Residents place tickets inside bags at the Cresson Library basket raffle last Sunday. Courtesy photo

Contrary to popular belief, libraries located in Blair, Cambria and Bedford counties heavily rely on fundraisers and donations — on top of governmental funding — to pay their bills.

With a pause in state and federal funding, these institutions are counting on funding made from events.

To help with costs, the Cresson Public Library hosted a basket raffle Oct. 26 in conjunction with the Cresson Area Lions Club Pancake dinner, library manager Bronwyn Katdare said.

This year, however, the library’s biannual event got a boost from the Story Stichers, a local club that upcycled a number of totes to be raffled off at the fundraiser.

Sydney Beunier-Lucas said the club chose to support the library to “keep it alive,” especially as a place where residents can meet.

Collecting more than $3,000 from the event, Katdare said the raffle was a “wonderful way to see different segments of the community come together.”

Friends of the Altoona Area Public Library help cover fundraising costs for the Altoona library, Executive Director Jennifer Knisely said.

Last year, they raised more than $40,000 for the facility, Knisely said, adding the Friends group makes a “significant impact.”

The library hasn’t received its first state aid allotment and will be drawing from their investment account to tide them over until the budget stalemate ends, Knisely said.

Budgeting efforts

Katdare said funds at the federal and state level only cover a small portion of the Cresson Public Library’s budget, adding that building expenses, such as utilities and insurance coverage, are paid for through fundraisers and donations.

“A lot of people think the library is funded fully by the county or the state, but that’s just not the case,” she said.

As for the Bedford County Library, director Matt Godisart said two-thirds of their budget is covered by governmental funding, leaving the rest up to his team.

Throughout the year, they conduct a handful of fundraisers ranging from bookmark and bag sales to Book Tasting events, where participants gather at a restaurant that prepares food on theme with a preselected book.

As the state budget impasse and federal shutdown continue, however, Godisart said it will become more financially difficult for his facility to function.

All four libraries in Bedford County receive $500,000 in total from the state, he said, so the county library sees half that amount, and it usually runs dry about halfway through the year.

The longer the impasse continues, the more they will have to start pulling from their reserves, he said.

More than books

Although books are a given, local libraries also provide patrons with computers, movies, internet connection and community services.

If residents have any questions, like where to find money for heating, staff members can “connect them to another organization,” Godisart said.

The return on investment rate is substantial for residents, he added, because libraries are the only place that do not expect their customers to spend money while offering multiple amenities.

“Every dollar the library spends, the community gets back $80,” he said.

During these trying times, Knisely said the Altoona library will remain open to provide much-needed services.

While many local residents will be making tough decisions about how they spend their money, she said “a strong institution in the community can help offset that inequity.”