The Carnegie Library Board of Trustees last night postponed for one year the closing of four libraries and the reduction of hours after receiving stopgap funds from state and local sources.

"This is a short-term solution," said board chairwoman Jacqui Fiske Lazo, "so we can work toward a long-term, sustainable funding situation. We really cannot be in the same place next year having the same discussion."

The proposed closings and reduction in hours was described as being deferred to Jan. 1, 2011.

The board members, faced with a budget shortfall of $1.5 million, decided in October that four libraries -- in Beechview, Hazelwood, Lawrenceville and the West End -- would have to be closed and that hours at many branches, including the main library in Oakland, would have to be reduced.

Public outcry, however, motivated elected officials to step up. City Council voted this month to allocate $600,000 to the libraries, and last night the state House preliminarily approved an amendment to the state's table games legislation that would provide an annual boost of about $850,000 through a local share of casino revenue.

Other revenue will be generated by an increase in fines and fees and the reduction of library staff by 10 workers, all of whom have voluntarily retired, said Libraries President Barbara Mistick.

Ms. Lazo said members of the board still believe that a merger of the libraries in Carrick and Knoxville into a single new location would be a benefit for both communities, and the board will begin the public process for it.

Last night's board meeting followed a public hearing in the Carnegie Library Auditorium at which 20 speakers, each limited to two minutes, begged, challenged and chastised the board members on the subject of closing libraries. More than 50 people attended the hearing.

Ms. Lazo and Ms. Mistick praised the public for helping the libraries continue to operate as they have.

"The people of Pittsburgh are the people who really made this happen," Ms. Lazo said following the board meeting. "They came out, and they made noise, and they screamed and hollered about those libraries and said we love our libraries and we don't want them closed. So that's how we got to where we are today. We love our libraries and we are looking forward to finding funding to keep our libraries open.

"I think it's remarkable what's happened in the past few months. We have the attention of the public, and we have the attention of our public officials. I'm more optimistic than I was."

But a number of the speakers used the opportunity to criticize the board for conducting its meetings behind closed doors. Two residents, David Tessitor and Glenn A. Walsh, served the board with a lawsuit, filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Friday, petitioning the board to open its regular meetings to the public.

Susanne Park, 40, of Lawrenceville, cited the outpouring of public support as she reminded the board members about the need for libraries.

"You have a momentum of support now in the city that you may never see again," Ms. Park said. "Listen to your public now, and invite them in. Open your meetings. Work to rebuild the trust between us."

Desiree Wan Tassel, speaking on behalf of State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Mount Washington, said: "The library closure process had not been an open and transparent process. When you receive public money, you accept a responsibility to the taxpaying public. That responsibility has not been honored. [The board] should have open meetings and other internal mechanisms to regularly solicit meaningful input from the public."

State Rep. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, who serves on the board, last night said the members had discussed the call for open meetings and that he will lead a subcommittee reviewing the pros and cons of such a change. A recommendation will be made to the full board in February, he said.

"Some board members expressed concerns," Mr. Costa said. "It's one thing to have your meetings open to the public, but potentially all of your records are exposed and a lot of the time you lose the ability to maintain some privacy with respect to giving."

• A bill to legalize casino table games passes a crucial first hurdle in the state House. The bill would provide new funds for the Carnegie Library System. Page B-1

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