Archive: Around Town

Lansing  Community  Library  (LCL)  is celebrating  the  recent  receipt  of  $7,300  from  the  Bernard  Carl  and  Shirley Rosen Fund of  the  Community  Foundation of  Tompkins  County. The  grant  is  one  of  LCL’s  largest  ever  and  is a direct result of community participation in our Family Summer  Reading  Program, where these funds will be dedicated.

In summer 2013, as the library launches its 'Dig into Books' theme, the Rosen Grant will help to fund a manager for the program, and Library Director Susie Gutenberger has already envisioned several additions to the annual event, including additional interactive storytelling, a teen writer’s group, and a recycled art class.   Grant funds are never assured so over the next three years, LCL hopes to develop a fully funded Family Summer Reading Program, gradually increasing the part of our annual budget dedicated to this program.

At the library’s annual meeting Susan Currie, Director of the Tompkins County Public Library, will speak on “The Future of Libraries and the Finger Lakes Library System.”  Similar discussions are occurring on a national level as libraries serve more and more as central public meeting spaces, where communities engage in learning, discussion, and social events.  Facilitation of social interaction and public communication about issues are almost as critical as libraries’ increasing digital role.

Last year’s tax levy allowed LCL to maintain its current schedule of open hours, and funded additional programming such as the winter craft series, the Lifelong offerings, and the artist’s series. Programming alone brought in an additional 1,500 visitors over the previous year. In addition, more than 1,600 items were added to the LCL collection, along with two new eReaders, and a new printer.

This year LCL hopes to seed operational support of the Family Summer Reading Program, as well as to support technological improvements that will increase internet speed and access, support the LCL financial audit which is recommended every three years, and to meet annual increases in ongoing expenses.

President Emily Franco points out that the proposed 2014 tax levy increase would mean, for example, that an owner of a $200,000 home, based on the 2013 assessment, would see an annual levy change from $26.60 to $30.65.

“This would be an increase of less than two cents per $1,000, or from .1330 to .1464,” she explains. A modest increase is needed to continue to serve our ever increasing library patrons.  There have been increases in programming and attendance, interlibrary loans (1,200 more over the past year), computer access requests, internet demands, patron tutoring, and computer maintenance and upgrades. This calls for more staffing and more infrastructure maintenance.

“We have a dedicated group of volunteers and I don’t know how we would do it all without them. They each invest so much of their energy and talents into the library," Franco continues.  "While we will always apply for grants to supplement our budget, our goal is to reduce reliance on competitive grants for our core programs.  The LCL Endowment Fund is another example of these efforts.  We have raised $75,000 of our $100,000 goal and once fully funded, funds from the endowment will be a permanent supplement to our budget.”

The LCL Board of Trustees Annual Meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013 and is open to the public.  Prospective new trustees will be introduced, 2012 highlights will be reviewed and the 2014 budget will be discussed.  The LCL Board of Trustees will be on hand to field public questions and comments.  Refreshments will be served.

The LCL trustee election and budget vote will be held the following day, Tuesday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the LCL Community Room, 27 Auburn Road.

v9i15