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Library workers warn funding and salaries threaten Camden County Library services
Summary
Library staff and union leaders told commissioners that potential loss of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, low county salaries, and a staffing shortage are forcing service reductions and risk further branch closures.
Sarah Junich, head of youth services and president of AFSCME Local 1454, told the board she and library colleagues are "terrified" about potential cuts and staffing shortages that she said would reduce services across the Camden County Library System.
Junich said the library's budget is indirectly at risk from potential federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding changes because the State Library of New Jersey receives IMLS funds and then allocates state support. She quoted Library Director Linda Devlin's comment to the county library commission that loss of IMLS funding would impact the library by $283,000.
Junich described a staffing crisis: she said the literacy volunteers served 491 students in 2024 and 440 so far in 2025; that librarian salaries at the county are low (she cited Librarian I at $46,438.76 and Librarian II at $48,759.44) and do not meet the 2017 New Jersey Library Association recommended minimum of $51,783 or the 2025 NJLA recommended salary of $64,022. Junich said low pay contributes to turnover; she offered examples of staff leaving for higher pay in Burlington County and Morristown public libraries. She said only two of the system's eight branches currently have staff-led story times, and the South County branch will close early on Thursdays indefinitely because of staffing shortages.
Junich urged commissioners to address salaries in contract negotiations with AFSCME 1454 and other unions and to support the library system's budget and recruiting efforts.
What the county heard: Junich asked the board to recognize the library's role in early literacy, tax-prep assistance and community programming, and said cuts would disproportionately affect marginalized communities and critical services such as literacy support.
