[Guest article by Treasurer Carl Cramer. Carl joined the board last year and was elected treasurer in January 2019.]
Yes, this article is about money—but not just an appeal for your donation. Recently, I reviewed 10 years of the library’s financials and noticed some trends I thought were important to share with our patrons.
I found both good news and bad news in the data. First the bad news:
State funding for the library is 27% lower now than it was 10 years ago, down nearly $25,000 per year. In fact, our state funding dropped to $64,500 in 2011 and has remained frozen there since.- Local municipal funding increased $4,229 over the 2009 level– just a 2% increase over 10 years–while inflation averaged nearly 2% per year during this time.
- To make up for these gaps in public funding, the private funding required to meet the library’s 2019 operating budget has increased by 85% since 2009 to $114,453—or $52,551 more than 10 years ago.
Compare that 85% jump in the need for private funding to the 19% cumulative inflation over the past decade, and it’s easy to see why this year’s target is a stretch–and why we’re still $59,855 shy of the goal with less than 90 days to go. Nevertheless, that’s what the library needs to supplement state and local funds and meet its operating budget this year.
That’s the bad news. Now the good news:
- While U.S. inflation averaged roughly 2% a year–or 19% since 2009–the library’s budget increased just 8.5% during that time, or less than 1% per year. The library has done a great job at holding expenses.
- Over the decade, The Friends of the Emmaus Public library have more than doubled their yearly support of the library to nearly $34,000 so far in 2019. Their dedication has been a critical component to the library during this funding evolution.
Expenses actually declined in three key categories–library materials and programs, utilities and insurance, and most notably, computers and office supplies, which is 40% lower this year than in 2009. The lower cost of PCs and software versus 10 years ago enable the library to make more computers available while spending less. In response to the 2011 drop in state funding, the library also reduced its materials and programs budget accordingly.- Expenses went up in two key categories–building and supplies, and payroll, which has increased at 2% per year on average, staying in line with cost-of-living increases. Despite the fact that the library now serves more patrons, circulates more materials, and hosts more than 300 events a year, it is doing so with roughly the same payroll budget as 10 years ago, adjusted only for inflation. To ‘do more with less,’ the library has increasingly relied on volunteers to support its small staff. In response to reduced funding, the library also ceased operations on Fridays several years ago.
So what’s the bottom line?
On the bright side, the library has kept expenses in line while expanding both its collection and its services. Through a new circulation system (SPARK) and the creation of the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC)—plus lower prices for computers and advances in mobile technology for digital books and magazines–patrons have more access and choices than ever before for information and entertainment, all still free with their library card.
Another bit of good news is that the state’s new $34 billion budget included an extra $5 million for PA’s public libraries, which translates into roughly $6,000 in additional state funding for Emmaus–but is still $18,000 short of 2009 levels.
The trends that surfaced in the 10-year data and the funding challenges we face are not uncommon. As state and local funding has decreased, the cost for operating public libraries has shifted more and more to the private sector, and Emmaus is no exception.
Fortunately, we have thousands of patrons of all ages who value the library, what it stands for, and the role it serves. We have an active board, hardworking staff, the Friends of the Emmaus Public Library, and a dedicated team of volunteers — all of which has enabled the library to grow and meet the needs of the community.
We need your help
If you’ve been reading the monthly updates here, you know we have a big goal and a significant gap to close in private funding. I hope this 10-year overview has shed some additional light on those numbers.
Our annual fund campaign is under way, and you should have received your letter by now. As you decide how much support to provide, please consider this information, as well as the value of library services (see industry chart below or go here for an interactive calculator).
You can respond via the annual fund letter or make a contribution through a secure Paypal transaction with a credit or debit card. You don’t need to have a Paypal account to do so.
Two more easy ways to support the library are the new monthly raffles with prizes donated by local businesses, and the Friends’ annual holiday used-book sale on Dec. 6. Stay tuned for details.
There are fewer than 90 days left in 2019 to close a gap of nearly $60,000 and get us to the goal of $114,453. Let’s make each day count to get us there.
Many thanks for your support!
