Beginning September 1st library overdue fines will go from 25 cents per day to 35 cents. The hold/reserve fee will go from 50 cents to $1. We have kept fines and fees unchanged for 9 years but can no longer hold the line. Costs have increased dramatically in those 9 years while support from the town and the state has eroded. We have lost 8 positions from our staff and as a result library hours have been cut. We have less money to spend on new materials and struggle to pay for basic building maintenance and upkeep. All of this means we are under intense pressure to find ways to generate more revenue and this is one of the few avenues open to us. By New York State education law, basic library service must remain free of charge. We can never charge a resident of our service area a fee to issue a borrower card or lend items from the library collection as some well meaning folks have suggested.
Please understand, library services as you know them are threatened. If you are inclined to assist us, contact your town board and let them know that library services are important to you and that their importance should be a factor when the budget process is under way. Thank you. Please feel free to contact me or to comment here if you have questions.
