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PUBLIC LIBRARY STRUCTURE IN NYS & LIBRARY SERVICE OPTIONS FOR THE TOWN OF SCHODACK Prepared by

PUBLIC LIBRARY STRUCTURE IN NYS & LIBRARY SERVICE OPTIONS FOR THE TOWN OF SCHODACK Prepared by Panz Library Consulting Webster, NY Presentation funded by NY State Division of Library Development. CONSULTANT’S BACKGROUND. 37 year career in public libraries, 26 in administration

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PUBLIC LIBRARY STRUCTURE IN NYS & LIBRARY SERVICE OPTIONS FOR THE TOWN OF SCHODACK Prepared by

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  1. PUBLIC LIBRARY STRUCTURE IN NYS & LIBRARY SERVICE OPTIONS FOR THE TOWN OF SCHODACK Prepared by Panz Library Consulting Webster, NY Presentation funded by NY State Division of Library Development

  2. CONSULTANT’S BACKGROUND 37 year career in public libraries, 26 in administration Positions: • Independent Library Consultant (2003-present) • Director, Rochester & Monroe County (1989-2003) • Director, Finger Lakes Library System (1979-1989) • Assistant Director, Battle Creek (1977-1979) • Librarian, Buffalo & Erie County PL (1971-1977) • Page, Buffalo & Erie County PL (1968-1970)

  3. CLIENT LIST 2003 - 2006 • New York State Library • Chemung County Libraries • James Prendergast Library (Jamestown) • Gloversville Free Library • Southeast Steuben Public Library • City of Rye • Buffalo & Erie County PL • Southern Tier Library System • Onondaga County Public Library • Patchogue-Medford Library • Geneva Free Library • Jordan Bramley Library • Four County Library System • Pioneer Library System • Monroe County Library System • Dewitt Community Library • Albion Public Library • Onondaga Free Library • Irondequoit Public Library • Mendon Public Library • Penn Yan Public Library • Rochester Regional Library Council • Utica Public Library • Guilderland Public Library

  4. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES • Review types of libraries in NYS – characteristics & steps for creation • Review potential library service options available to Schodack residents • Review advantages & disadvantages of each option

  5. TYPES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES • Association Libraries (363) • Municipal Libraries (212) • School District Public Libraries (139) • Special Legislative District Public Libraries (40)

  6. OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES RE: TAX SUPPORT • Direct appropriation from a municipality or school district • Placement of funding proposition on a municipal ballot • Placement of funding proposition on a school district ballot

  7. ASSOCIATIONLIBRARY

  8. ASSOCIATION LIBRARYPrimary characteristics • A private corporation established by the members of the association • Budget is normally based on a contract with a unit of local government to provide library services to the residents of that jurisdiction - but library may place funding propositions on municipal or school district ballot • Association libraries are private not-for-profit corporations and are not subject to some of the laws and regulations governing public entities – i.e. procurement, civil service, investing funds, etc. • Rarely chartered in recent years by Regents

  9. MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

  10. MUNICIPAL LIBRARY Primary characteristics • Formed by vote of the governing body of a municipality (village, town, city or county) • Trustees are appointed by the municipality • Budget is usually appropriated by municipality - but library may place funding propositions on municipal or school district • Library is subject to all laws applicable to public institutions in NYS i.e. procurement, civil service, investments • Library Board operates independently from municipality – not as department

  11. MUNICIPAL LIBRARYSteps for creating • Town notifies the State Library of its intention to create new library • Municipality passes resolution to create new library, appropriates funds and appoints trustees • Trustees apply to Board of Regents for a charter and if granted, govern library

  12. MUNICIPAL LIBRARYAdvantages • Municipality assumes responsibility for survival of library – ownership • Municipality can bond for capital projects • Close relationship between library and municipality • Opportunity for library to receive in-kind services from the municipality

  13. MUNICIPAL LIBRARYConsiderations • Potential for conflict between library board and town re: who is in charge of library • Library must continue to compete with other municipal services for funding • Annual funding may fluctuate based on Town budget challenges

  14. SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY

  15. SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARYPrimary characteristics • Created by residents of a school district by approving propositions to create & fund a library and to elect trustees • Service area of the library mirrors the boundaries of the school district • Budget is approved annually by voters • Trustees are elected annually by voters • Library operates independently from school district

  16. SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARYSteps for Creating • Petitions to create library (25 signatures) and nominate trustees (25 signatures or 2% of voters in last election) • Board of education schedules election • Public education campaign conducted • If resolution passes, elected trustees take office and file for charter • Existing library dissolved - assets transferred to new entity • School District collects taxes – turns funds over to Library • Annual funding remains unchanged until library requests increase

  17. SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARYAdvantages • Library operates independently • Elected trustees provide “representation” for taxpayers • Opportunity to bond for capital projects • Once established, library sets time & place for election • Consistent funding stream • Straightforward process for seeking increase in funding

  18. SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARYConsiderations • Library must comply with civil service & municipal purchasing laws • Trustees subject to election • Requires strong advocacy and education campaigns

  19. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVEDISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY

  20. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARYPrimary characteristics • State legislation authorizes local election to establish and fund a new library and elect trustees • Legislation specifies service area and election process • Boundaries freely drawn to reflect library user base • Library has consistent funding stream – funding level continues until voters approve new amount • Separate from any municipality and school district • Library has ability to bond for capital projects

  21. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY - Steps for Creating • Features of proposed district defined – service area etc. • Local elected and appointed officials briefed • State Legislator introduces bill authorizing local election • If required, “home rule” message requested • If bill passes, election scheduled, candidates file petitions • Public education campaign conducted • If proposition passes, trustees take office and file for charter • Existing library dissolved - assets transferred to new entity • Municipality collects taxes - turns funds over to Library • Funding remains unchanged until library requests increase

