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Also, these days many of our local libraries have become "job hunting central." Who would have thought that a year ago, when our economy seemed to be chugging along, that helping library patrons write their resumes would become of the biggest services being offered by local libraries? Times are tough, but at least at local libraries, where all the services are free, you can take out a book or magazine, find someone to talk to, go to your e-mail, stay warm, and above all else get some help in finding a job.
Guilford Library, a closer look
The cost of the Guilford library renovations were not cheap, some $8 million, but certainly now the 23,000 residents of Guilford can boast that that theirs is one of the most up-to-date libraries along the entire shoreline. To take just one example, to meet the challenges of this age of computers, the Guilford library now has no less than 40 computers for public use.
Furthermore, for the present at least the town government has made no attempt to reduce the library's overall budget, although library director Ruoff has her fears. As she puts it, "The unfortunate thing is that while we are experiencing more use, we shall probably get hit by cutbacks."
Here is what Ruoff means by "more use" at the Guilford library. Since moving into the new building last September, the circulation of library materials, such as books, magazines, DVD's, videos, CD's and downloadable books, has increased by an estimated 35 percent to 40 percent.
Also, over that same period visitors to the library have increased from 300 to 500 persons a day. In addition, persons taking out new library cards have doubled, as has attendance at library programs.
Ruoff acknowledges that some of this increased library activity can be solely attributed to the attractiveness of the new building. However, the recession, and the changes in life style that it has forced upon us, has much to do with the enormous increased activity at the Guilford library as well.
Also, Ruoff relates one painful example of why people use the library. During the very cold days this past winter, a number of people who customarily work at home on their own computers, started coming to the library to use the library's computers. After some discrete inquiries, the director learned that these people to save money on heating bills, were turning down their thermostats at home, and coming to the library to use the library's computers.
As for the budget of the Guilford Free Library, the Town of Guilford contributes 85 percent and the library itself contributes 15 percent, which it raises from private sources, such as fund-raising events and patrons' contributions. The bottom line is that Guilford should be grateful that it built a new library just in time to confront the growing challenges of the recession.
Madison's Scranton Memorial Library
This is exactly what the Town of Madison did not do. Madison's population of 19,000, which is roughly comparable to Guildford's 23,000, is stuck with a 20 year old library, which is woefully short of modern equipment. For example, whereas Guilford's library has 40 computers, the Madison library has 13.
To meet this computer deficiency, among other
shortcomings, Madison library director Sandra Long, for many years has had a dream of a new and expanded Madison library. However, that dream has "dried up like a raisin in the sun." In fact, it is no exaggeration that the darkest day in Long's 39 years as Madison's head librarian, was on Election Day, November 4, 2008.
That was the day when 10,591 Madison voters went to the polls to decide whether to replace their town's 19,731-square-foot library with a double-the-size, new library of 41,000 square feet. The cost of the expansion was budgeted at $13.3 million. In addition to a completely remodeled building, the expansion included a new parking lot for library patrons, which the library presently lacks, as well as a new, drive-up window, to allow patrons to stay in their cars to receive library services.
But it was not to be. The referendum for the new Madison library was defeated by a vote of 5,063 in favor to 5,528 against. 465 votes made the difference. What was the cause of the defeat - the stock market crash of two months before, the growing recession, too high a price tag? Probably, it was all of these. No matter, the bottom line is that Madison, one of the more well to do towns along the shoreline, by a democratic vote chose not to build a new library.
"We felt we had the best plan for Madison," laments library director Long. Also she says, "We are going to try again for the expansion, but we have not decided when." However, the decision has been made not to put the question before the voters at the upcoming referendum this May.
Clearly committed to soldiering on, and making do with what she has to work with, Long points out that "more and more people are coming in the door." Many of them are going to the financial web sites on the library's computers, and patrons are also reading financial publications to follow their investments, she says.
Long also says that the library is very busy helping people use the library's computers, pointing out "there is a great need for new computers and more of them. We are jammed for space, and every computer is full," she says. "The library is twenty years old, and it is falling apart. Every day we are struggling in a building that is inadequate."
The Madison library budget is funded, 85 percent by the Town of Madison and 15 percent by private contributions. Long acknowledges that there was a modest increase in this year's library budget from the town. However, she also knows that times are tough, and that the Madison library may be faced with cutbacks in the future.
Should this happen, the library director says, she will make a choice, "We are not going to cut personnel. We are going to cut books."
Branford's James Blackstone Memorial Library
Branford Library Director Kathy Rieger, while acknowledging that the present library of 19,000 feet is inadequate for Branford's population of 30,000, is making do. Maybe the fact that the classical, rotunda-style marble structure in which she works is one of the grandest public buildings in the entire state has something to do with her equanimity.
At the top of the imposing entranceway of the library is the date in Latin of when construction started, MDCCCXCIII (1893).
Rieger gets right to the point as to what is going on these days in the Branford library. She says that patrons are taking out more books, and that there is more traffic at the library. She also observes that to save money some people are canceling their Internet connections at home, and are using the free library computers instead. Also, she says that people are canceling commercial DVD movie rentals, and getting the same movies for free from the library. In addition, the circulation of library materials, such as books, DVD's and CD's, have increased by one 1,000 items a month, since November 2008.
Also, library staff members are now frequently called upon to provide assistance to persons seeking employment. The staff helps patrons in preparing resumes and in searching for jobs on line. Also, a special web site has been set up for job seekers. Its address is: www.blacksonelibrary.org/career.htm
Rieger points out that many people, who turn to the library for employment assistance, have worked for many years at the same job, and, therefore, they are lost and need help preparing their resumes and submitting them on line to a potential employer. She points out that every potential employer, even for work in a grocery store, wants a job application submitted on line these days.
Another popular service at the Branford library is the "Ask-a-Lawyer" program, which is provided by the New Haven Bar Association. Library patrons get a free 15 minute discussion with a lawyer on any topic. The most popular topics are employment and investment questions.
The Town of Branford pays 85 percent of the library's budget, and 15 percent of the budget is raised from private sources. The library also rents its auditorium on occasion to private parties, even including for memorial services.
Also a big "Books, Blues and Barbeque" fundraiser is scheduled this summer on the Branford green.
In summary the library director says, "The staff is feeling the squeeze, because of being so busy" Still in her opinion, "It is good thing for libraries to be busy. We are glad people are using our services," and she adds, "We are educating life long learners."
