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Due to budget deficit, Kane library is cutting hours |
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Written by Publisher
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Thursday, 30 July 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
The Friends' Memorial Public Library in Kane has been forced to cut its hours of operation due to a budget deficit. The library board is planning to ask Kane area municipalities and library patrons for financial assistance. Discussing the library's financial problems are, left to right: Janet Bard, a volunteer member of the library board and a member of the Kane Borough Council; Susanne Zampogna, library director; and Charlotte Weiser, library secretary and a part-time employee at the library.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
Faced with a budget deficit of more than $10,000, the Friends' Memorial Public Library in Kane is forced to cut its hours of operation.
The cutback, effective Saturday, will trim the operation from 32 hours per week to 26 hours.
"This is the minimum schedule needed for us to meet state standards," Susanne Zampogna, library director, said.
The new timetable calls for the library to open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The new schedule eliminates service from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on these days.
The library will remain open from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday and from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday and Monday.
"We decided to cut back two hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday rather than having to close another day," Zampogna said.
Unfortunately, she said, the new schedule will prevent children from visiting the library immediately at the end of the school day. But she said the children will be able to visit during the 6-8 p.m. timeframe three days a week. The 6-8 p.m. time slot also is new. The evening schedule previously had been from 7-9 p.m.
Zampogna said reducing the hours of operation is "not a choice you want to make." But she said the library needed to cut back to the minimum allowed due to the budget deficit.
Zampogna said the current financial condition of the library is the "worst it's ever been" in her 15 years as library director. She blames the financial problems on decreases in state funding as well as a lack of grants and a reduction in memorials.
She also pointed out that McKean County continues its stance against any funding for all five public libraries in the county.
"We don't receive one dime from the county," Zampogna said. In comparison, she said, Forest County allocates $41,000 for libraries in Tionesta and Marienville. She said Cameron County provides $60,000 for the one county public library in Emporium.
Janet Bard, one of seven members of the volunteer library board in Kane, said the board has asked the county Board of Commissioners several times to provide some funding for the libraries.
"We've begged them," Bard said. "They told us they haven't done it in the past and don't intend to do it in the future."
To help the library overcome its deficit, the board plans to ask Kane area municipalities and library patrons to provide more financial support.
The borough of Kane now allocates $8,300 to the library. The borough will be asked to increase its allocation to $10,000 in its next budget. Wetmore Township now gives $1,700 to the library. The board will ask the township to raise its allocation to $3,500.
The board also will ask Hamilton Township (Ludlow) to bump up its allocation from $250 to $650. Highland Township (James City) will be asked to raise its contribution from $500 to $600.
The library also conducts various fund-raisers such as the "used book sale," which is slated for Oct. 2-3.
Zampogna is one of four part-time employees at the library. One part-time employee works only six hours a month. Zampogna said the state requires a paid employee to be on duty at the library during operational hours. There also are 18 active volunteers who assist patrons at the circulation desk.
The Kane library has 15,345 books, which are loaned to library patrons. A total of 17,829 books were "circulated" through the library last year, Zampogna said.
While the library is counting on increased financial support from the community, the bottom line won't be enhanced much by persons who are late in returning their borrowed books.
"Our fine still is just 10 cents a day," Zampogna said.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 October 2009 )
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