The requested 8.7-percent hike is intended to make up for no increase in current budget
By: Courtney Gross
After receiving no increase in funding from Princeton Borough and Princeton Township last year, the Princeton Public Library is requesting an 8.7 percent increase in the municipal contribution to its budget for 2007.
Following approval by the library’s board of trustees last month, the library submitted a request to the borough and township for a contribution of approximately $3.7 million, compared to the approximately $3.4 million it received for 2006.
"We’ve basically been operating on the same budget for two years," library Director Leslie Burger said.
Although the library had previously projected growth of 4 percent annually in its budget, after inflation and last year’s flat funding from the municipalities, the library is attempting to cover for funding that was lost, Ms. Burger said.
Part of the need for the increase is that the library must cover a 94 percent increase mandated by the state for funding pensions, as well as the loss of a longtime grant of $75,000, Ms. Burger said.
Next year’s proposed capital budget, Ms. Burger said, is set at $109,000 and will cover the cost of constructing a revolving door at the back of the library expected to reduce the library’s heating and cooling cost. Other capital projects include lighting improvements, computer replacement and panels for the library’s stacks.
The municipal contributions cover approximately 80 percent of the library’s budget. Other funding is garnered through grants, contributions and library fees.
The library has also recently kicked off its annual appeal a fundraising campaign sponsored by the Friends of the Princeton Public Library that contributes to the cost of running the library. As its first gift, Princeton University contributed $10,000, library representatives said.
"The yearly gap between the funding that the municipalities provide for the library and what we need to meet community expectations for library service continues to grow," Ms. Burger said in a prepared statement.
"This is why community support of our annual appeal is so important. These funds make it possible for us to purchase new materials and present our free programming," she added.
And since the library moved to its new building on Witherspoon Street in 2004, library representatives said, use has skyrocketed. Each year, use jumps 20 percent, representatives said.
To contribute to the appeal, donate at www.princetonlibrary.org or mail donations to the Friends of the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08542-3214.