Library director says level funding in proposed FY27 budget would force cuts to hours and services

Cheryl Space, executive director of the Community Libraries of Providence, told the City Council's Special Committee on Ways and Means that maintaining the $255,000 increase CLPVD received in fiscal year 2025 is "crucial" to operations and to securing full state aid for the system.

"Maintaining the $255,000 increase CLPVD received in fiscal year 25 is crucial to funding our operations," Space said during the public hearing. She said municipalities must level-fund libraries to receive full state aid, which for CLPVD is "close to a million dollars."

Space told the committee that the city provides about 65% of CLPVD's operating support and that personnel costs represent roughly 71% of the library system's budget. She said level funding in the mayor's proposed FY27 budget would leave CLPVD with an approximately $300,000 gap that "will cause CLPVD to have to scale back some of our operations."

Space described specific service impacts tied to the funding shift. She said American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars had allowed the system to extend hours at Mount Pleasant, Rochambeau, and Knight Memorial branches (four evenings a week and all day Saturday), and that, without continued supplemental funding, CLPVD likely would reduce those branches back to more limited schedules: "We are likely faced with reducing hours back to two nights and two mornings per week at Mount Pleasant, Knight Memorial, and Rochambeau libraries." She added that, because some positions are vacant through attrition, the system expects it will not need to lay off existing staff.

Space also highlighted a new capital investment in the city's plan: $2.5 million earmarked for library infrastructure upgrades. She told the committee the projects would include new HVAC systems at the South Providence and Rochambeau branches and a hoped-for elevator to improve accessibility at Knight Memorial, and she urged the committee to preserve those dedicated funds.

On programming and outreach, Space said CLPVD runs more than 400 summer learning programs and reaches nearly 500 young people weekly through a mobile library that partners with the summer meals program and city recreation center camps. She framed public libraries as free, inclusive spaces that provide services ranging from device charging and printing to help accessing benefits and jobs.

Chair Miguel Sanchez thanked Space after her testimony and noted the committee had received written testimony that would be entered into the record. The public hearing was then continued to other scheduled speakers and closed for the evening with the committee to reconvene the following day.