Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Weather Alert/Early Closing

All public libraries in Franklin County will be closing early today. After 3:00, please call your local library before venturing out to go there. It is possible that Coyle will remain open until 5:00, but call ahead to be sure. The next heavier surge of snow is due to hit Franklin County during the late afternoon. The libraries opened on time this morning, but plan to close at 3:00 to allow everyone safe travel home.

Hopefully, the libraries will be able to open at their normal times tomorrow, Thursday, January 27.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause you. Thank you.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Grove Family Library 5th Anniversary Celebration

Join me in celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the opening of Grove Family Library. Enjoy art, authors, music, refreshments throughout the week of January 31. See the schedule at the link above.

Hard to believe, isn't it? 5 years ago (on January 27 and 28) more than 100 volunteers were moving the contents of little Ragged Edge Library across Route 30 to newly completed 17,000 square foot building. And oh the number of people who have visited the library since, more than 400,000 people, checking out almost 530,000 items from the collection. That's a five-year average of 80,000 visitors and 106,000 items per year, which continues to grow!

In 2005, the building project totaled about $3.50 million. $0.75 million was given as in-kind contributions from Guilford and Greene Townships, contractors, architect, and other businesses. Cora Grove gave $1.5 million. We thank many others for their generous contributions, which have reduced our debt to $560,000. Having paid off about $700,000 of the debt principal over the last 5 years, our goal now is to pay off the balance from donations over the next 5 years. The library system is paying the loan interest out of Grove Library's annual operating allocation, now. Please stop at the library to enjoy the festivities, then if you have not received a mailing, pick up an "Extinguish the Debt" campaign brochure, select a naming opportunity where appropriate, and help the library move ahead to new intitiatives for the future.

Thank you!!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Cutbacks in Library Hours

No doubt by now most of you have seen something in the media about the cuts Franklin County public libraries have made in their operating hours for this year. The cuts were a direct reflection of the huge cuts we have experienced in state funding over the last 2 years.

Our staff fought a huge battle last year to remain customer-friendly in very tough working conditions. Every staff member had lost either pay or hours, and that was very hard on morale and energy level. I congratulate and thank them for serving you well under such advers conditions. This year by cutting the operating hours during times when each library was quieter, we were able to avoid any further cuts in pay. These same staff members are already significantly underpaid before the state cuts hit libraries. In 2009 and 2010, we were able to limit hour restrictions by cutting many other areas of the budget, but the additional cuts were crippling. There were no more options, when other costs continue to rise, ie utilities, insurance, library materials.

We all greatly appreciate the financial commitment of our local officials and donors. The steady county library tax, commitments from local governments and school districts, and generous donors who met our annual appeal goal for 2010 are now the backbone of our operating budget. The state cuts reduced that annual budget by 1/8th.

THANK YOU FOR BOTH YOUR FINANCIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT DURING THESE TOUGH TIMES!!!