the budget was eliminated in some of our more recent cuts. Now the children, who visit the library after school as a safe place to complete their homework, and the elderly, who frequent the library for a variety of reasons, are vulnerable. We've had security issues before. That's why the funding for the sheriffs was in the budget. We need funding restored, not cuts." Nearly 35% of the Local 1994 membership turned out at two recent County Executive budget forums and the local is planning an even bigger turnout at the February 26 Prince George's County Council budget town hall. Click here for photos. - photos courtesy Local 1994