By: centraljersey.com
As municipalities look to cut their budgets, many public libraries are in danger of losing funding.
The situations differ from town to town, but the bottom line is the same: libraries are at the top of the list as governing bodies look at each line item to see how they can save money.
According to state law, a municipality must appropriate to its public library at least one-third of a mill (one-tenth of a cent) for every $100 of assessed valuation.
As property values go down,though, that appropriation is decreasing while library expenses at best stay the same.
In Cranbury, the minimum one-third of a mill amount is 4 percent less than last year and 3 percent less than the year before due to decreases in property values.
"In Cranbury, the average (given to the library) is about $100 per household or 1 percent of taxes," which is $572,604 this year, said Kirstie Venanzi, president of the Cranbury Library Board of Trustees.
"We’ve never been above the minimum," said Marilynn Mullen, director of the library.
If a public library doesn’t have a strategic and technology plan for the next five years, its governing body can take back some of its money, explained Ms. Venanzi and Ms. Mullen.
Cranbury Public Library has been busy staying up to date and working toward the construction of a new library by 2015 while working with a decreasing bottom line.
The library also plans to buy its own server for its database so it doesn’t have to partner with the school. Cranbury’s library serves as the municipal as well as school library
The library also plans to produce more promotional materials, such as brochures and fliers, and conduct surveys to learn how to better serve its community.
New Jersey’s municipal libraries are run by a board of trustees appointed by the mayor. The salaries of Cranbury library’s three full-time and eight part-time employees are set by the board of trustees and funded by the $572,604 given to the library by the township.
That amount also must cover administrative and executive expenses, office supplies, technology, books and periodicals and audio and visual devices.
Ms. Mullen and Ms. Venanzi explained how the library is getting less funding at a time it needs it most.
"We’ve already had a budget cut," Ms. Mullen said, referring to cuts the past two years. At its current size, the library has met challenges in fulfilling its role as both a public and a school library.
The library is 6,000 square feet. The state mandates an elementary school library to be 4,000 square feet and a middle school library to be 6,000 square feet, Ms. Venanzi said.
"We know if we had a bigger library, we’d be able to better serve the community," Ms. Mullen said.
The Cranbury Library Foundation is campaigning to raise money for the new library, which will be across the parking lot from the current one. The new library will cost about $3 million.
Without actively fundraising, the Foundation has $20,000 set aside so far.
Ms. Mullen and Ms. Venanzi emphasized the library is something the public uses frequently. Over the past 10 years, it has had a 108 percent increase to 53,510 items, including 36,773 books. Also, reference questions have increased drastically, and programs hosted by the library have doubled, Ms. Venanzi explained.
"During this time when we’re being used more than ever, I don’t understand our funding," she said.
In addition to the increase in general use, the library’s small conference room also is being used more than it can accommodate.
"More and more people are calling, requesting to use our library," Ms. Mullen said. "I’d say, once a week, we have to turn someone away because we just don’t have the room (in the conference room)."
Two years ago, the library separated the public and school sections so only students are allowed in the school section during school hours.
"Both school and public use have grown," Ms. Mullen said. "That’s why it’s time for a new library."
The population of Cranbury and its school have doubled since the library was built in 1969. The population of Cranbury is about 4,070, and its school has about 680 students.
Ms. Venanzi said Cranbury is very much a reading town, explaining how the book discussion group keeps getting donations.
"I can’t imagine this town without a library," she said.
In Monroe, the public library budget is "still working through the channel," said Irene Goldberg, director.
In 2010, the amount appropriated to the library by the township was $3,087,312, said George Lang, Monroe Township’s chief financial officer.
Monroe Public Library receives money from the township, Friends of the Monroe Library and the Monroe Township Library Foundation.
The money received from the Friends is minimal, and the money the Foundation raises is placed in reserve, Ms. Goldberg said.
Monroe’s library is 44,000 square feet. Its circulation in 2010 was about 530,000 items.
"We’re one of the highest circulation libraries in Middlesex County," Ms. Goldberg said.
The Friends of the Library raises money for the library’s day to day needs or things it needs that are not covered in the budget, Ms. Goldberg said.
"Monroe Township Library Foundation is there for us when times are tough," she said. "They’re more long-term."
She added, "In Monroe, we have a very good relationship with the township, and we’re happy to have that relationship. We understand that the township is working with a short pencil. Whatever we have to do to cooperate, we’ll do."
The story for the Jamesburg Public Library is different since its funding is being cut about $4,000 due to the decrease in property values.
"That’s going to cut into all we can do, especially with all the utilities," said Carole Hetzell, former president of the board of trustees, a trustee, president of the Friends of the Jamesburg Public Library and a volunteer for the library.
"We have a very active Friends group trying to breach the hole," she said.
Several thousands of dollars have been cut since the beginning of the recession, she said.
"As property value goes down, so does our money," she said, explaining how Jamesburg never gets more than one-third of a mill from borough taxes.
For Jamesburg, that works out to be about $173,000.
General circulation for the library is about 26,000 items, and its square footage is about 6,000 square feet, Ms. Hetzell said. "When I tell people in New Jersey that (we receive $173,000) they laugh. They don’t know how our library functions," Ms. Hetzell said.
Unlike many surrounding communities, Jamesburg doesn’t have many industries, affluent houses or a high population, she explained.
"It’s our volunteers that help us to keep going," Ms. Hetzell said.
She said the library is very active with close to 1,000 people coming in every month.
Also, the library just voted Jan. 10 to hire Evalina F. Urbe as new library director. She will start Feb. 1.
Ms. Urbe has been an interim librarian for Jamesburg Library, a per diem librarian in Atlantic City and a librarian at a number of other places. She also has taught computer courses professionally, Ms. Hetzell said.
The library will hold a reception for Ms. Urbe on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
"She’s bringing a lot of energy to the library," Ms. Hetzell said.
