Budget for books smarts

Mayor John Street announced last month that Philadelphia will face a $227-million budget deficit for fiscal year 2005.

To combat the shortfall, the city will implement budget cuts in the coming months, the mayor said.

Among the agencies that will have to do more with less is the Free Library of Philadelphia and its 55 branches.

The city has proposed to cut the libraries’ funding by $1.5 million; the state already has slashed its subsidies by $3.7 million.

"Our biggest problem is the huge cut in state funds, which caused us to stop purchasing books and other materials in December," said library spokesperson Linda Carroll-Pitts. "There is only a 10-percent restoration planned [by the state] for the new fiscal year, and this is simply not enough."

The cuts have spurred library advocates to step up their efforts.

Friends of the Whitman Library, for one, is holding a movie drive, as well as other fundraisers, said the branch’s head librarian, Lynn Pearson.

Some of the popular children’s movies needed are Shrek, The Lion King and Bambi.

Anyone who wishes to donate movies or books to the Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave., or any library, can simply drop off the materials at the branch.

Pearson also is seeking grants from local organizations to keep her library operating smoothly.

"I have hope that we will be able to secure some money," she said.

The budget cuts also have endangered Saturday hours at the branches, said Carroll-Pitts.

"We are doing our best to maintain Saturday service at as many branches as possible, but will have to look at all our hours if state funding is not restored," she said.

Making Donatucci Branch official

The 90-year-old Passyunk Branch of the Free Library, 20th and Shunk streets, finally will change its name April 23 to honor the late Thomas Donatucci — father of state Rep. Robert Donatucci and Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci.

Thomas Donatucci became a Democratic committeeman in the early 1930s, working his way up to leader of the 26th Ward, which covers Girard Estate, the neighborhood in which the Passyunk Branch is located.

Donatucci also rose through the ranks working for Acme supermarkets, becoming the chain’s first Italian-American manager. But in his community, he was known mostly as a liaison between the common people and City Hall.

The dedication ceremony for the new branch will be held at 11 a.m. April 23. City Council President Anna Verna will be the mistress of ceremonies.

Meet all about it

The Friends of the Whitman Branch will hold a town meeting Monday, 6:30-8 p.m., at the library, 200 Snyder Ave.

The forum will address the effect the state budget cuts and the city hiring freeze will have on library services.

City and library officials will attend, including Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Frank Rizzo; W. Wilson Goode Sr., chairman of the Free Library Board of Trustees; and Eliot Shelkrot, president and director of the Free Library.

For more information, call 215-685-1754.