Camden, NJ, preparing to close all its libraries

CAMDEN, N.J. — The library board in Camden, one of the nation's poorest cities, is preparing to close all three of its libraries by the end of the year, saying its funding has been slashed so drastically that it cannot afford to keep operating.

The library received $935,000 from the city and $88,000 from the state last year. This year, the library asked the city for $823,000 and considered the 12 percent reduction a way to share in the sacrifice, interim library director Jerome Szpila said. But the mayor offered only $281,666 — nearly a 70 percent cut.

The only thing the library could do was close, library board member and activist Frank Fulbrook said. The plan, approved by the library board on Thursday, is to shutter one branch next month, then another in October and the system entirely on Dec. 31.

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p.s. I often say that Chester City government does poorly at public relations. Therefore, I’m going to help them here. I know for a fact that Chester City contributed generously to Crozer Library this year to make up for the reduction in state funding the library received. That’s the type of good news city government should be broadcasting!