In attempts to thwart state legislation that would change the long-established formula for funding libraries, the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) has launched a postcard campaign.
“We wanted to remind people that the public is very supportive of this dedicated funding for libraries,” said Pat Tumulty, NJLAexecutive director.
Among the participants in the campaign are theMonroe,Old Bridge and Sayreville libraries, all of which are making the postcards available for patrons to fill out as they peruse the shelves.
The bill the campaign focuses on,written by stateAssemblywoman Linda Greenstein, would change the current library funding formula, whichmandates that one-third of a mill per $100 of assessed value on properties in a municipality be given to the library. Translated, it costs $33 for a homeowner with property assessed at $100,000.
“Many people say, ‘Don’t you think it’s outdated,’ and we say, ‘No, it’s worked well over the years,’” Tumulty said.
Established in 1884, the formula works because it gives libraries in the state enough funding tomake it through times of economic downturn in communities, according to Tumulty.
If the bill passes, library funding would be limited to a 4 percent increase per year, matching the state-mandated spending cap for municipal budgets.
Jamesburg’s borough officials are in support of the legislation. The current library funding formula is presenting a hardship for the town, in part due to the new spending cap on the budget.
Library officials there, and in a number of other towns, are against the bill, though.
“Itwould be devastating to us,” saidMarjorie Cyr, director of the Old Bridge Public Library. “I would say that the one-third of a mill law, which was put into place in the late 1800s, provides a minimum level of funding for municipal libraries.”
According to Cyr, a change in funding would bring amultitude of negative changes for the library and its patrons.
“Everything would change,” Cyr said. “I believe that we would be looking at a reduction of hours. Clearly,wewould be looking at a reduction of services and the purchase of books if we were to undergo funding cuts.”
Cyr said the library began providing postcards for patrons yesterday in hopes to raise awareness.
Carole Hetzell, president of the Jamesburg Public Library’s board of trustees, said the town’s library would likely be forced to reduce hours, as well as begin charging for services and programs that are now free to members.
The Sayreville Public Library also recently began participating in the postcard campaign.Although Library Director Susan Kaplan did not identify specific consequences the legislation could have on the library, she stressed the importance of maintaining the current funding formula.
“The current laws regarding library funding somehow work,” Kaplan said. “I think that [the legislation] takes away what is a stability, which is really important if the library is going to plan accordingly. There is definitely support in the borough for us doing this work.”
According toMonroe Township Public Library Director Irene Goldberg, residents have shown overwhelming support for the campaign. On Tuesday alone, about 300 postcards were submitted by patrons between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Goldberg said a change in funding would hurt libraries throughout the state.
“To our knowledge, the proposed legislation will benefit four communities and negatively impact hundreds of libraries in New Jersey,” Goldberg said. “It would bemore effective to fix the issue in these four communities rather than devastate all communities in our state.”
In the case of Jamesburg, Tumulty pointed out that the town could apply for a waiver that would exempt the library from the spending cap for the year. Councilman Otto Kostbar said he did not think borough officials would be interested in such a move, as it would be unfair to taxpayers. The process of presenting the borough’s case to the state would cost money because of the need for the work of professionals involved, Kostbar said.
Even if Jamesburg officialswere to try for the waiver, Kostbar said it is unlikely that they would get it.
“The whole point of the 4 percent is to force these types of spending decisions,” Kostbar said.
Greenstein has been working with Jamesburg officials since the summer to help them find a solution to their budgetary issues. She introduced a bill last year that would place libraries outside the 4 percent spending cap, but itwas not approved by legislators. That bill, which Tumulty said the NJLA is in support of, will go before legislators again this year.
Tumulty said that although the NJLA does not support the bill that would limit funding to libraries, its members have had positive communications with Greenstein when voicing their concerns.
There is no timeline set for the bill that would limit library funding, according to a Greenstein spokesperson.
Still, area libraries are mobilizing to ensure that their communities’ stance is known.
“People using the library don’t usually have that voice directly, and this is an opportunity for themto use that voice, because this is something of tremendous value,” Kaplan said.