|Debra Smith|
In the recent failure of the budget article to fund reduced staffing for the New Gloucester Public Library, it was clear that community members want a well-funded library. Supporters spoke and wrote of the important role that the library plays in their own and others’ lives throughout the budget development process and in the Q&A session for the revised article that will go back to voters in September. But some select board members are concerned that the library is not run as efficiently as it could be, and the town manager has said that it needs modernizing.
For purposes of comparison, this article looks at the budgets, staffing and services of three local libraries: New Gloucester, Gray and Poland. Poland is slightly smaller than New Gloucester, while Gray is about a quarter larger in population.
A bit of history
Libraries date back to ancient times. In the US, local private and subscription libraries have been around since the beginning, but free public libraries were established across the country starting in the mid-1800’s to provide access to knowledge and books to all community members. Some public libraries were started with the support of benefactors and continue to receive some support from donations, endowments and grants, but the majority have been funded primarily by local tax dollars. Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,698 libraries across the US between 1883 and 1929, in exchange for towns’ commitment to pay for operation and maintenance. In recent years, public libraries have evolved far beyond lending books to providing a community hub for connecting, learning, research and innovation.
New Gloucester’s first library was a subscription library in the Bell Tavern, starting in 1798, and later moved to the Stevens School. It was 1888 when the creation of a public library in the town manager’s office was passed at town meeting, and 1896 when the town voted to buy land and build a library. The library outgrew its building (now the meetinghouse) over the decades and the old high school was renovated a century later. The expanded library, staffed by two librarians, opened in 1998.
Poland’s library was started around the turn of the 20th century in their town hall, but didn’t have a building until the 1960’s when the Hiram Ricker family donated funds to build a library and community center, and to establish an endowment to help support its operation over the years. Gray’s library also began early and evolved over time. It was greatly expanded after the 2009 recession, as part of their community and economic development efforts. The town believed that a great library would be a big draw for the town.
Library budgets
The Maine State Library collects data from libraries across the state and publishes an annual report that includes a variety of information, from budgets to staffing and services. According to the 2018 report, the majority of Maine libraries are funded primarily by their municipalities: 72 of the 106 libraries reporting received 90% or more of their total revenue from their towns, and 85 received 80% or more. Among towns of similar size to New Gloucester (5-6,000), there’s quite a range. Winthrop’s Charles M. Bailey Public Library receives $302,504 from their town budget, while Bridgton and Damariscotta supplement their town’s contribution with funds raised from grants, gifts, and donations from their affluent communities of donors and seasonal residents.
Both Poland and Gray have higher budgets than New Gloucester, Gray by a factor of nearly 3. Poland receives the least from town funds, though that is supplemented by the Ricker endowment each year. For their collections of books and media, Poland spends more than twice as much as New Gloucester, and Gray spends nearly 6 times more. Poland’s staff costs are slightly higher than New Gloucester’s, while Gray spends more than twice as much on staffing.
Staffing
New Gloucester also has the smallest staff (1.9). Poland and Gray each have about 4.5 FTEs (full time equivalent) staff, including librarians and additional support staff. Gray has 6 full- and part-time staff, including 1.5 professional librarians (with Masters in Library Science degrees),1.5 other librarians, and 1.5 other staff. Poland has 6 full- and part-time staff as well, with a director and several others who support circulation and programming. While New Gloucester is facing a staff cutback to 1.65 FTEs, the other two libraries are not anticipating any staff cuts.
Programs and services
All three libraries offer programs for children and adults, with children’s programs having the greatest attendance. Gray has by far the greatest attendance numbers for child and adult programs, though they offer little for young adults. Poland offers the greatest number of programs for young adults, though New Gloucester has the most attendees among this age-group.
Gray has by far the highest number of library visits, as well as the most reference transactions and inter-library loans received and provided. Poland has slightly fewer visits than New Gloucester over the course of the year, but significantly more reference transactions and inter-library loans.
Questions?
These data provide a snapshot for comparison, and they raise a number of questions, the most immediate being how can New Gloucester increase its offerings and participation without additional resources? With less than 2 full-time equivalent staff (declining to 1.65 FTE under the new budget proposal), and currently open only 20 hours, it’s hard to imagine that our library can offer much more than book circulation, especially with the added tasks required by Covid safety precautions. Gray and Poland are fully staffed and reopened, though with programming changes necessitated by Covid. In interviews, the directors of the Poland and Gray libraries commented on the high level of support they receive from their towns and community members.
Many residents have voiced their support for the library as essential to the community, and want more, not less support, than in previous years. As Carla McAllister, the assistant librarian, noted at the recent budget Q&A session, the budget’s been flat since she started working at the library several years ago. “I think we’ve done pretty well with what we’ve got.” Friends of the NG Library, a group of volunteers, has organized and hosted book sales twice a year to raise funds for books and programs to supplement the meager budget.
Select board members have said that some townspeople use other libraries because they offer services and programs that New Gloucester doesn’t have. Looking at the numbers for just two neighboring towns, one can see why. The town manager would like to see the library modernize and diversify its revenue sources. A strategic planning process would be helpful, but unless and until there’s a significant investment in our library, it’s hard to imagine that much can change.
So, what value does a library offer to its community? Clearly, people who use the library see it as having priceless social, educational and cultural benefits. Gray recognizes that their library also offers a significant financial return on investment.
Will the board ask, “What can we get by with and still pass the budget?” Or will it be “What would a modernized library look like and what is needed to support that?” And, being more strategic, “What value does the library add to our community on multiple dimensions?”
