Responding to a request by Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the Allegheny Regional Asset District said yesterday it would consider ordering a performance audit of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh after its board announced plans to close five of its 19 branches to save money.

"The district takes seriously the mayor's request for an audit of the Carnegie Library," said RAD spokeswoman Julie Goetz. "The audit committee is already in the process of setting a meeting in October and would put such a request from the mayor on the agenda."

"The district will look carefully at the Carnegie Library's plan," Ms. Goetz said. "Although RAD does not operate the programs that it funds, RAD stresses accountability through multiple procedures."

Unlike a financial audit, a performance review "gauges whether ... programs and activities are meeting stated goals and objectives, and if tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively," said Ivan Anderson, of the state auditor general's office.

On Tuesday, the library's board of trustees announced cost-saving measures, including the shuttering of five branches, the elimination of 30 jobs and the reduction of hours by 28 percent, to avoid a budget deficit.

The mayor has criticized the moves.

"The taxpayers deserve to know how the library dollars are spent before the city can even consider more help for the Carnegie Library," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "That's why I'm asking for an independent audit by RAD."

Library Director and President Barbara Mistick has frequently cited the city's $40,000 annual contribution in calling for increased government support. The bulk of the library's revenue -- $17.6 million -- comes from RAD, which assumed funding responsibility from the city in 1995.

"To say that the city gives only $40,000 is wrong," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "City and county taxpayers contribute to the library through the RAD tax."

Ms. Mistick said that the library annually submits a budget audit to RAD as part of the agency's requirements. "We are in compliance with all audit procedures and all of our records are available online."

The mayor also questioned the fact that 60 percent of the library's $23.3 million budget is for salaries, and the budget category of "other," which included $2.8 million in spending.

Library spokeswoman Trina Walker yesterday specified the various spending segments of the "other" category. The largest chunk -- $870,000 -- is allocated to the panels of computers at all the branches that are heavily used by students, job-seekers and others. These are available to the public for free.

As far as salaries, the two highest paid executives, according to the library's Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for year 2008, were Ms. Mistick at $165,643 and former Deputy Director Gladys Maharam at $115,914. They received an additional $26,518 and $24,209, respectively, in benefits and deferred compensation plans.

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