Libraries need more money to provide additional services

Plymouth County Library Association asked for an additional $5,000 from the county to shore up its 2009-10 budget.

The Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday heard from Sue Kroesche, Le Mars Public Library director that with the additional $5,000 the county library association's annual budget would be about $70,000.

That budget supports all five Plymouth County libraries.

"But we would still be below the surrounding county averages," Kroesche said. "Book and material rates continue to raise at a cost even higher than cost of living rate."

The supervisors will consider the library association's request during its budget planning sessions early next year.

Some of the services provided by the libraries include websites, programming for adults and children, public access computers along with books and other reading materials.

"We aren't the image of quiet spaces and totally book-filled, and a place where maybe not a whole lot happens here," Kroesche said.

Supervisor Jim Henrich, who lives in Akron, said the public computers are "used all the time."

Kroesche also told the supervisors the libraries have wireless Internet connections for businessmen and women, travelers and even members of the community to use.

"Libraries and librarians are natural community advocates. We are promoters of free access to information and technology," Kroesche said. "We offer community gathering spaces. We encourage conversation and participation."

Having libraries available during economic hard times like today give people with no other options a place to come, she said.

"We aren't just a passive recreational reading and research institution," Kroesche said. "We are active, economic development agencies."

She said public libraries in Plymouth County especially help build a path for economic activity, and that the supervisors' investment in them will bring a return.

"Libraries are local destinations. They are highly regarded and they are seen as contributing to the stability, the safety and the quality of life in neighborhoods," Kroesche said. "We would like to see an increase in that. The support of the supervisors has increased less than the cost of living in the past five years."

Supervisor Chairman John Schneider asked what other funding the library association receives other than from the county and the city.

"We do get money from the state, but that's not really a big level. It's not a whole lot," Kroesche said. "It's $3,000 or $4,000 at the very most."

She said the libraries do receive some federal funding, but in Le Mars that amount is under about $1,000.

"We make use of as many grants as we can possibly use," Kroesche said. "We're planning on doing the Local Option Sales Tax grant that's coming up in January. We'll see how that goes. There's no guarantee on those."