City libraries brace for a budget slash

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - City leaders are proposing a 10% cut to libraries, but a group of activists at Thursday nights city council planning and economic development meeting want leaders to re-think those cuts.

The activists called the city's plan to slash the budget, "unfair" compared to other departments.

"Our cut is almost double that of any other major city department. So It angers me because they don't value the Library System that they would double the budget cut for the city library system," said Mary Ann Maloney, President of Friends of the Springfield Libraries.

"We understand it's tough times, but I don't want to go through this closing of libraries and cutting back hours all over again," stated Kathryn Wright of the Mason Square Library Advisory Committee.

The "Friends of The Springfield Libraries" want the City to adjust its budget. They say more people use the libraries during an economic crisis for research, inexpensive entertainment, and searching for jobs.