Our Library Deserves Better
In the second episode of Morrisville Moves-Let’s Talk, two candidates discuss the “misinformation” spreading about current Council’s lack of support for the library and the children’s programs. They claim that a few years ago the library was $161K over budget. No one on the library board or staff has seen a budget that reflects the cause of this supposed shortfall. The board was surprised to see that they were being charged an exorbitant amount of money for administrative fees like payroll and audits.
The Council President invited a member of the Bucks County Free Library to the next library board meeting to discuss ways the library could seek its own funding, and reorganize. Right after that library board meeting, the Council President announced to residents that the library was working with the Bucks County Free Library system to make some changes.
What are these changes? Forego state funding and raise their own funds.
State funding requires that the receiving library keep the library open for 45 hours per week and spend 12% of the funds to build their collection Currently, the library is receiving $39,700 in state aid. We feel that opting out of this state aid would open the door to severely curtailing hours, services, and staff of the library, possibly leading to the closing of the library. There is no guarantee that the library can reapply for state aid status once it is relinquished. Our library board has several initiatives to raise money including a book sale, an art sale, and a friend of the library group that is involved in more fundraising
In the video the two candidates also decry our candidates’ criticism that they do not fund our children’s summer programs. It was only after we noted the lack of Borough funding that any action was taken by council to find some support for these programs. We had already lost one excellent children’s librarian when Borough Council initially defunded the children’s summer programs, and now we have lost our latest children’s librarian, who has done a tremendous job with limited resources. This children’s librarian managed to find three supporters for three summer programs. We were also disturbed to learn she applied for the job of the full-time librarian, but never received a response from the part-time Borough manager We are happy for her that she has found another job, but we feel she would have been an excellent librarian, young with fresh and creative ideas.
How did the Council President approach this problem? She threatened to cancel the summer children’s programs, even though they are paid for, claiming that there is no staffing. Does this sound like problem-solving leadership? Or more like interference from a Council member usurping the role of the Borough Manager? Once the Council President learned of public outcry over the possible cancellation, she tried to rectify the mess she had created.
The quest to establish a library in Morrisville began in 1904 with various locations and funding models and finally the voters of Morrisville voted in 1956 to support the library by municipal taxes. In1962 the library could apply for State Aid, and in 1968 the library moved to its current location, the former Church of the Incarnation.
Why would we forego state funding for a library that Morrisville residents fought for since 1904? The term historic is absolutely accurate.
All of our Your Voice: Our Morrisville candidates for Council believe that libraries are more important than ever and we pledge that, if elected, we will do all that we can to support and preserve our historic library. Libraries are one of the bedrocks of a community and provide vital services that reach beyond checking out books.
Stay Tuned for our next Your Voice: Our Morrisville podcast in which we will delve further into the fascinating history of our library and speak to a former Morrisville librarian and current board member.
We are posting this revised blog to avoid any inaccuracies. We apologize that we indicated the school library might be closing. The room where the Grandview library is housed will be used as a classroom but, for the coming year, the students will continue to have their library special in their own classroom. We promise that we will always strive for accuracy and admit to any errors because we believe in transparency and honesty. Thank you for your understanding. Our Voice: Your Morrisville
