Pandemic endangering library funding
POTTSTOWN » With coronavirus infection numbers hovering around a level considered safe by some, the Pottstown Regional Public Library is finally re-opening.
But use is limited and by appointment only. Like its limited use, the library has struggled through the pandemic with limited funds, offering curbside service to patrons who order materials through https://pottstownregionalpubliclibrary.org — the library website.
But unlike local or state governments, which can raise taxes to raise revenues, the library is largely at the mercy of those two institutions.
There is a Friends of the Library” organization which holds fundraisers, usually used book sales, as well as events scheduled throughout a normal year, to help close budget gaps.
But this is no normal year.
State Budget Uncertainties
There are already concerns about state funding given that with the half-year budget Harrisburg passed in June, it’s unclear what the state funding picture will look like for the
remainder of the fiscal year.
And like all budgets, the state revenue stream has taken a serious hit from the loss of business revenues due to the shutdowns imposed to stop the spread of the virus. So legislators and Gov. Tom Wolf will likely be looking for savings wherever they can find them.
“State aid to public libraries is currently only funded at five out of 12 months. Given the gaps in state revenue, it will be a challenge to get level funding this year,” according to information provided by Holly Chang, the new director of the Pottstown library.
To do their best to get that, area libraries will be pounding the virtual pavement Sept. 21, which has been designated as Pennsylvania Library Association’s (virtual) Library Legislative Day.
Librarians recently went through training to teach them how to lobby their legislators, particularly those who sit on key committees, for funds.
Will the Townships Cut?
Municipalities are the other primary source of funding for local libraries.
In Pottstown, the borough levies a specific tax to provide its library contribution, a tax that has not been raised, or lowered, in years. The 0.23 mills provides the library with a little over $177,000 in the 2020 budget.
But in the surrounding townships of West Pottsgrove, Lower Pottsgrove and Upper Pottsgrove, the contribution is left to the elected officials every year.
When West Pottsgrove Township adopted its 2020 budget last year, the commissioners cut the normal $20,000 contribution to the library by $5,000. But the library didn’t find out about until a smaller check came.
When Chang contacted former township manager Craig Lloyd, he told her that despite its millions in the bank from landfill tipping fees, the commissioners are trying to balance their budget and they made the cut to reduce expenditures.
Scott Hutt, the township’s new manager, said he is still putting together the township budget for 2021 and no decision has been made yet about the contribution to the library.
During a recent Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners meeting, there was a brief discussion about library funding and Chang confirmed that Township Manager Michelle Reddick has asked to see the library’s budget, which Chang provided.
Chang said she plans to attend all of the township meetings in the coming weeks to explain the services the library provides, as well as how many residents from each township use the library every year.
“I did my best to keep things together during the last six months,” said Chang. “I just don’t know how we can make up that kind of funding taken from us.”
“I realize we are all looking for ways to cut corners and recoup some of the loss we incurred during Covid-19 and continue to lose, but I do not think of our library as a luxury, our curbside service and online programs proved that during our closing,” Chang said.
“We serve patrons in this region for faxing (patrons send in their timesheets in order to get paid), copying
services, passport services, not to mention our programs, job search/resume help, books, electronic resources, and reference information,” she said.
Karen DiAngelo is Montgomery County’s district consultant librarian. She said all libraries in the region are facing similar challenges.
She noted that with both the Pottstown and Pottsgrove school districts teaching online, their school libraries are closed, meaning for some, the Pottstown Regional Library is the only resource for students.
In order to receive state funding, libraries are required to spend $5 per capita, DiAngelo explained.
But libraries also need to show they are supported by the communities they serve, so funding cuts from municipalities can result in additional state funding cuts, what Chang called “a domino effect.”
“Being closed, libraries have no way to raise supplemental funding. No fines. No spring book sales. That’s a big fundraiser in Pottstown, but it didn’t happen,” she said.
But programming continues to happen online, and that means costs and salaries.
With so many other people losing jobs, or having hours cut, some without computer access, “people will need us more than ever,” said DiAngelo.
And given that the last year was the first year libraries got an increase in the budget since 2008, things don’t look good said DiAngelo, adding “we probably won’t know until after the election.”
Pennsylvania cut funding to libraries by $20 million in 2008 when the financial crisis hit. In last year’s budget, it put $5 million back in, “but we’re still behind where we were 12 years ago. How do you catch up?” asked DiAngelo.