The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh said today it anticipates a $3 million budget shortfall next year in the face of possible declining government contributions and rising costs.

Those county and state cuts could be about $1.6 million, predicted Library President Barbara Mistick. Both the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, which provides 70 percent of library funding, and the state, which provides about 20 percent, will likely be reducing funding in the face of the current economic slowdown, she said. No official reductions have been made by either body.

Ms. Mistick called for a round of public forums starting next month to both build support from library users and discuss ways the library can save money.