Common Sense and Creativity Can Help Solve Some of our Budget Shortfalls

By Heather Grow

During tough economic times, politicians reach into their toolboxes and grab one of two tools: raising taxes or cutting services. With a little creativity and some common sense, we can keep some of our beloved HB programs without raising taxes. And, we can have some fun at the same time.

Our Central Library serves 820,232 visitors annually and thousands more are served at our four library branches. The Library provides many loved services to our community. The Children's Library provides over 1000 story times each year to 71,546 children. The Homework club at Oakview Library offers homework assistance to over 400 students each year. The Central Library houses over 18,000 genealogical books for family research. More than 400 students and volunteers participate in our adult literacy program.

And, our library keeps up with the times. Each of our Library locations is equipped with internet-connected computers and most have WiFi access. The library even offers audiobooks downloadable onto your iPhone. How cool is that!?!

Despite the popularity of the diverse services offered by our Library, the City Council has made the decision to cut the library budget by $95,000. In times of economic challenges, politicians often resort to the knee-jerk reactions of raising taxes and cutting community services.

Instead, we should use a common sense approach to our budget challenges. By reaching out to our community, we can find creative ways to pay for all of our wonderful Library programs and we can keep our Library doors open longer.

For example, we have wonderful volunteer and revenue generating organizations called the Friends of the Library (FOTL) and the Friends of the Children's Library (FOTCL). The FOTL has a gift shop at the Central Library, hosts a year-round used book sale, and organizes events. The FOTL also accepts book donations to the Library through Amazon and direct financial donations as well as the Adopt-a-Book program. The FOTCL raises money by selling tickets to fun children's events, book bag and T-shirts sales, and through the annual Taste of Huntington Beach event.

Instead of cutting services by closing doors or raising taxes, our leaders should reach out to our community by utilizing the organizations already in place. As our community steps up its participation in the FOTL and FOTCL fundraising activities we can help keep our Library doors open. And, with more participants we can do even more fundraisers. How about a 5k/10k Run for the Library? What about tapping into the talent of our city and doing a benefit concert for the Library?

Let's use our common sense. We are a very creative community and I'm sure we can think of a fun way to mobilize our community and raise money to help our Library.