As you are by now aware, the Board of Trustees of the Somers Library has reluctantly come to the decision that, due to the limited 2011 budget, we will no longer be able to open the library on Sundays. In order to accommodate those who may have used the library on Sunday, we will now open two hours earlier on Saturdays and stay open two hours later on Thursdays.
This was not an easy decision. The Board of Trustees loves our library so much that, we, like other volunteers in their respective organizations in town, put a lot of time and effort into making the library the best it can be. It was a very sad day for us when we realized that we had no other viable option.
Slowest Day of the Week
Closing on Sunday was the only viable option because of the fact that it is, by far, the slowest day of the Library week according to circulation numbers accumulated through the Westchester Library System (WLS). Also because, unlike other days of the week, programs on Sundays are held on less than a weekly basis, Sunday closing is the least disruptive. The money we save on heating (or air conditioning) and electricity on that day also contributed to our decision. The use of volunteers, closing during "slow" times or utilizing our budget more efficiently are some suggestions being made. Some of these belt-tightening suggestions have already been implemented over the last few years.
Scheduled Programs
Monday through Saturday, the library hosts myriad events which include book groups for school-aged children, programs for younger children as well as various classes, seminars and workshops open to all ages. Many children who participate in the popular after-school book clubs take the school bus directly to the library to attend these programs. Should the library be closed on any of those days, we would have had to rearrange the scheduling of the events and find a place, within our already crowded building, for the various classes to meet.
Use of Volunteers
As we all know, it is much easier to say that a decision was wrong than to come up with a workable alternative. Some have suggested we use volunteers. The library is already blessed to have over 50 hard working volunteers who devote their free time to the library. However, a library cannot run on volunteers alone and significant time is needed to train the volunteers on the WLS system. As much as we appreciate and count on their dedication, they are not professional librarians holding advanced professional degrees and it would be irresponsible and potentially costly to leave the responsibility of town assets to those who are not permanent employees. We have a wonderful Director and librarians working for our library who have consistently gone above and beyond what has been asked of them for the sake of the library. These trained professionals are essential to the high level of service you have come to expect from the library.
Slow Times
Also, those critical of the decision, misleadingly claim that hours should be reduced during "slow" times, when there aren't many patrons in the library. However, there is more to running a library than just checking out books. On a daily basis, more than 100 books from other libraries come in from WLS which need to be sorted and provided to the appropriate patron. Similarly, there are those books that our library lends to other libraries that have to get pulled from the shelf and prepped to be shipped. There is researching and ordering of library materials, programs to advertise, prepare for and run, tracking and vouchering vendor activity, providing tax forms, preparing payroll vouchers, booking the program room (the only conference room in town!), artist set-up, renewals by phone, placing holds and reconciling fines, training and supervising clerks, substitutes and pages, checking in books from the book drop, tending to the copier, bulletin board and display cases, website and e-mail upkeep, updating Twitter and Facebook, attending workshops and meetings, and sorting donations, to name a few. All of these go along with the everyday functions that come with running a not for profit, community based library. Plus, when our overworked and underpaid custodians aren't available, the staff's nonprofessional chores include dusting, vacuuming, windexing, and mopping the bathroom floors as needed!
Cutting Budget Lines
Another suggestion has been to cut monies from one of our budget lines. However, the library is already operating without 1.5 positions and is under a town-mandated hiring freeze. The library is only provided funding for two part-time custodians despite being one of the busiest public buildings in town and our dedicated staff hasn't received a salary increase in three years. As it is now, we borrow many materials from WLS because we cannot afford to purchase or store new materials. Further, maintenance issues in our town-owned building (broken windows, a leaking roof, a broken toilet in the basement and mold, among other things) present a constant strain on the library budget. Various fundraising efforts by the Library and the Friends of the Somers Library have certainly helped but are not, by any means, a solution to our financial difficulties.
The last thing the Board of Trustees wanted to do was to decrease library hours. As all of you know who run a business or take care of your finances at home, we can only work within our budgetary limitations. We believe we have made the best decision and hope that adequate funding will be restored soon.
We thank you for your continued support of the library and, of course, we encourage you to continue to speak with us about any issues or concerns you may have by contacting us at somers@wlsmail.org. Our recent community survey showed that we are delivering service at a 96% approval rating! We are here to serve you, the patrons, and take our role as Trustees very seriously. We hope to continue the outstanding services our wonderful Director, librarians, other staff and volunteers have provided.
The Board of Trustees of the Somers Library
January, 2011.
