Helena Halla moved to Mt. Lebanon because of the high quality of its public library.

She and a half-dozen other supporters recently lobbied the town's commissioners for an increase in Mt. Lebanon Public Library funding.

"The fame of the library precedes it," she told them at a meeting late last month.

Halla is not the only South Hills resident concerned about library funding. Lobbying for additional state, Regional Asset District or municipal funding by librarians and patrons has become common, particularly at this time of year, when municipalities, source of many a library dollar, are sewing up details of their financial plans for the next year.

"Money for libraries is extremely tight right now," said Marilyn Jenkins, the executive director of the Allegheny County Library Association, which has 44 members, including Mt. Lebanon.

All member libraries are hurting because of state funding cuts this year and from what has become a relatively flat level of Regional Asset District funding, she said.

The RAD board approved its 2005 budget Nov. 30. It increased library contributions by three-tenths of 1 percent. The small uptick did not surprise Jenkins.

"RAD money kept pace with the cost of living until recently," she said.

In approving its 2005 budget, RAD officials warned that declines in sales tax revenue -- a 1 percent sales tax in Allegheny County partly funds RAD beneficiaries, which are arts programs -- will most likely cause cutbacks in 2006.

"I don't expect the RAD money to increase in the next couple of years," Jenkins said, although she is cautiously optimistic that state funding may increase in the next fiscal year. The state's budget year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

In 2003-04, state funding to libraries was cut by 34 percent. For the current fiscal year, 21 percent of that funding was restored, Jenkins said, but libraries are still smarting from the funding gap.

Libraries are "pulling out all the stops" by lobbying elected officials, fund-raising and tapping private sources of funding, Jenkins said.

In Mt. Lebanon, during preliminary budget deliberations, commissioners proposed to increase its library allocation by 1.9 percent, from $748,000 this year to $763,000 next year.

Also, at a meeting Nov. 29, commissioners discussed adding $40,000 to keep the library open on Sundays. It historically has been open from 1 to 5 p.m. that day but shut down for the first time in 20 years this year, citing funding cutbacks.

Mt. Lebanon Public Library will receive $300,000 in RAD funding in 2005, up from $287,000 this year. Its state allocation this year was $115,000, up from $95,800 the previous year.

The final word from Mt. Lebanon on its 2005 budget is expected Monday when commissioners are scheduled to act on a proposed $23 million budget.

"Undoubtedly, we'll all work together to determine the services and programs that are of the highest priority," municipal Manager Stephen Feller said.

Library Director Cynthia Richey would like an increase of about $400,000 so her operating budget could grow from $1.3 to $1.7 million, allowing her to restore cuts made in the collection and staff as well as to open on Sundays, she said.

Anne Kemerer, of the Friends of the Library, told the commissioners at their meeting last month that she was concerned about the future of the summer reading club. About 1,300 children participated in the reading program this year, according to library figures.

Not everyone's complaining

Some libraries are doing better than others.

Each year, Bethel Park gives a 1 percent to 3 percent increase in funding to its library, Director Cheryl Napsha said. This happened even this year, when the municipality saw its first millage hike in years but still gave the library a 1 percent increase.

Next year, the library's raise is 3 percent.

Her library is known for its outreach programs for seniors and children and this year added a children's performance of stories for seniors at ManorCare Health Services and Meadowcrest Nursing Center, both in Bethel Park.

Napsha said Mt. Lebanon's fiscal concerns have had implications for Bethel Park.

"Since Mt. Lebanon Library closed on Sunday, we're getting all the Mt. Lebanon residents. I've had to add extra staff."

However, Bethel Park did have to make cuts because of RAD and state funding levels.

Napsha eliminated the full-time position of assistant director -- that person found a job as director at another library -- and made a 10 percent cut in the book budget.

Pleasant Hills Library also has managed to skirt financial difficulties this year.

"Obviously, we have concerns, but our borough council has always been good to us," said Holly Ferkett, director of the Pleasant Hills Library.

She did not have to cut hours or staff. Instead, she was able to grant pay raises, Ferkett said.

There were cuts in budgets for paid speakers and purchase of materials.

'A cut is a cut'

Other places are not as fortunate.

"A cut is a cut," said JoEllen Kenney, director of the Carnegie Library of McKeesport. Her library has locations in McKeesport, White Oak, Duquesne and Elizabeth Township. The Mc-Keesport and White Oak locations have had to cut hours.

The mayors of McKeesport and White Oak have assured her of the elected officials' moral support. "They said we should just hang in there," Kenney said.

The Friends of the Library, several local foundations and service organizations are helping with support, but she declined to give specifics.

"Our biggest challenge is borough support," said Kate Grannemann, executive director of the Carnegie Library of Homestead, who did not know what that will be. This year, her book budget decreased by 15 percent and hours had to be cut by 10 per week.

Homestead's library use has increased. "We're very busy with less time and less staff," she said.