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Hollidaysburg library seeks more funding

The Hollidaysburg Area Public Library has asked the school board double its funding from $40,000 to $80,000.

Library Director Janet Eldred, Treasurer Sue Burket and President Joe Keller made their request at the Hollidaysburg Area School Board meeting Wednesday.

“We are asking you to double the amount of funding, from $40,000 to $80,000,” Eldred said.

State funding and donations provide larger portions of the library’s income, but school district property taxes are the library’s third-largest funding source. Burket provided copies of the library’s budget.

For the past seven years, the library has ended with a budgetary deficit of about $30,000 each year, according to Burket’s documents. The library’s savings have been used each year to make up budget shortfalls, Burket said.

At that rate, the library’s savings will be depleted in 10 years, she said.

Keller said the impact of doubling the district’s funding for the library would be a few dollars to taxpayers.

School district Business Manager Rob Roberts confirmed a property valued at $100,000 would currently have a library tax of $1.66.

The portion of the district’s property taxes that goes to the library is 0.0000166 mills. The formula for a Hollidaysburg Area School District taxpayer’s contribution to the library is the total property assessment times 0.0000166, according to Roberts.

Among the biggest expenses for the library last year were salary and wages, $147,000; and collections of books, periodicals and internet services, $32,000. Employee benefits, contracted services, computer expenses, utilities and equipment lease are among other expenses, Burket’s budget document shows.

Eldred said the library gets 77,500 visits a year.

Four years ago, the library moved into a new building at 1 Furnace Road, mortgage free with the help of direct donations from residents and grants, Eldred said.

“Even with all the support, we are struggling to make ends meet because of decreased state and local funding,” she said.

“No institution is more democratic than the library. We are here to serve everyone, providing vital information crucial to a free and thriving society. In the digital age, libraries have become more important, not less, as they provide reliable information online. In addition, most readers, especially children, still prefer paper books,” Eldred said.

The Hollidaysburg Area library also provides free Wi-Fi as well as meeting spaces for community groups.

“Every month, events fill half a page in the Altoona Mirror,” she said.

After the board’s business meeting, school board President Ron Sommer asked for discussion on the library’s request.

“I like the library, but I’m not in favor of taking more money from the taxpayers right now,” Lois Kaneshiki said. “If the public wants to support the library, then they should. But it should be voluntary.”

Melissa Mitchell asked district administration if the district’s nonprofit foundation could help increase funding for the library.

However, the district foundation’s bylaws are set up specifically to fund classroom endeavors, district solicitor Brendan Moran of Beard Legal Group said.

Sommer recommended the board work on its 2018-19 budget through May and then revisit the library’s request. A final school district budget is due to the state department education by the end of June.

“Let’s wait through May, see how the budget turns out, and take it from there,” Sommer said.

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O’Reilly is at 946-7435.

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