Milwaukee Public Library grapples with budget shortfalls

Facing a potential shortfall of $90 million or more in the 2010 Milwaukee city budget, Common Council President Willies Hines, Jr. warned that even the library is unlikely to be spared from cuts. In a May 16 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel report, library representatives were described as considering all options, though no branch closings are proposed for 2010. The article reported that seven neighborhood libraries each need up to $750,000 in mechanical system overhauls, which prompted discussion about whether fewer and newer, energy-efficient buildings would be more cost-effective.