Mary Ann Trygg
September 8, 2009

2009 marks a difficult year for our community of library users.  The Library Department relies on a voter-approved 1/8th of a cent county-wide sales tax to provide over 70% of revenue for library operations.  Currently that revenue is down 23%.

The public looks to the Doris Foley Library for Historical Research for specialized library needs and I realize what a treasure this collection is to the local community and beyond. The Doris Foley Library is currently operating only on Fridays which may change some time this fiscal year due to representatives of Nevada County’s Historical and Genealogical Societies coming forward with offered help. An unhappy consequence of our reduced budget was the laying off of the half-time Library Technician who was the expert staff member at the Doris Foley Library, effective July 1, 2009. 

A bright spot is the Friend’s donation of $10,000 which will help defray operating costs in the Foley Library, the center of activity for Friend’s book sales.  Once again, Friends have come to the aid of the community in providing funds to help maintain some level of library service for our historical and genealogical researchers and to ensure continued book sales. Proceeds from they sales result in yearly donations to the library mainly for purposes of enhanced library collections and programs.  This special donation is very much appreciated by me and County officials. 
 

The Bear River Library Station is important to South County library users and I am grateful that the Nevada Joint Union High School District Board has waived overhead charges so that the County can continue to operate that library located in the Bear River High School Library this fiscal year.  This vote of support by school officials amounts to $6,000.  Again, those who care see the importance of public libraries and have not stood idly by but rather offered monetary and in-kind help.  Besides waiving the rent for the library space, school district staff now delivers books and library materials to and from the public libraries which saves us time and money.

A big thank you to the supporters of our libraries for coming forward.  I am keeping a wary eye on sales tax receipts with a concern for next fiscal year.  Without increased revenue we cannot expect the library services that we have enjoyed for the past 10 years or even the last year.  The budget planning process will begin again in February, 2010.  Let’s think positive while maintaining a realistic outlook.