  22. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY Advantages • Service areas can be freely drawnto mirror usage patterns • Opportunity to eliminate unserved areas & equalize support • District can bond for capital projects • Library can set time & place for initial and succeeding votes • Stable funding – once budget approved by voters - cannot be reduced • Library is independent from municipalities & school district • Elected trustees provide “representation” for taxpayers • Straightforward process for seeking increase

  23. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICTConsiderations • Library responsible for running local election • Trustees are subject to election • Requires strong education & advocacy effort • Once created, library must comply with Civil Service & Municipal Purchasing laws

  24. CURRENT SITUATIONTOWN OF SCHODACK

  25. Town of Schodack is funding three libraries – East Greenbush, Castleton Public Library, Nassau Free Library • Castleton is a municipal library chartered to serve the Village of Castleton • East Greenbush is a special legislative district public library chartered to serve the Town of East Greenbush • Nassau Free is an association library chartered to serve the Town of Nassau • No library is chartered to serve the Town of Schodack

  26. SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS • Maintain status quo and continue to appropriate funds for three libraries • East Greenbush, Castleton and Nassau libraries could place funding propositions on the municipal or school district ballots if town of Schodack eliminates its appropriation • Create a new municipal public library serving the Town of Schodack except for village of Castleton • Castleton Public Library could re-charter as a town library and open up a second branch in the center of Town • Create new special legislative district public library serving the Town • The East Greenbush Library District could be expanded to incorporate the Town of Schodack • East Greenbush and Castleton could re-charter as school district public libraries serving their respective School Districts

  27. MAINTAIN STATUS QUO

  28. MAINTAIN STATUS QUOAdvantages • Path of least resistance if no consensus can be found • Requires no effort to change things • Enables Schodack residents to access all three libraries

  29. MAINTAIN STATUS QUOConsiderations • No representation for Town residents on library boards • Town & its residents have no control over costs of library services • Potential for continued disagreement within Town on best option for library service • No library officially chartered to serve town residents • Town residents have limited sense of “ownership” of libraries

  30. LIBRARIES COULD PLACE FUNDING PROPOSITIONS ON MUNICIPAL OR SCHOOL BALLOTS

  31. MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL BALLOTFUNDINGAdvantages • Libraries can appeal directly to Town residents for tax support • If propositions pass on municipal ballot, the appropriation cannot be decreased unless approved by voters • School ballot process requires limited number of signatures on petition • Process does not require any changes in governance of the three libraries • Short timeline for implementation

  32. MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL BALLOTFUNDINGConsiderations • Requires considerable advocacy & education effort • Town residents will have no representation on library boards • Number of signatures required on petition for municipal ballot may be difficult to obtain and petition process must be repeated each time an increase is sought • If school ballot used, process is subject to counter-propositions that could reduce the amounts earmarked for libraries • Voters may be confused if all three libraries place separate propositions on ballot

  33. CREATE NEW MUNICIPAL LIBRARY SERVING TOWN OF SCHODACK EXCEPT FOR VILLAGE OF CASTLETON

  34. CREATE NEW MUNICIPAL LIBRARYAdvantages • Town assumes responsibility for funding library at level that meets state minimum standards • Town residents appointed to library board providing residents with representation • Town could bond for capital projects and facilities • Town could also elect to fund existing libraries until new library is able to offer services on par with others

  35. CREATE NEW MUNICIPAL LIBRARYConsiderations • Library must compete with other municipal services for funding • May take several years for new library to offer services on par with existing libraries • Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding • Potential for future disagreements between new library board and Town officials re: control of library • Castleton Library tax base is diminished

  36. RE-CHARTER CASTLETON AS TOWN LIBRARY WITH TWO BRANCHES

  37. RE-CHARTER CASTLETONAdvantages • Relatively easy process to complete • Town would appoint library board • Town could bond for capital projects and facilities • Library Board & Town would determine need for additional branches within town

  38. RE-CHARTER CASTLETONConsiderations • Not much different from current situation – Town funds library through appropriation • Library must compete with other municipal services for funding • Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding • If library opens second branch within town, operating costs will increase

  39. CREATE NEW SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY DISTRICT SERVING TOWN OF SCHODACK

  40. CREATE NEW SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY DISTRICT FOR TOWN Advantages • Elected library board would be directly accountable to Town residents • New library board could determine need for additional branches within town • New library board could determine need for continued funding to E. Greenbush & Nassau • Public would have opportunity to vote annually on library budget & special bonding propositions • Town could remove library funding from its budget • Governance & funding structure would mirror E. Greenbush & N. Greenbush

  41. CREATE NEW SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY DISTRICT FOR TOWN Considerations • Requires substantial advocacy & education effort • Operating two branches within Town will increase operating costs • Requires dissolution of existing Castleton library and merger into new library district • Town government has no control over library services • May take several years for new library to offer services on par with existing libraries • Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding

  42. EXPAND GREENBUSH PL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE TOWN OF SCHODACK

  43. EXPAND E. GREENBUSH DISTRICT TO INCLUDE TOWN OF SCHODACKAdvantages • Relatively straightforward process • Would provide Town residents with representation on library board and opportunity to vote on library budget • Determination of number of library outlets to operate within new district would rest with the library board • Potential for Castleton Library to merge into new district • Town would not have to fund library service

  44. EXPAND E. GREENBUSH DISTRICT TO INCLUDE TOWN OF SCHODACKConsiderations • Requires E. Greenbush residents approval to expand the library district • Requires significant advocacy and education effort • Territory covered by district is relatively large – need for additional library outlets will increase budget • Town would have no control over library services

  45. RE-CHARTER E. GREENBUSH & CASTLETON AS SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

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