Council Cuts Library Funding Despite Public Protest and Mayoral Veto

The Middletown Public Library has had its funding cut leaving the future of the library in question.   In a 7-1 vote to override the veto by the mayor, the city council voted to cut the library's $250,000 annual budget.  The library is expected to continue as a nonprofit entity.  Here's a random quote from the article:

"After a period of public comment, McNamara provided a rebuttal, saying the borough could not afford its previous $250,000 annual funding for the library because of a 2012 budget deficit.
“We’re not against the library, folks, but decisions have to be made and we don’t have time,” he said.
“We are here for the town and if we have to cut the budget and cut money so we don’t have another Harrisburg, we have to do it, and we were advised by professionals where we should do the cutting,” said Councilor Barbara Arnold, referencing recommendations by borough financial consultant Mark Morgan. “So we are doing what professionals told us to do.”

So basically, "we fucked up and you are going to have to pay with your children's and communities education."  One has to wonder what happened to this community that they need $250,000 right now rather than take cuts from other departments as a whole and, you know, act like a community that is in this together rather than acting like panicked twenty-year-olds deciding not to pay the Internet bill because they have a connection on their phone.  I hope the library can continue in this diminished capasity, but this may just be the death nail for this library.  Our thoughts are with the library and the community.

Council overrides mayor's veto, cuts library funding - Middletown Press and Journal

Palmyra Library Shills for The Electric Company

The Palmyra Public Library of Palmyra, PA has entered into a fundraising agreement with the Stream Energy electrical company.  The agreement is simple, the library switches to Stream Energy (nope, not "steam," I read it wrong at first and thought of librarian's shoveling coal) and convinces their patrons to also do the switch.  For every patron they get to switch, they get $4 per month for however long that person keeps an account. LDNews

I am torn, frankly.  On one side, we got a great funding opportunity from an unexpected source.  On the other, we have a library being sponsored by a private company.  Wherever you stand on the privatization of libraries, it has to start somewhere.  Sure, right, there is no effort by Stream Energy to influence the library or take over its services, but we can all see that this is more than the average donation.  Why not go further?

Hell, see that image to the left of "The Electric Company"?  It's an advertisement.  Click on it and it will take you to Amazon and I get little to nothing.  Tons of images of books on a library website have linked to Amazon could generate tons of revenue for a possible library but wouldn't that be a little wrong?  We shall see.

Boca Raton to Give Beach Residents Library Cards?

The Boca Raton public library system is considering giving library cards to the 15,000 beach residents without the normal $150/250 nonresident fee.  Sun-Sentinal

Poor, poor snow birds, coming down to live in the beautiful beach community but can't get a library card.  What the matter, snow bird?  Nobody want to build a nice beach library for ya?  Can't afford your own books?

But seriously, I can see how this would boost the library system's numbers, both for the good and bad.  More numbers means more ability to show relevance in the community, but more numbers means materials are out the door more than usual.  I say lower the fee if you want more numbers or petition whoever cares for the land to give out more money.  Somebody's got to pay somebody to get the trash out there.