Reductions Due To Shortage of Funds

As of January 1, 2008,  the Library has reduced our Eastgate, Northgate, and Ooltewah/Collegedale branches from five days a week to four days a week, and cut funding for our two most popular but also most expensive databases (EBSCO Masterfile Premier & Business Source Premier). While EBSCO has decided to briefly extend service without payment in hope that we would receive additional funding, our contract for these two databases expired on January 1, 2008 and EBSCO could choose to discontinue service at any time. We simply can no longer afford to cover these costs.

Over the last six years, the Library’s operational costs, separate from salaries and books, have increased by $742,907, but our funding from the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County has only increased by $163,870.  We cut our book budget and reduced staff and benefits by replacing full-time personnel with part-time whenever possible, and withheld raises.  We could make up our shortfall by closing one branch (approximately $300,000), but then one community would pay an extreme penalty.  We have greatly increased our fundraising and fine collection, but it has not been enough to cover all the costs.  We have requested additional funding from the City and County, but have not received any. Please check the FAQ page for more information.