Like all communities across America, Muncie has been hard hit by the downturn in the economy. Jobs have been lost, businesses have closed, people have moved away and our population has declined. These factors have affected the funds available to operate city and township services. In addition, Muncie and all other Indiana communities have also been hit by the impact of HB1001.

MPL will lose approximately $674,000 in 2009. An additional $1.3 million will be cut in 2010. That’s on top of the cuts in 2009.

MPL initiated a hiring freeze and has so far eliminated the equivalent of nine full time positions with the goal of eliminating 16-20 full time positions in total. The Homebound Delivery service was discontinued. The teen room at Maring-Hunt was closed. Publications were eliminated.

• MPL plans to provide all library services at two full-service library locations: Kennedy and Maring-Hunt.
• Circulation and foot traffic at Conley Library has declined steadily.
• In 2008, Conley circulation equaled only 2% of all MPL use.
• In 2008, circulation at Conley and Carnegie Libraries combined to equal 10-12% of all MPL use.
• In 2008, circulation at Kennedy and Maring-Hunt Libraries combined to equal 88-90% of all MPL use.

These reductions were already made. Library operating hours have been reduced 20 hours per week during the last year. Collections are being reduced.

MPL can maintain the Conley building (utilities, grounds maintenance, etc.) at one/tenth of the cost of operating it as a library. Therefore MPL is considering using the facility as a Learning Center or other such use and is open to dialogue with the community for other alternative uses for the building.

No one can predict how long the current economic downturn will last or how deep it will be. The property tax cuts and their impact are a given. By centralizing services now, MPL hopes to be prepared to serve our community as efficiently as possible this year and next.