Lakeland library's story time goes bye-bye

"Now it's time to say goodbye, say goodbye, say goodbye,

Now it's time to say goodbye, see you all next time."

When children and their parents gather Friday for preschool story time at the Valley Branch Library, assistant librarian Phyllis Kittle will have to amend the words to the traditional closing song. That's because there won't be a next time.

The Washington County Library is ending the program at the tiny library in a strip mall in Lakeland as it attempts to streamline operations due to budget cuts and staff reductions. The program of songs, stories, finger plays and crafts will still be offered at the system's larger libraries -- Forest Lake, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale and Mahtomedi -- as well as its Library Express location at Hugo City Hall, where attendance is markedly higher than it is in Lakeland, said library spokesman Joe Manion.

Parents are lamenting the loss of the program. Some fear that cutting story time is a harbinger of things to come, and that their community library that is now open only about 20 hours a week, eventually will be closed.

"I think it's sad," said Debby Seymour of Lakeland Shores, who brought her granddaughters Olivia and Elli Frautschi to story time two weeks ago. "The service at this branch has been cut. The hours have been cut. We come here less and less because of that."

Washington County Board member Gary Kriesel, who represents the third district and Lakeland, where the Valley Branch Library is located, said there are no immediate plans to close any of the county's nine branches.

Kriesel said the system, which operates on a $6 million budget, is facing significant financial pressures. It has absorbed $7.5 million in cuts over the past few years.

With the state budget crisis continuing, it could have to absorb millions more in the years to come, depending upon the actions of the Legislature this year. That might mean taking another look at the expenses associated with the smaller libraries, which operate in spaces that are leased or rented.

Library officials say their goal is to keep all buildings open, and cutting story time at the Valley Branch will help them maximize staff resources by holding the programs at facilities where attendance is highest. Library Director Pat Conley told commissioners at a Tuesday work session that staff has shrunk from 113 employees two years ago to 87 today.

"In a perfect time, we'd never eliminate it; nobody wants to see this happen," said Library Manager Chad Lubbers, who noted that Valley will have a summer reading program. "Things are grim all over. This may be a temporary retreat, but it is not a defeat."

This is not the first time story times have been pulled from the county's smaller libraries. Over the past couple of years, the popular program aimed at increasing literacy already disappeared from the county's smallest libraries, including Newport, Lake Elmo and Marine on St. Croix.

In 2010, more than 15,000 children attended story time sessions systemwide, an average of 25 to 35 kids per session. That was an increase of 2.5 percent over 2009, according to library figures. More than 5,000 kids turned out for the 204 story times at the Harwood Creek branch in Forest Lake, and there were more than 4,000 for 115 sessions in Woodbury.

Relatively low numbers at Valley contributed to the decision to pull the program there. Last year, there were 43 story times at Valley, and attendance averaged 10 or fewer. On a recent Friday, seven kids showed up to hear Kittle read tales such as "What Color is Your Underwear?" and "Dog's Colorful Day."

But small is good, Kittle said. The intimate setting actually provides a better learning environment and another benefit: "I know their name."

Andrea Schotzko of Afton suggested that volunteers take over the program, and that if it is strictly a financial decision, perhaps families could contribute $1 per story time.

"If that were an option, I'd do it," said Schotzko, who brought her son, Gilbert, 4, to last week's program. "If it came down to money, I would do it."