Libraries: demand up, dollars down

Faltering economy driving library crowds

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — As the economy continues to falter, increasing numbers of people are coping by turning to the abundant-and free-resources found at our region’s libraries. But even as the demand for services grows, libraries are facing potentially serious funding cuts that may lead to undesirable consequences at a time when the services are needed most.

The story is similar in libraries throughout Wayne and Pike counties in Pennsylvania, as well as in Sullivan County in New York.

“We’re seeing an average of 35 to 40 new card applications every week,” said Molly Rodgers, of the Wayne County Public Library (WCPL), one of seven independent libraries linked by a shared catalogue, van delivery system and more.

Ellen Schaffner, library director of the Pike County Public Library (PCPL), with three locations in the county, concurred. “The number of new cards issued is up; circulation is up and noticeably more people are coming in to take advantage of the many free resources,” she said.

To tighten budgets, some people are giving up Internet access and turning to libraries, where they either use computers there, or bring their laptop and tap into the wireless service available. “The library is a place where you can stretch your resources,” said Rodgers.

Libraries are increasingly serving as social and cultural treasure troves as people take advantage of free programs, free movies, free music, free training and more.

WCPL reference librarian and inter-library loan manager Ann Foster said that college students are turning to inter-library loan in hopes of avoiding the high costs of textbooks. Requests for certain topics like budgeting, are up, too. “People seem to be buying less books and borrowing more,” said Foster.

Tracy Schwarz, adult and children’s program coordinator at WCPL, sees increased activity in the children’s area, with more kids participating in the Summer Reading Program and more teens participating in Young Adult programs. Families who can no longer afford a night at the movies now create a movie night at home with free flicks from the library.

While it’s tough to accommodate the growing crowds, library staff is developing programs focused on “old-fashioned, interactive fun.” There’s even a program targeting infants, aimed primarily at helping new parents adjust. “We do a lot with what we have, but our resources are limited,” said Schwarz.

Budget woes

Those resources may be stretched even thinner, as the Pennsylvania libraries are facing potentially severe budget cuts with two versions of a state budget before the state legislature. “We know the deficit is in the vicinity of $3 billion dollars and that this will be an extremely difficult year for deciding the state budget,” said Rodgers. “One version cuts public libraries roughly two percent; the other cuts them by 50 percent and eliminates things like inter-library loan and the POWER Library [a major reference resource of 40 databases on topics ranging from medical information to car repair].”

According to Rodgers, the potential impacts of a 50 percent funding cut would result in a reduction in hours of operation, a decrease in the number of items purchased for the library’s collection and reduced staff hours.

The PCPL would face those same impacts in addition to inadequate funding streams from county and state sources that have remained stagnant since 2000 as demand for library services has increased more than 100 percent and continues to grow by approximately 25 percent each year.

The WCPL expects to continue offering career services to the community regardless of budget cuts, due to a recently formed partnership with Workforce Wayne ( www.WorkforceWayne.org ).

With support from a grant from the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative, the partnership will create in each of the seven libraries a career training site that will bring online resources and new computers to each. Resources will be implemented over the course of the next several months at the Honesdale, Hawley and Hamlin libraries. The others will occur in the fall.

Career cruising

One of the new tools will be Career Cruising, where people can go online and evaluate interests, skills and possible careers. Those who have lost a job can find out what’s available and what they need to do to prepare. Users can create their own portfolio, search different jobs, find out what training is required and more.

Additional resources for creating resumes, practicing for interviews and filing online for interviews will become available. One will be Interview Stream, where applicants can improve their interview skills while receiving constructive critiques, pointers and tips.

Other resources include tutorials for various computer programs such as Microsoft Office, at various skill levels.

PCPL’s Schaffner noted that PCPL does not have the support of a partner, such as Workforce Wayne, to fall back on and that critical employment-related resources would be adversely affected just when they are needed most.

“We’re the one resource that’s available to everyone, from richest to poorest, and youngest to oldest in the community,” said Schaffner. “We save the average library user thousands of dollars per year and what people learn here benefits the whole community. The cuts would be unconscionable.”

Should the heavy funding cuts occur, Schaffner confirmed that first to go would be POWER Library, along with Access PA, a catalogue of libraries and books in the state. Other losses would be “Ask Here PA,” a virtual reference resource that makes a librarian available to the public round the clock and the Keystone Grant, a construction fund for libraries. In addition, the amount of funding supplied by the federal government would be lessened based on what the state decides to do.

All of it is especially troubling as more and more people turn to libraries to meet their needs. “Libraries provide services to people who need help. Where else can you get high quality things for free?” asked Schaffner.

Sullivan County

In Sullivan County, NY, Susan Scott, director of the Western Sullivan Public Library (WSPL), said its three branches are likewise noticing an increased demand, in particular, for job-related services and entertainment. “People are tightening their belts, cutting their entertainment budgets and turning to the library for DVDs, books, newspapers and periodicals,” said Scott. WSPL recently saw its budget passed, but the New York State budget remains a threat.

As a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), WSPL’s three libraries derive funding from RCLS to meet between two to three percent of their operating costs. RCLS executive director Robert Hubsher said that RCLS, with 47 member libraries in Sullivan, Rockland, Orange and southern Ulster counties, faces potential state budget cuts of approximately eight to nine percent.

“The state makes up about 50 percent of our budget, so it’s a major impact,” said Hubsher. “State aid to libraries hasn’t changed since 1990, and RCLS can’t go to the public for a budget vote like libraries can.”

Hubsher noted that prudent financial management has provided current stability for RCLS, but said that this may become impossible to maintain. “Beyond 2011, I’m not sure we can do anything if the impact continues to mount,” he said.

“These are unusual times,” added Hubsher. “We’re doing more and more for our users, while our resources are falling farther and farther behind.”

Visit www.waynelibraries.org or www.pcpl.org or www.rcls.org to learn more. Later this month, both Pennsylvania libraries have scheduled fundraising events. Additional information is available on their websites.