Your Library Connection
 

Budgeting for a Better Library
Monthly Article by Laura Blaker

Riddle of the day:  What month is it when the library director’s stomach is in a knot, statistics are her best buddy, and the library board depends on its supporters to convey the message of the importance of the public library? 

Yes, it is January!  The time is the present.  The city council and the county board of supervisors are discussing budget.

This year we received a substantial budget increase, and have been very thankful to the city council, the county supervisors, and the community for their support. 

So, what is the problem…why is my stomach in a knot?  Too much caffeine, still not settled in at the new facility, too much pizza for lunch…well, maybe, but the big reason is, of course, the budget.  The library needs another budget increase to serve you, maintain the current hours, and purchase books and other resources.  The library has been under-funded for years and has been asking for increases for as long as I have been the director (five years).

To make progress and come in line with the usage and fabulous support we have experienced in recent years (over $1.7 million dollars contributed to the new library facility by 500+ individuals, families and businesses), additional funding is necessary.  I don’t believe that people sacrificed and gave willingly out of their personal budgets so that we could have a great building without making progress to serve needs in the areas of materials, technology, programming, and open hours.  Many of these services will be reduced from this year because of higher operating costs if we don’t receive our proposed increase. 

After compiling our usage numbers from Sept. 10 through December, the number of people coming to the library is up 94%!  Checkouts are up 60%, computer use is up 69%, and website hits are up 123%.  There have also been 601 new library cards issued during this time, a 429% increase!  These are comparisons made with the same months one year ago in the old library building.

The library board’s budget request to the city is for an additional $47,849.72.  In looking at the other towns in Iowa with populations between 5000-7000 (Independence population = 6014), this would bring the library allocation from the city to an average level.  Where would this money go?

·        Cover higher operating costs with the new facility.  Heating, cooling, cleaning, lighting, parking lot maintenance, and supplies are the largest part of the increase requested.

·        Maintain open hours, including Sunday afternoons.

·        Increase funding to books, magazines and periodicals.  After years of insufficient funding, it would take 14,337 additional books to bring our collection up to an average number of books (for a city our size).

·        Increase funding to audio books as well as DVDs.  The amount of additional audiovisual materials needed to bring the number of items to average for a city our size would be 5,967. 

·        Begin to replace public computers on a five-year cycle.  We have increased this greatly needed service in our new facility to fifteen desktops and five laptops available for the public.

·        Offer increased program opportunities for education and entertainment.

The board has proposed increases in wages as well.  If my proposed salary is upheld, it will still be below average for a library director with a master’s degree in comparable-sized towns in Iowa (population = 5000-7000).  In addition to that, it would also continue to be the lowest salary for a city department head in Independence.  Please don’t think I’m complaining, but I feel compelled to get that information out in the open rather than hear that people are upset about the proposed 9% increase for my salary.  The other wages proposed are also very justifiable and there are valid reasons behind all increases.

The library board and I have spent a good deal of time on the budget proposal.  When all is said and done, the city council and the county supervisors determine the dollar amount allocations to go to our library.  The library board is the entity that takes that dollar amount and decides what funds are assigned to each line item.

If you have any questions about the library budget proposal or would like to sit down and go through it, I would be glad to do that with you (334-2470 or lblaker@indytel.com).  Craig Ankerstjerne is the chair of the library budget committee, and would also be glad to discuss the budget with you.  His number is 334-4346.  There is also additional information about the budget on the library’s website at www.indylibrary.org/budget2010.htm.   

Please consider talking with your city council representative and/or county supervisor in support of the library budget request.  As always, we so appreciate your support and look forward to a bright future of serving you! 

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