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Friends of Mt. Lebanon Public Library fear a popular children's summer reading program will be curtailed next year because the funds will have to be used for new books.

Other programs funded by Friends it feels are in jeopardy are a morning book discussion group, the genealogy society, foreign language conversation groups and speakers on local and national events, Friends member Anne Kemerer said. She said 1,100 children participate in the summer reading program.

"These programs and materials may not be funded next year because the Friends' money has to go to pay for books," Kemerer said. "There's not enough money allocated in the (library) budget for basic services, never mind the amenities."

The library board requested an increase to $1 million in next year's operating budget from the $748,000 it receives from the municipality to offset increasing costs, including those for medical, insurance, periodical, service, shipping and books, library director Cynthia Richey said. She said the library also had a 23 percent reduction in state funding.

"We need more funding to maintain the integrity of our collection," Richey said.

The library is funded 57 percent by Mt. Lebanon, 27 percent through the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, 10 percent from the state and the remaining 6 percent from fines, interest and donations.

But municipal manager Stephen Feller said he is proposing $763,060 in the municipal budget for the library, a 2 percent increase from last year's operating budget. The library is funded through the municipal budget.

"This is not acceptable," Kemerer told Mt. Lebanon commissioners last week. "I urge you strongly to take another look at your budget and see where you can find room to give the library more money."

Richey said this is the sixth straight year that the library will not receive the funds they requested. As a result of last year's budget, the library was forced to cut its Sunday service hours and cut 83 part-time weekly hours from the payroll.

Municipal spokeswoman Susan Morgans said every municipal department or office is in the same shape as the library.

"This is a tough year for everyone." Morgans said. "We have a fixed tax base, and property tax assessments are frozen. Budgets have been cut to the bare bones, and we are still looking at a tax increase."

To balance the 2005 preliminary $35.4 million budget, more than $750,000 was cut from all Mt. Lebanon services, and residents are still looking at 0.35 mill increase if the budget is approved. Council is expected to vote on the budget Dec. 13.

Feller said in his 2005 manager's budget report that there are 22,410 registered users who borrow more than 550,333 items yearly from the library. The library has a collection of almost 169,876 catalogued items, including 155,790 books; 14,086 audio cassettes, compact discs, unabridged audio books, video cassettes and DVDs.

"I would like to see you continue to fund Mt. Lebanon Library for as high a rate as you can. It's one of the greatest resources of our community," Mt. Lebanon resident Nancy Smith, a mother of two children, told commissioners.

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