Librarians Won’t Be Silent

Eric Gross Legislature Chairman Tony Hay is surrounded by constituents during a recess at Monday’s budget meetings of the legislature. There was standing room only at a meeting of the Putnam Legislature Monday evening when representatives of libraries from Garrison to Patterson protested proposed reductions in library aid contained in County Executive Robert Bondi’s 2010 budget.

The $137 million fiscal spending plan not only calls for the elimination of 49 full-time positions but also 15 percent across-the-board cuts in operating aid to all outside agencies including libraries, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the like.

During Monday’s meeting library personnel from Brewster, Carmel, Cold Spring, Garrison, Kent, Mahopac, Patterson, and Putnam Valley addressed the lawmakers.

The eight libraries had requested $368,000 from the county, but in turn will be receiving $311,000 should the Bondi budget stand.

Officials said the reductions equate to 20 cents per year for the average Putnam household.

Otto Romanino of the Kent Public Library said if additional library aid was unavailable, the county should keep aid at the status quo.

Maria Steinberg of the Brewster Library said a 15 percent reduction in aid would result in an $8500 shortfall for her library, resulting in cuts in services.

Katherine McLaughlin of the Putnam Valley Library forecast her library would lose anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 if the cuts stand: “Residents of our county receive a tremendous bang for the county buck since general funding support purchases materials, maintains buildings, and provides programs as well as service to all county residents.”

Carol Donick of the Desmond- Fish Library in Garrison, who serves as president of the Putnam County Library Association, said in challenging economic times, “library use increases as people rely on library resources for books, DVDs, computer and Internet access as well as job and career resources.”

The library officials reported that 74 percent of all county residents have a library card: “That’s nearly 74,000 people,” said Patterson Library Director Patti Haar.

Haar said that during the Great Depression, “forty eight out of 50 states created new libraries. They realized this was the best way to use public funds to serve all of the people. Libraries serve everyone and have been described as the most democratic institution ever, particularly through difficult times.”

While members of the legislature agreed with the philosophy, some stood fast. Legislator Mary Conklin of Patterson admitted that the “onus falls on us. Everyone wants a little more, but painful decisions will have to be made.”

Legislator Dan Birmingham of Brewster called on restoring aid to 2008 levels. Legislator Sam Oliverio of Putnam Valley hopes to support the outside agencies: “Part of our job is to oversee quality-of-life issues that confront our residents. Health and safety issues must be predominant when finalizing the county’s budget. While these issues may not be in the health and safety category, they certainly reflect quality of life and the greater good must prevail. If it means a quarter or half percent tax increase to keep libraries functioning, so be it.”

Legislature Chairman Tony Hay is also torn: “The bottom line is simple: I’d rather cut here or there and save our senior centers and some of the jobs proposed for elimination. We all will have to suffer the pain. If a few people are unable to visit a library or the Humane Society, that’s life! We must keep taxes reasonable while living with the current economic conditions.”

Marjorie Keith, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Services, also pleaded her case during Monday’s meeting. Keith told the legislators that “Cornell Cooperative Extension works with people of all ages, form kids to seniors. Last year our volunteers provided $1,042,000 worth of services to our county. During this past summer, we were inundated with more than 100 calls per week relating to gardening issues.”

Keith said her agency’s staff has received no raises since 2005: “To cut our funding by 15 percent will bring Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County below 1995 levels.”

Another large crowd is expected tonight (Thursday), when the legislature meets as a Budget and Finance Committee. The meeting gets underway at 6 o’clock in the historic Putnam Courthouse.