Jan 16, 2017 4 min read

The Citizens Library board of directors will meet Tuesday for the first time this year. Reorganization is on the agenda, as well as adding two new members.

Susan Martinelli, board president, is optimistic that the rearrangement will prompt positive change.

“There is concern about the library and its funding. The way our board is populated and funded is just so unpredictable and tricky,” she said. “I do have concerns, and we have had concerns.”

Citizens’ revenue is composed of 21 percent state aid, 12 percent municipal support, three percent county aid and 64 percent from other sources, including funds raised by Friends of Citizens Library.

Funding cuts from local municipalities continue to plague the board.

In 2013, the library received $161,085 from three school districts and 13 municipalities. In 2017, those same sources are expected to contribute $92,525.

East Washington Borough Council intended to cease funding to the library at its Jan. 9 meeting, but in response to resident concerns, a decision was postponed to the Feb. 6 meeting. Residents have created a petition in support of continuing funding. According to library board bylaws, municipalities must contribute at least three percent of the previous year’s total municipality funding to continue to have a seat on the board. That would be about $3,000.

Last year, the borough contributed $5,000.

Other municipalities that have reduced funding since 2013 include Canton, North Franklin and South Strabane townships. Trinity Area School District eliminated funding in 2014, thereby losing board representation.

Martinelli said sometimes municipalities promise a certain amount, and then decide to reduce it throughout the year. There is no deadline for funding, so municipalities can give their contribution any time during the year.

Board representation also causes problems. Municipalities choose their own representative, and can change that person at will.

“We have to be able to seek some funding sources that are more reliable. But the fact that the board is populated with people where the money comes from – it holds the board hostage. It doesn’t give the organization the chance to fill in any gaps in skill sets,” Martinelli said. “There’s a history here, and we keep doing things one way. We have to reconsider the best way to make a more 21st-century organization.”

Libraries are experiencing significant changes and their use is evolving, said Diane Ambrose, Citizens director and administrator of the district and Washington County Library System. While print books are still in demand, libraries have become centers for technology learning and access.

“There are people who don’t step foot in here, but they’re using our library,” said Kathy Pienkowski, circulation services manager.

Citizens is unique in that it has three roles: as a local library, as headquarters of Washington County Library System and as the district center for Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. To fulfill those roles, Citizens provides an array of services, from book lending to internet access, to ongoing education courses. District services include WAGGIN, a 20-library, “one-card” electronic library catalog that makes it easier for libraries to share resources and allows patrons to use one card to access materials at participating libraries. The system also offers language courses, genealogy services and programs for babies through senior citizens.

“There’s maybe a little taking for granted of what’s always been there,” Martinelli said. “There’s the zeitgeist of ‘Who checks out books anymore?’ Well, people still check out books and check out e-books. We will help you figure out your devices, help with job applications. The staff has done a really good job in moving us forward with the changes that have happened. And we have to do better outreach of what’s available.”

According to the bylaws, the board of directors has a responsibility to plan for the future and to locate sustainable sources of funding.

Martinelli said board members need to focus on their role and allow staff to do their jobs.

“I don’t know anything about running a library, none of us do. We have good (staff). We need to support them, ask them what our needs are and come up with ways to fulfill those needs,” Martinelli said. “It’s not about this bylaw or that bylaw. We can really get bogged down in the minutiae. What’s really going to move the organization forward is where our focus needs to be.”

The board of directors meets at 5 p.m. today.