Concerned about the potential for substantial city library system cuts, many Sioux City residents spoke out at the Sioux City Council meeting Monday.
Among the many people who filled the Council Chambers and spoke in support of the library, Legen Campbell said the libraries are the most widely used and impactful public resources the city has to offer.
According to Campbell the library saw 239,763 visitors across all locations and circulated over 320,000 items within the last year. Campbell said cutting the budget would reduce opportunities, access to education, and limit places families can go.
Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr said the council asked the library to create a plan that could save money on their budget, suggesting moving to a smaller library and adding two more smaller libraries.
Schoenherr clarified there was never any suggestion made about laying off people or closing a branch.
Schoenherr read an email from the fiscal director, saying a sample model made through AI was provided, but it was never intended to be used as a final plan.
Schoenherr said she suggested a $1 million cut to the budget to see if the library board would write up a model.
She said the law requires the city to provide at least $275,000 to the library, and it has provided $3.7 million.
A member from the fiscal and public policy committee, Andrew Loffswold, said the library system was designed for service patterns and facilities more than fifty years ago.
Loffswold stated he was not speaking on behalf of the committee.
He said there should be consideration of restructuring the system to be more accessible and for resources to be distributed equitably, adding that the city shouldn’t pour the majority of its library resources into one location.
The city council sets a budget amount for departments, but Iowa law holds that the city’s library board has the sole power to make any changes in services and branches.
More residents spoke, saying the city council needs to consider how changing to four smaller branches would change the accessibility of library services. A few said they are willing to pay more property taxes to support the library.