Learn about the Frank J. Basloe Library's redistricting proposal. Herkimer, NY

1. Creating Stable
& Sustainable Funding
Basloe Library’s Path to the Future

2. Basloe Library:
Herkimer’s Anchor
• Herkimer School District residents depend on
Basloe for
– Getting our kids to love reading early
– Keeping our families entertained and educated
– Keeping our seniors engaged
– Public computers
– Free WiFi
– Community meeting space
– Strong collections and information
– FREE resources

3. Basloe Library:
Herkimer’s Anchor
• Herkimer School District residents depend
on Basloe for
– One-on-one professional research assistance
– One-on-one assistance with eReaders
– A collection that is unfettered by corporate or
political influence
– Photocopying, faxing, scanning and printing
• All at a low cost
• All with staff to assist patrons

4. Our Numbers
Tell Our Story
• In 2011
– 10,158 people used our 11 public computers
– 67,993 items were circulated
– 1,973 people attended 132 session
– 59,322 library visits
– 4,281 reference questions answered
• In 2012, even with being closed 4 weeks
– 13,033 public computer sessions
– 73,596 library visits

5. Our Numbers
Tell Our Story
• The total value of the programs and
services the Library provided in 2012 was
$989,538.
• For every tax dollar the community
invested in Basloe in 2012, the community
received back $4.40 in library programs
and services.
• This is a great public service return on
investment for a community our size.

6. Our Funding Tells
A Different Story
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Village $ 166,983.00 $ 176,189.00 $ 170,000.00 $ 170,000.00 $ 148,000.00 $ 102,895.00
Town $ 21,000.00 $ 21,000.00 $ 21,000.00 $ 21,000.00 $ 21,000.00 $ 21,000.00
County $ 8,951.00 $ 8,973.00 $ 8,719.00 $ 8,719.00 $ 8,719.00 $ 8,719.00
School District Ballot $ 30,000.00 $ 35,000.00 $ 40,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ 90,000.00
State $ 2,485.00 $ 2,407.00 $ 2,211.00 $ 2,039.00 $ 1,835.00 $ 1,800.00
$-
$20,000.00
$40,000.00
$60,000.00
$80,000.00
$100,000.00
$120,000.00
$140,000.00
$160,000.00
$180,000.00
$200,000.00
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Village
Town
County
School District Ballot
State

7. Our Funding Tells
A Different Story
• In 2012, School District voters increased
our funding from $45,000 to $90,000
• The same year, the Village cut our funding
by $45,000
$-
$20,000.00
$40,000.00
$60,000.00
$80,000.00
$100,000.00
$120,000.00
$140,000.00
$160,000.00
$180,000.00
$200,000.00
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Village
School District Ballot

8. 2% Tax Cap
• The Town and Village finances are
strained under the state tax cap
• The Library is just one voice in competing
financial priorities
• Expect further cuts

9. Stagnant Funding
• New materials budget the lowest it’s been
in years
• No teen/tween programming
• No Saturday hours during the summer
• Not able to network and collaborate
effectively with community partners like
our schools

10. Stagnant Funding
• Puts Basloe at risk
– Out of date collections
– Inability to grow and meet community needs
• Staying at current funding levels means
eventually the Library will no longer
– Be able to meet community needs
– Be considered an important asset
– Be able to keep its doors open

11. Solving Basloe’s
Funding Issues
• Basloe is chartered as a municipal library
serving the Village of Herkimer
• In actuality, we serve the entire school
district
• Taking steps forward to share community-
based funding throughout the school
district

12. Solving Basloe’s
Funding Issues
• The Library’s Board of Trustees has voted
to pursue becoming a School District
Public Library
– Service area is the same as the school district
(thus the name)
– Public votes to approve creating the district
with base funding level
– Public elects 5 trustees

13. Solving Basloe’s
Funding Issues
• On Tuesday, May 21st, the voters in the
Herkimer City School District will be asked to
– Approve establishing the Library District with
community-based funding of $270,930
• 78 cents/$1,000 of assessed value
– Elect 5 trustees
• The budget could not increase without a vote.
• Trustees will be elected on a rotating basis.

14. Solving Basloe’s
Funding Issues
• For an average home assessed at $80,000
– $60 a year
– $5 a month
– $1.15 a week
• Annually, this
amounts to
– Borrowing 3 adult books/e-
books or
– 4 new DVDs
Instead of purchasing

15. Library is Only Asking for
1% in Community-Based Funding
Percentages based on current 2012 tax bills and then factoring in community-based funding for the library.

16. Your Future. Our Focus.
• If Basloe’s funding is stable and
sustainable, the Library can put our focus
on the future of our community.
• The Library understands how important it
is to downtown/Main Street.
• Strengthening the Library means
supporting and improving our downtown.

17. Your Future. Our Focus.
• In focus groups and community
survey, you told us you wanted a stronger
library that could provide
– More hours
– A more diverse collection
– More programs for all age levels especially
Teens and Tweens
– Increased collaborations in the community

18. Establishing the
District Means
• Restore 10 hours a week
– Go from 46 to 56 hours
• Restore new materials budget
– Books
– eBooks
– DVDs
– AudioBooks
• Increase periodical offerings

19. Establishing the
District Means
• Restore Teen/Tween programming
• Increase Children’s and Adult
programming
• Hire an additional full-time professional
librarian
• Increase continuing education
opportunities for the staff and retraining
skilled staff to take on new responsibilities

20. Not Establishing
the District Means
• Close an additional day a week
– Total of 37 open hours
• Further cuts to materials budget.
– Less Books
– Less eBooks
– Severely cut new DVD and AudioBook
purchases
– Very little replacement of damaged or missing
materials
• Cut purchases of large print books

21. Not Establishing
the District Means
• Reduce periodical subscriptions
• No Teen/Tween programs
• No expansion of Children’s and Adult
programs
• Maintain inadequate staffing levels that
impact quality of service
• Severely limit staff continuing education
opportunities

22. When Do You Decide?
• Vote takes place on Tuesday, May 21st
with the School District Budget vote
• Polls open 1 to 9 p.m.
• Vote at Herkimer High School
• Or by absentee ballot through the school

23. For More Information
• midyorklib.org/herkimer
• Come to the Library
• Watch your mail box
• Contact Michelle Andersen, Library Board
Chair at mmandfam@juno.com

24. Questions?