This is a topic which we don’t talk about very much. In recent months, it has become clear that I need to do a little bit of explaining about how the library system in Adams County is funded. Here are the ABC’s of library funding.
The A is for Adams County. The foundation of library funding comes from the county. In Adams County, the library is supported at .5 mil of accessed property value. These funds are the basis for how the county library is operated and account for 45% the library system income.
The B is for Beneficence - (I am a librarian, I had to find a really good word.). Some of the areas which make up beneficence are the Friends, Investment Income, Gifts, Fines and Fees. The Friends provide $60,000 a year in support and have done many special projects for the library above that when needed. The library also uses the income we accrue from the endowment funds which the library has been the recipients of over the years. Gifts come from donations made by Adams County residents of cash for general operations or to purchase memorial and honor books.
Alright, one little bit about fines and fees. I know libraries have always had a reputation about fines. It is viewed as a source of income and method of torture. However, it really is not. Around 1% of our income comes from fines. We also don’t hold it against you if you do have fines. As far as we are concerned, it is not a fine but extended use fee. If you wish to keep an item longer than other Adams County residents, you will have to pay the fee for that extended time.
The total income from B represents 15% of our total income.
The C is for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Based upon the income we get from Adams County and your beneficence, Pennsylvania provides us with matching funds. These matching funds are tax dollars you are paying to the State and which come back to the county for services. The matching money we get from the state represents about 40% of our income. However, this amount has not increased in many years. We received a little less in 2009 than we received in 2003, with big cuts in the middle.
As the economy is hit hard this year, the library has been extremely frugal on what we are spending money. However, our use is at the highest it has ever been. Any cuts in these funds and the library will have to make real cuts in services. We are trying to minimize any cuts as best as possible, but like everyone, we need to live in a budget. We will keep you updated on what we spend these funds on in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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3 comments:
I just read a review from a friend who was asked to speak to one of your young writers groups, and was treated poorly by the group leader, reduced in her speaking time, scolded and corrected during parts of her presentation, and escorted quickly and coldly, with the doors of the library locked behind her. She was treated poorly from the moment of her introduction, although her grace is so much greater than what I would have mustered in her case. What we share is our spiritual belief, which obviously was more important to be condescended to even though she came to speak about writing techniques.
Tell me, why should I fund an institution that is bent on offering writing material that is oppositional to my beliefs, and willing to segregate those materials and people who are in common with my own? I'd love to see a survey of which books, videos and movies offer a Christian or Judean positive view over the past thirty years compared to those which criticize the same. My guess is that we are represented unfairly.
That's fine with me. I'm happy to utilize other ways to educate and broaden the minds of my children. But until I see a reason to want to come to a place where my family will be welcomed I will not offer an extra cent to such institutions willing to represent such a hateful, condemning environment as I find in our public library systems. This is not to keep you from trying, but to encourage you to re-think how you treat all of your guests, especially those who have been invited to come in and speak.
I just read a review from a friend who was asked to speak to one of your young writers groups, and was treated poorly by the group leader, reduced in her speaking time, scolded and corrected during parts of her presentation, and escorted quickly and coldly, with the doors of the library locked behind her. She was treated poorly from the moment of her introduction, although her grace is so much greater than what I would have mustered in her case. What we share is our spiritual belief, which obviously was more important to be condescended to even though she came to speak about writing techniques.
Tell me, why should I fund an institution that is bent on offering writing material that is oppositional to my beliefs, and willing to segregate those materials and people who are in common with my own? I'd love to see a survey of which books, videos and movies offer a Christian or Judean positive view over the past thirty years compared to those which criticize the same. My guess is that we are represented unfairly.
That's fine with me. I'm happy to utilize other ways to educate and broaden the minds of my children. But until I see a reason to want to come to a place where my family will be welcomed I will not offer an extra cent to such institutions willing to represent such a hateful, condemning environment as I find in our public library systems. This is not to keep you from trying, but to encourage you to re-think how you treat all of your guests, especially those who have been invited to come in and speak.
The Adams County Library System does attempt to serve the entire population of Adams County. Although the library system may purchase some materials which are not appropriate for every family in Adams County, we do strive to purchase a verity of materials which are appropriate to the diverse population which makes up our residents.
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