Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 10, 2006 FORMER CAIRO TEACHER SPEAKS OUT...CAIRO LIBRARY

From the Cairo Citizen...

Cairo Library Faces Possibility of Closing

It was gratifying to see the crowd that filled the auditorium at the Cairo Public Library last Wednesday to watch the performance of selected scenes from "Beauty and the Beast."

Starring in the show that had played five performances at McLeod Theater at SIU were some of the most talented high school students from all over Southern Illinois. This free performance at the Library was made possible through the efforts of the Illinois Council on the Arts.

The Library auditorium was filled to overflowing with an audience- both young and old- that had come from Alexander and Pulaski Counties as well as Southeast Missouri and Western Kentucky. For a change, it provided an opportunity for the City of Cairo and the Cairo Public Library to be seen in a positive light.

What the audience didn�t know is that the Cairo Public Library is coming dangerously close to having to lock its doors!

For the last two years, tax monies that have been collected by the state and county have been withheld from the Cairo Public Library. Replacement tax money that comes form the state, as well as local tax money collected at the Alexander County Courthouse and earmarked for the Library, never made it from City Hall to the Library. That raises the question about whether the Library will ever see its share of the local taxes that are currently being collected.

In order to keep the doors of the Library open, it has been necessary to dip into the "reserve"- money that in the past has been carefully used to pay for necessary repairs that come up so often in a building as old as the Cairo Public Library.

In the last few years, efforts have been made to cut costs at the Library where possible. For example, one day of the week the library is manned by only one person. In addition to cataloging and checking out books, that person has to answer the phone, meet the public, conduct tours, monitor the Reading Rooms, copy machines, microfilm viewers, and computers. Before closing for the day, the staff must make sure that the library is clean and presentable for visitors the following day. No longer is there even a part-time custodian. Custodial work is done by the two-person library staff.

Summer time is traditionally a "slow time" at the Library. But last month�s Librarian's Report provided the following information: During the 20 days in July that the Library was open, a total of 1,623 books were checked out. Of that number, 1,350 were adult books and 273 were children's books. Seven new library cards were issued- five adults and two children- bringing the total of Cairo Public Library cardholders to 2,550. Patrons used the periodicals available in the Reading Room, got assistance with reference books as well as genealogy, and took advantage of free computer use. With the addition of 31 gifts and 20 memorials, the Library's volumes total 50,147.

As a member of the much-disputed Library Board, I feel the citizens of Cairo need to know the facts. We have heard much these last few weeks about the importance of the Appropriations Ordinance, but what has happened to the $70,000-plus tax money hat was collected previously for the operation of the Library? Will it EVER be paid?

Though most Cairoites know of the on-going battle between the Mayor, City Council, Library, Custom House, and Riverlore, not everyone seems to understand just who critical these personality clashes are to the future of the city. Because of the Mayor's "line item veto" of select items in the 2006-2007 Appropriations Ordinance, funding for the Custom House and Riverlore have been removed. With efforts being made to convert the old Toll House Restaurant to a Welcome Center, serious consideration needs to be given to what effect the closing of the Library, Custom House, and Riverlore might have on what little tourism there is left in Cairo.

Phyllis Halliday