Library seeks to bring attention to potential state budget cuts

The Riverside Regional Library hosted folk duo Byrd and Street for a "Save Missouri Libraries Concert" to raise awareness about ongoing state-level funding cuts Tuesday night at the Jackson branch.

Library director Jeff Trinkle organized the event in the hope it may inspire area residents to get involved in supporting the six branches of the Riverside Regional Library.

"The goal is always trying to create more awareness," Trinkle explained. "Right now it looks like state aid will be reduced by 70 percent."

The proposed state budget for fiscal year 2016 would allocate libraries $723,776 for equalization, which are funds that go to counties with public libraries who have a certain percentage of the population living at poverty levels. Trinkle said that kind of cut would be extremely difficult for libraries, especially medium and small ones like several of Riverside's branches.

"I think smaller libraries are really going to suffer," he said. "We'll figure something out, but it just won't be the level of service we've got now."

Jackson resident Janell Hinkebein attended the concert to support the library she's been using for decades, and said Riverside has enriched not only her life, but her children's lives as well.

"When my husband was on midnights, this was our respite, this is where we came," she said. "They have great summer programs and reading programs and what they've learned here has brought them a greater love of knowledge. [The library] is making their life better."

Riverside's six branches serve tens of thousands of members not only through books, but through job placement assistance and reliable study resources, such as EBSCOhost. Trinkle said he understands the legislature has to balance the budget, but in doing so, libraries are being forced to vie for scarce dollars against other important programs, such as Medicaid.

"I'm not blaming the governor. He's probably just doing what he thinks is right," Trinkle said. "But we just want to make sure we're not left out in the cold."

The cuts would defund the Remote Electronic Access for Libraries program, which provides technical training and support services for libraries' online networks.

"It provides us with affordable Internet and Wi-Fi in all of our branches," Trinkle said. "Without the high-speed Internet access, that's all somewhat useless."

He explained the thought is made more frustrating by the fact that Riverside's branches just upgraded their Internet systems a few years ago. He said the upgrades were necessary for the libraries to fill the roles they play in their respective communities, but that might have been for naught.

"Once, we were all about books, but it's all changed now," he explained. "[Libraries] aid in economic development just like a school or a park. They supplement so many aspects of the community."

Trinkle is organizing a petition to send to the Missouri Legislature, which can be signed at any of Riverside's locations in Jackson, Altenburg, Benton, Oran, Perryville and Scott City.

tgraef@gmail.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

1997 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, Mo.