Mid-Continent Public Library headed for shutdown? There’s less than 30 days to decide

The Mid-Continent Public Library could be in danger of a shutdown if the board of trustees can’t agree on a budget by June 30, in accordance with Missouri state law. And with about three weeks to go, trustees say they have yet to see a proposal from the board finance committee.

Such a failure could mean closing down all libraries in the system’s three counties — Jackson, Clay and Platte. It would also mean laying off employees. Our public libraries are an essential resource for a huge segment of the population. They’re the only way many people can use the internet, in addition to the uncountable other priceless services they provide. It’s why voters in 2016, by a significant margin, approved an 8-cent tax increase to support and grow the library system.

Last month, the library administrative staff proposed a nearly $60 million budget for personnel, materials and operations. But trustees say the new chairman of the board’s finance committee, Gordon Cook, who was appointed by Platte County leaders, did not support that proposal.

Outgoing library Director Steve Potter said Cook challenged the way the staff developed the budget and unofficially suggested a reduction of about $6 million.

Potter said his staff has submitted “scores and scores of files, materials and information” Cook requested. But the finance committee has not seen an alternative budget proposal from Cook, who could present a budget to the full board, bypassing review and approval by the other members of the finance committee.

Cook declined to talk with us about the status of the budget or answer questions about why he does not support the budget proposed by the library staff. Cook, or some other library board leader, owes residents of the three counties an explanation for the holdup, because it’s taxpayer money at stake.

Potter said the process used to develop the budget has been in place for at least the 12 years he has been at the helm. “For 20 years we have had a clean audit,” Potter said. And, he said, the library has earned a rating of “excellence” from the Government Finance Officers Association for 11 consecutive years.

“I understand that the board can choose to do whatever it wants,” Potter said, “but should we be changing direction at the eleventh hour? I am concerned that if we miss the deadline … well, this could result in a library shutdown.”

There is one way out of this situation: a library policy that, if adhered to by the board, would force the library to adopt the budget proposed by Potter and his staff, if trustees have not approved a budget by the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

But some trustees told us they are worried the majority of the board would vote not to follow the policy. That’s possible since the 12-member board — four members from each of the three counties — has been divided on other issues, including diversity training, hiring practices and maintaining programs for LGBTQ youth.

The budget issue has caught our attention because in recent months conservative members of the board have imposed their political views to influence library policy.

Last October, the board refused to accept results of a scathing diversity audit of the library system from a human resource firm hired by library staff. And after a conflict in which

conservative trustees attempted to force the library leader to steer operations in an anti-diversity direction, Potter announced he would resign this summer, two years before the end of his contract.

If trustees want to change the way the Mid-Continent Public Library develops its budget, they should propose a plan and discuss policy changes. It should not happen just a few weeks before the deadline for getting a budget approved.

If there is money that can be saved, trustees should work toward making that happen in the coming year. Right now, we need to assure taxpayers that our libraries will remain open for them this summer.

This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 1:33 PM.