News

Community vies for more library funding

It was standing room only as members of the community and employees of county libraries made an impassioned case to the Lycoming County Commissioners to add $63,000 to the funding for the county's library system for 2022.

"I would spend an hour telling you all about what we do at Konkle (Library) such as the programming for children, access to materials, computer availability…but the main focus is what happens with the dollars that you allocate to us," said Dennis Correll, volunteer board president of the Montoursville's Konkle Library.

"As a library user, each time you borrow an item in the library, you're given a checkout receipt. If you've borrowed a book, you get a little receipt and it reminds you of what you borrowed and when it's due back to the library," he said.

"But, what I want to concentrate on is what is at the bottom of that receipt. You'll find on that receipt, the amount of money or the amount the patron has economically saved by utilizing the library," he explained.

Citing a book he had recently borrowed, Correll said that he has personally benefited over $1,400 by using the library.

"For me as a retired community member, this is a significant benefit to me and I would gladly support with my taxes on an annual basis," he said.

Other area residents spoke about bringing their children to story times at one of the libraries in the countywide system, while others focused on the need to provide services to people who cannot afford them otherwise.

"Libraries provide access to resources and materials to not only families with young children, but also job seekers, elderly and even off the mountain we service some of the Amish, said Nicole Loffredo, director of the Montgomery Area Public Library.

"Our small rural library is the center for literacy, lifelong learning and most importantly access," she said.

The library system's current funding allotment is just over $1.2 million, which Commissioner Tony Mussare said is one of the highest among all the 67 counties in the state. He noted that a meeting with the library's board of trustees, they had requested a 5% increase.

"At that time I told them that I could not vote for that increase," he said.

His decision, he said was based on a number of reasons, including a caution by a state representative to "be careful how you spend money this year."

""Imagine us approving the 5% -- it isn't a lot. It's $63,000. But, what are the repercussions from that decision," he asked.

Mussare said that he would like to see the commissioners pursue finding some other source for additional funding for the library.

In making the case for an increase in funding, Barbara McGary, executive director of the James V. Brown Library told the commissioners that because of the pandemic all the libraries in the system are down to a "bare bones" staff.

"Many of the libraries have not been able to even give a cost of living increase to their employees," she said.

With inflation increasing the cost of everything, including gas, McGary said that it directly affects the storymobile and the bookmobile. She noted that the storymobile goes to 29 daycares.

"Some of them (the children) are dropped off at six o'clock in the morning and picked up at six o'clock at night. The don't have an opportunity to go to the library," she said.

"We make sure that those children have two books to take home every two weeks, and they have those books for free. We never charge any fines for our kids," she stated.

"We understand all the needs at the county that are pressing for you, but we want you to consider and think about the fact that costs continue to go up and with level funding from the state and with level funding from the county, I'm not sure how we're going to do it," McGary added.