Archive: Opinions

Mr. Schabowski wrote the Star last week questioning the recent statements from the Friends of LCL that says the library would close if Resolution #3 on the school ballot May 19 passes and the library is abolished. Before the Friends of LCL ever wrote a public word about this issue, we carefully checked all the facts with officials from the New York State Department of Education and the Finger Lakes Library System (FLLS). We were told repeatedly by these officials that our interpretation of NYS Law 268 with regard to what would happen to the library is correct.

If Resolution #3 passes and the library is abolished, the NYS Education Department seizes all the contents of the library and redistributes them to other public entities. Tompkins County Public Library would have nothing to do with this decision or action. The building would be empty. Lansing Community Library as presently chartered would end. Sure, a NEW group of volunteers might wish to start another library at that point, but they would be starting with nothing but an empty building. However, they would not have much incentive to do this in a community that just voted to abolish a thriving, successful library.

Mr. Schabowski also wondered who uses Lansing Library and why LCL has not published numbers of people who walk through the door.  Library Manager, Susie Gutenberger, said that we have all those statistics, but nobody ever asked for them before. She and many of us volunteers have been extremely busy since she started work at LCL, helping to bridge the transition between a volunteer-run library to a fully-functioning, elected-trustee and librarian-operated facility. Our newly installed FLLS software that integrates LCL with 32 other regional libraries now provides a wealth of statistics and streamlines services for patrons, as well. This system and its maintenance were paid for entirely by a generous grant from the local Triad Foundation.

Some statistics:
190 patrons (an average number) visit the library each week.
102 reference questions (an average) are answered for patrons each week.
2893 active library patrons (5/12/09)
1396 library materials were checked out in March 2009.
1608 items were borrowed in April 2009.

On average, 75 different people per week use the public computers.
20 additional people (average) come in to access LCL’s free wireless Internet connection with their own laptops (saving them about $45 per month in possible home cable fees).
5 teens work in the “High School Helpers Work Program”, 25 total hours per week; salary paid by grant from Cooperative Extension.
2 tutors asked to use the newly designated Tutor’s Room.
15 children came to craft hours.
LCL is often busiest from 5-7 PM Monday – Thursday.

141 children participated in the 2008 Summer Reading Program, in which they each read 6 or more books, kept reading logs, and participated in two library-related entertainment events. One of our most important programs, this has been offered every year since LCL was founded.
Toddler story hour averages 12 kids and 6 parents each week.

While we now have a full time Library Manager and a part-time Clerk, we still need to rely on about 15 volunteers to operate the circulation desk and about 25 other volunteers who perform a myriad of tasks to help keep the library operating and serving the public. Since LCL reopened in winter 2007, after its building renovation, the volunteer-run Program Committee has offered free public programs for adults and families. Here are the numbers for some of those programs:

Adult/family Program attendance in 2008:
35 at Gardening with Native Plants seminar.
69 attended the opening night of the art show and antique bicycle display, and the accompanying lecture on the History of Bicycle Development.
48 attended the opening and lecture on Frank Barry’s exquisite Steam Locomotive photographs and the accompanying model train exhibit.
12 attended the program on Long-Term Health Care Insurance offered by Lifelong.

2009 attendance:
48 - Landscaping with Native Plants.
25 - Vegetable Gardening.
33 - First Aid for Pets.
10 - Fly Fishing.
13 - Cooperative Extension’s 2-hour “Making Ends Meet” money management program.

And most recently, 83 people packed the Cargill Salt Mine program! It had to be moved to the Town Hall to accommodate everyone; after the program 30 of those people went across the driveway to the library, where 5 new library cards were issued and many books and other items were borrowed by these returning and new patrons.

Please remember all of the services and this wonderful community-building activity when you step into the voting booth this Tuesday, May 19, 7 AM to 9 PM, at the Lansing Elementary School.  I am voting NO to Resolution #3.

Donna Scott
President,
Friends of Lansing Community Library

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