Library Director Abandons Full Funding Quest

Emmaus Public Library unexpectedly gave up on its attempt to get its full contribution for 2011 from Upper Milford supervisors.

Township residents who use the library were encouraged to attend the Dec. 2 supervisors meeting to seek restoration of the full budget request.

 But at that meeting, library director Frances Larash told supervisors:

"The library will accept the proposed budget amount for 2011, but respectfully requests that you consider an increase in that amount, however small."

The library asked Upper Milford for $46,776 for 2011. In late November, supervisors voted to only give it $30,000.

 On Nov. 29, the day the library began rallying township residents to restore the full budget request, Larash said the proposed cut would cause reductions in library salaries, operating hours and staff.

On Dec. 2, Larash was the first person to address supervisors about the library.

A more impassioned appeal came from Dorothy Nicholas, who represents Upper Milford on the library's board of trustees.

 "I'm begging you to rethink this, because there must be some way we can find money in this township to cover this library usage," Nicholas told supervisors. "We're a quiet service that meets the needs of this township. I'm very concerned about what your reduction might do to us."

The Dec. 2 meeting was conducted formally, with no free-wheeling give and take between library supporters and supervisors. That contrasted with the Nov. 18 meeting, where people in the audience encouraged supervisors to reduce or even eliminate township support to the library.

At the Nov. 18 meeting, no one in the audience spoke up to defend the library's budget request.

At the Dec. 2 meeting, no one spoke up to defend the supervisors' decision to cut $16,776 for the library out of the proposed 2011 budget

Nicholas said the library already has cut salaries and personnel and cannot be run with volunteers. She said it has become high-tech, requiring qualified staffers to work with its technology. She also stressed not everyone has computers, adding the library's bank of computers is in use all day, including by people from Upper Milford. She added township residents "use the library all the time."

 "It seems it is somewhat fashionable for governments to slash out at libraries," said Nicholas. She noted state budget cuts already forced the library to close Fridays. She said it's hard for the library to say "you cannot come in today, we can't afford to serve you."

Larash said the library and Upper Milford have been partners providing library services to township residents for more than 43 years.

"The support of the township is essential to the daily operation of the library," Larash said. "Residents of the township are using the library and all of its services. The library has resources for all. It provides information, education and recreation for students, job seekers, retirees, home-schooled families and actually everybody in the community."

Richard Brooks, president of the library board, said out-of-work people frequently go into the library and use its computers to search for jobs. "If you're a rich person this probably has no impact on you."

Township resident Carl Oplinger said he taught at Muhlenberg College for 41 years and saw many former East Penn School District students who benefitted from their experiences at the Emmaus Library

Oplinger said of all the financial support given to various endeavors by the township, the library has the widest base of participation.

On Nov. 29, Larash said the library has 2,900 "registered borrowers" from Upper Milford, more than one third of the township's population.

About 30 people were at the meeting but it was unclear how many were there about the library. Only four stood to speak on its behalf.

Supervisors did not immediately respond to any of them.

However, a few minutes later Steven Ackerman, chairman of the three supervisors, reported at least a dozen others had contacted the township about the library by mail, phone and e-mail.  He said several asked supervisors to restore full funding to the library, which is what the library had asked them to do.

Supervisor Robert Sentner, who initiated the move to reduce township financial support to the library, said he understands its importance the community, but added: "I have to look at what's best for everyone in our township. We have to get a budget that works. Even with the tax increase and the cuts we've made, we still don't have a balanced budget. We're going into capital reserves."

Ackerman said he appreciated everyone's comments about the library "and we empathize with your concerns. We will take all your concerns under advisement."

 Supervisors are expected to adopt the 2011 budget at their Dec. 29 meeting.

Upper Milford is facing its first real estate tax increase in more than 30 years.