The LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board voted on February 8, 2019 to keep the Cooperative operational into FY20 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020). This vote was taken after a long, concerted effort by LibraryLinkNJ and the New Jersey library community to keep our doors open.
Now, the Executive Board is looking to the future and how to best implement the critical next steps of LibraryLinkNJ by:
- Reassessing our initiatives and capabilities
- Paring down the staff and office structure
- Developing innovative ideas for outside funding partnerships
- Continuing our record of fiscal responsibility and being careful stewards of taxpayer dollars
- Continuing as a nimble organization dedicated to maximizing opportunities for member libraries
These actions ensure that the Executive Board continues to best meet our member libraries’ needs. They will also ensure that we meet member library needs under the new organizational structure and funding restrictions we face. Years of flat New Jersey Library Network funding means we cannot continue at our previous capacity. That means operating with a smaller staff and, ultimately, reducing some of our services.
To meet our current budget limitations, we are reducing staff by 30% this spring. We have had to terminate the full-time positions of our Program Coordinator and Social Media Manager, Sophie Brookover (effective April 30, 2019) and our Assistant Director, Joanne Roukens (effective June 30, 2019). We deeply regret the loss of these valuable staff members. The lack of adequate New Jersey Library Network funding has left us no choice but to reduce staff. Nonetheless, we are pressing forward with a continued commitment to serve our member libraries in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Looking ahead to FY20, the LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board will meet next at the LibraryLinkNJ offices on April 11 to finalize the following guidance documents for FY20:
- Proposed Budget
- Proposed Strategic Initiatives
- Proposed Executive Board Slate
These documents will be presented to the Membership for evaluation and approval at the Spring Membership Meeting on June 5 at the Monroe Township Public Library (Middlesex County).
The LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board is a representative body, and its meetings of the are open to the public. We welcome colleagues to attend these meetings and encourage you to be in touch with your Executive Board members to discuss with them any questions you may have about their work.