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Future unclear with all employees given layoff notices
BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The Camden County Library System is set to take over Camden's struggling libraries in February.
All of Camden's 19 library employees were given layoff notices Wednesday, and the last day of work for the librarians is Feb. 11. County officials said Camden's process of joining the system is on track to transition the Ferry Avenue branch in mid-February.
According to an Associated Press report in the Press of Atlantic City, officials said in August the city's subsidy for its libraries had shrunk so much that the current system could not survive.
Discussions are under way with Rutgers-Camden on possibly having library services on campus. Rutgers spokesman Mike Sepanic said the university still is in the process of trying to determine what the college can do to serve city residents. But it is unclear how much space Rutgers will dedicate to a community library, and whether the university will be comfortable with homeless people who now use the downtown branch to sleep and escape the elements.
City residents will see a separate tax on their bill as a result of joining the county system.
Robert Corrales, a spokesman for Mayor Dana Redd, said some of the county library system benefits include expanded evening hours — including all-day Saturday hours — expanded programming, a literacy program and a summer reading program.
City library workers are not guaranteed jobs with the county. According to the Courier Post, county officials said job postings are being prepared for positions available within the Camden County Library system and will be posted within a week, and city library employees are welcome to apply.
Philly.com reports Mayor Dana L. Redd, facing a fiscal crisis that also means deep layoffs for the Fire and Police Departments, cut city funding to the libraries this fiscal year from $923,000 to $390,000.
The library board closed the Fairview branch, and the building is up for sale. But it is believed that sale would not be enough to keep the system alive.
