Libraries make funding request from county legislators
Photo by Tom Rivers: Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library, joined other library directors in asking for a funding increase from the Orleans County Legislature.
ALBION – Directors from the four public libraries in Orleans County made their annual pitch for more funding from the County Legislature recently.
The county currently provides $10,087 to the four libraries – Albion (Hoag Library), Holley (Community Free Library), Lyndonville (Yates Community Library) and Medina (Lee-Whedon Memorial Library).
The libraries would like to receive $1 per resident or $42,883.
The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011. It hasn’t changed since then.
During a budget presentation on Sept. 26, the library leaders’ presentation focused on the services the four sites provide for seniors, from large print books, to concerts and entertainment, to expertise in using computers and technology. In previous years, library directors touted their children’s programming.
Emily Cebula, director of the Yates Community Library, said the libraries are committed to serving everyone in the community, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances.
“We love our jobs,” Cebula said. “We want you to know we are doing our best for new people in our county and people who have been here forever.”
A funding boost from the county would allow the libraries to maintain a current collection, acquire new books and other materials, and lessen pressure to raise their taxes.
The local libraries will be part of an upcoming community engagement initiative through the Nioga Library System, looking for more ways to engage the community.
The Nioga study will also look at changes in the local communities, including a rising percentage of senior citizens.
