DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights’ two libraries could possibly face closure in the near future, if the city council and residents don’t take action soon, according to Library Director Michael McCaffery.

McCaffery discussed the financial situation of the City’s two libraries with The Arab American News, explaining that funding for both the Caroline Kennedy Library, located at 24590 George St., and the John F. Kennedy Library, located at 24602 Van Born, is not enough to maintain the libraries for much longer.

McCaffery gave a presentation at the last city council meeting, discussing the library system’s tough predicament. He is requesting that city council approve a millage request, up to .95 mills, for 20 years on the upcoming November ballot. This millage increase for houses with a taxable value of $45,000 would amount to about $43 per year, for example.

Despite a City deficit in recent years, the two libraries have been able to remain functional through grants, donations and more cautious spending. However, the decline in the economy has resulted in property tax declines and less funding from the State. 

The Caroline Kennedy Library.

The most alarming decline in the City’s library system comes from interest rates. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the City’s library system collected $158,812 in interest revenue. Six years later, the interest rate revenue is at an all-time low of just $3,000. 

In 2003, the City took out a $9 million Building Authority bond to upstart both libraries, after residents had voted for a stronger library system, during the 1999 ballot. The City had hoped they would be able to use the bond money as one of their main sources of funding for the libraries, for up to a 30-year period, which would essentially secure the libraries through 2033.  

But just ten years later, McCaffery now says that they have been eating away at that bond money at a faster rate than expected, and that possibly only a couple years may be left, before they will need more funding. 

The Dearborn Press and Guide originally published a story about the potential closure of the libraries last week, but McCaffery says that some residents may have misinterpreted that story, and that, even in a “worst case scenario,” it still wouldn’t happen for another few years.

“It made it seem a little more alarming than intended, but we have two years in our fund balance, and the clock is ticking on it. We’ve been gradually eating at it, and I wanted to make sure we started taking action on this as soon as possible, so as to avoid having to do something dramatic,” McCaffery said. 

Only about $1.9 million remain from the 2003 bond money. $600,000 of that was used this year, while another $580,000 of it will be used during the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The City’s allocation of money towards the libraries has gone down this year as well. The city council decreased the amount from $1.9 million to $1.86 million for the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget, which  began on July 1. 

McCaffery says that they’ve even cut some full-time staffing positions, but that is still not enough to secure the libraries beyond another two or three years. He explains that even if the City decided to close one of the libraries, and only operate with one central location, it still would not be enough to fund it beyond a few years. McCaffery says that his millage proposal would secure the libraries’ future for 20 more years. 

“Even if tomorrow, services are cut in half, we still wouldn’t even make it to the 2018 fiscal year.  This is kind of an only-option scenario. I have to make sure these libraries are operating until 2033, otherwise you have a ‘worst case scenario’ of two empty buildings,” he added. 

While McCaffery agrees that the timing for the millage request might not be ideal, he argues that library services are in high demand for Dearborn Heights residents. 

In the last year, both libraries saw usage reach an all-time high. It is estimated that 265,000 people visited the libraries, and that over 230,000 check-outs of books, films, and other miscellaneous items were recorded. Computer use has also been frequent, with over 80,000 internet hours logged in, over the past year. That number doesn’t include residents who bring their own computers and use the free Wi-Fi services.

City Attorney Gary Miotke will be responsible for drafting the millage proposal, which will then need to be approved by city council by late August, in order to be placed on the November ballot. 

McCaffery says that a campaign committee is being formed, so as to educate and inform residents about the library system’s situation. Residents who are interested in being on the committee, or who have additional questions and concerns, can email the library at dheightscc@gmail.com.