
Tuscaloosa Library to Cut Some Services in Northport Over Funding Feud
The Tuscaloosa Public Library is reducing the virtual offerings available to residents of Northport over a disparity in funding from local governments, its leaders announced Thursday.
TPL's executive director, Jennifer Pearson, and its board chairman Jeff Hinton said the cuts follow failed negotiations asking for better, more sustainable funding for the library in the years to come.
"Due to the inability to reach an agreement with the City of Northport regarding equitable funding for the library, the Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees has made the difficult decision to suspend Overdrive and Libby services for City of Northport residents, effective Monday, March 3, 2025. Additionally, the book vending machine located inside Northport City Hall will be removed prior to that date," the library leaders said in a press release.

Pearson and Hinton said they have created and presented a six-year capital plan to the Tuscaloosa City Council, the county commission and officials in Northport showing what is required financially for the library to sustain operations.
In it, they asked Northport to give $288,015 annually to the library, or about $5.68 per capita, which is far smaller than the contributions TPL receives from the other local governments but a jump up from current levels.
Northport city officials approved $186,560 in library funding for 2025 - that's marginally more than in 2024, but less than what the leaders requested in their capital plan.
"While library leadership engaged with most City and County officials, Northport engagement was limited despite multiple attempts to schedule meetings," TPL said in their release. "Consequently, the Board unanimously proceeded with its decision, recognizing that without Northport's full participation, the plan is unsustainable, jeopardizing other funders' commitments and worsening the library's already critical funding situation."
Parson and Hinton did acknowledge the more than $430,000 the city of Northport has given to them for capital improvements like replacing the roof of the main branch and providing new flooring there. However, they said their need for operational funding is still dire.
"City of Northport residents will continue to have access to the equivalent physical resources that Overdrive and Libby provide, in addition to other electronic resources. These resources can be accessed through the Main and Weaver Bolden Branch Libraries, the Bookmobile, and the book vending machines located at Faucett Brothers and Bobby Miller Activity Centers," TPL said. "Library services for Tuscaloosa County Schools located within the City of Northport, including SORA and other school programs, will remain uninterrupted."
Residents of the county who live outside Northport will be unaffected.
"The Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees hopes that this decision will prompt Northport city officials to reconsider their level of support for the valuable resources the library provides to the Northport community," TPL leaders said.
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