Easton Library Seeks Funds for New Materials

After having its materials budget slashed nearly in half, the Easton Public Library has been planning and enacting fund-raisers to brook another likely-stringent fiscal year. To prepare, the library is turning resourceful, looking to accrete funds through book sales, donations, and events.

"We're a very well-used library. The people who use us, they use us regularly," said Bernadette Baldino, library director.

However, frequent library patrons will have to make due with a non-expanding selection of books, movies and other library materials. The materials budget, which is allocated money to be used for new books, movies, music and technology, was first cut by $13,000 in the 2008-09 fiscal year. During the 2009-10 budget period it was cut by again, this time by $17,000, for a total of a 40% reduction in two years.  Currently, the library is operating with a materials budget equivalent to the one it was issued in 1998.

"We can't keep up with advancing technology," said Rita Seclow, who is a member of the library's board of directors.

Seclow is concerned that the materials budget will leave the library with no room to improve their computer or upgrade their older materials. VHS tapes and audio tape decks are quickly being phased out, she said. Blu-ray discs and audio books are becoming high in demand. The library clearly needed to come up with novel ways to generate money.

Like true friends, the Friends of the Library, a group of good-willed library volunteers and donors, came to the public library's assistance. Working together, the library and its volunteers began to organize and execute fund raising events.

Last Saturday, a "Holiday House Tour" sold over 100 tickets and raised about $3,500 for the library. Six private homes opened up their front doors to ticket holders. Each had historic significance and was decorated for the event. After the tour, local craftsman sold their wares in the library's community room. Recently-cut wreaths were for sale as well. Tickets for the event were priced at $30, with children admitted for $15. Ticket holders were provided with a map to locate the houses as well as a pit stop for fresh cookies at the Adams School House. For an additional $10, lunch was provided.

In November, the library hosted a book sale to bolster the weakening budget. The sale netted about $6,000. Baldino and her staff are considering hosting another book sale this coming summer to raise more money, although traditionally this has been an annual occasion. In March there are tentative plans to throw a charity gala.

"I rely on the library to help me understand what's available where," Seclow said.

It seems that Easton agrees with that sentiment: Baldino said that out of a population of 7,500 people, last year 14,000 items were withdrawn from the library.

The library would need to raise $40,000 to get back to full pre-recession strength, but Baldino doesn't harbor favorable expectations for 2011.

"I hope I'm wrong, but I anticipate a rough budget year," she said. She expects either a "zero-based budget or an actual percentage reduction" in monetary amount. A zero-based budget would change nothing, and the library would receive the same, reduced budget that it did in 2009-10.

Despite the budget's attrition rate, the library will continue hosting numerous free events. This Sunday, Eastoners partook in a Christmas tree lighting within the library parking lot. On December 16, the library will discuss the classic Wuthering Heights by Emile Bronte during its Beyond Reading Book Discussion. There will also be a viewing of the movie and a discourse on the contrasts and similarities between the novel and the film. From January through April, the library will host an event entitled "Conversations with the Neighbors." The activity consists of coffee and casual conversation with notable Easton denizens. Randall Enos, an illustrator whose work has appeared in the New York Times and National Lampoon, and Everett Kinstler, a portrait artist who has painted Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, will be the first two featured guests.

The events are free "to show that the library is for everybody in town," Baldino said. "The tree lighting is free and garners good will, and it's intergenerational."

"The library always appreciates donations in honor of someone's birthday, anniversary or whatever special occasion," Seclow said. "It's a nice way to remember people and it's a nice way to remember the library."

The library's website has links to both its book and film amazon.com wish lists.