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Residents urge St. Helens council to protect library hours and staff amid budget talk
Summary
Multiple residents told the council the library is essential for job searches, transitional housing clients and homeschooling families, and urged the council not to cut staff or hours despite staff-recommended closures and furlough days.
Several residents told the St. Helens City Council on June 17 that proposed budget actions could harm essential library services for vulnerable populations.
Zach Painer, who identified himself as five years sober and active in the recovery community, described weekly library outings for clients of a local inpatient recovery center who rely on library computers, free Wi‑Fi and temporary library cards to search for jobs and housing. “If the library plays any part in lessening the recidivism rate in our community, it should be one of the last options for budget cuts,” Painer said.
Juliana Holmes and other residents described the library as a resource for homeschooling families and children’s programs, noting Thursday hours and story times as critical services. Jim Coleman and Steven Tuski urged the council to protect the library after noting that staff recommendations included closures, partial closures and furlough days; Tuski said the library had 37,000 visits last year and argued that the council should speak clearly to department managers about staying within budget.
Speakers framed the library as a frontline social service — providing individualized staff help, computer access and shelter from weather for unhoused residents — and asked the council to consider the human impacts of staffing reductions. No formal budget action was taken during the June 17 work session; staff presented options and the council discussed next steps for the regular session schedule.
The council will consider budget actions at upcoming meetings; residents asked elected officials to prioritize maintaining current library services when final budget decisions are made.
