THE BLACK HOLE BUDGET

THE CITY When cily hall slashed the Dallas Public Library’s budget six years ago, RON BOYD never imagined things would get this bad.

“We’ve had to cut back before, ” says Boyd, assistant manager of the Central Dallas Public Library’s Humanities division. “But I’ve never seen them cut us so long or so deep. “

Most departments, already at bare bones, are canceling dozens of long-standing subscriptions. Business and Technology, for instance, must cancel a mind-boggling $79, 000 worth of subscriptions before it can buy a single book.

The library’s enormously popular science fiction collection has been dealt a double whammy. “It’s a high-loss area anyway, ” says Boyd. “Most science fiction comes out in paperback with brittle pages that crumble and bindings that break. ” The life span of such high-circulation books-in ideal conditions-is only a couple of years.

In better times, the library could replace lost or disintegrating books. There was even an in-house bindery. “There is no money for that now, ” Boyd says. “When a book’s binding breaks now, it’s gone. “

Unless the library gets more funds to pay for preservation, much of the science fiction collection could be lost forever.

That’s a heartbreaking realization for Boyd, who nurtured the library’s collection from a few shelves in 1974 to more than 18, 000 diverse works. And it’s a nifty collection, including a complete set (1926-91) of Amazing Stories-those legendary sci-fi comic books with lurid drawings of monsters chasing half-clad maidens-as well as British sci-fi grandmaster BRIAN ALDISS’s personal library, boasting 3, 150 items. There are also several first editions, including a copy of FRANK HERBERT’s Dune, valued at $1, 200.

Dallas library patrons may soon have to buy for themselves the books and magazines once available through the library for free. “It’ll be too bad, ” says Humanities manager FRANCES BELL, “if the only people who can get information are the ones who can afford to pay for it. “