Reasons Why
• Maintain our vast collection of audio books, down-loadable e-books, DVDs, music CDs and books for your enrichment and enjoyment.
The price of collection materials continues to increase; therefore we must increase our materials budget in order to continue to provide current information for our community. We offer several different genres including Mystery, Sci-Fi, Graphic Novels, and Paranormal in regular book and in audio book format. Feature, Foreign, Classic, Family and Children’s DVDs, and music CD’s are also available for loan. We are also purchasing increasing numbers of downloadable e-books to meet the growing demand. Reference/Research databases are also purchased from the materials budget.
Should the levy fail, all materials budgets will be cut by 30-50%.
• Continue to provide free programs and special events for the community.
Programming has become a vitally important part of Way. In 2002, Way conducted 174 programs for children and adults. In 2007, we provided 537 programs.
Providing programming and special events require extensive staff time and resources. There are many facets to programming such as planning, staffing, publicity, set-up and clean-up. Sometimes we have as many as four programs per day and our special events and workshops can take months of planning and preparation.
Due to the extensive amount of staff time and resources required, many programs will be eliminated without the passage of the levy.
• Increase services to our young adult population (ages 11-14).
Focus groups for our past two Strategic Plans have requested additional programs and services for our young adult population. With the passage of the levy we will be able to hire an experienced, trained young adult librarian to plan programs and maintain the collection for this particular age group.
If the levy fails, a young adult librarian will not be hired.
• Satisfy the ongoing demands of meeting room usage.
Meeting room usage has risen dramatically over the past seven years. Staff time is required to: acknowledge requests, evaluate availability, make reservations, invoice when appropriate, relay room requirements, post daily meeting room schedules, set-up walls/tables/chairs and equipment when requested, tear down and clean-up.
Should the levy fail, meeting rooms may no longer be available free of charge to specified groups and set-up and tear downs will no longer be provided.
• Keep existing library hours.
The library is open 67 hours per week from Labor Day to Memorial Day and 63 hours per week during the summer. If the levy fails, library hours will be reduced. The reduction in operating hours will decrease utility costs and staff hours.
• Provide necessary resources for our circulation and reference departments due to increased activity.
In order to better meet the needs of our patrons we hope to implement the following: increased bandwidth to speed up circulation procedures, instant messaging capabilities to improve customer service, creation of an on-line and in-house business center, credit card payment system for fines and fees, and a communication system that will enable the clerks and librarians to be in instant contact while the librarians are roaming the book stacks helping patrons. In addition, if circulation numbers continue to grow (15% over the past 2 years) we will soon need an additional par- time circulation clerk and upgrades to inter-library loan procedures.
Should the levy fail, many of the above items will not be implemented.
• Stay current with today’s technology and training to meet the growing needs of our patrons.
Way provides free use of computers to our patrons. These computers are heavily used. Last month alone there were over 4,000 log-ons. In addition to the computers and the technical support we provide, we offer a variety of computer classes for free or at a minimal charge.
Our Technology Plan allows for a staggered replacement of computers
ensuring that no single computer becomes obsolete. It is important that
our patron-use computers not only stay functional but also are
comparable to other real-world computer environments. Current software
allows the library to train patrons on the software they will see in
other places such as colleges, offices, and workplaces.
Without the levy, the staggered replacement of hardware and software
will be limited. This means that in time there will be fewer computers
available for public usage.
• Preserve the safety and integrity of our heavily used library facility.
Way Library is a heavily used public facility. It takes staff and money to maintain the safety, cleanliness and regular upkeep of the building and grounds. In additon, funds are needed for service agreements (elevator, book security system, self-check unit, phone system) and maintenance and repair of the heating and air-conditioning systems, cleaning of the carpets, lawn maintenance in summer, snow removal in winter, etc.
Our facility is almost seven years old and will soon require updating. The interior needs to be repainted, carpet needs replacement, furniture needs reupholstering, additional signage is needed, etc.
Without the passage of this levy we will be able to do only the minimum amount of maintenance which over time could result in a decrease in function and aesthetics to this facility.
In Summary, if the levy fails, Way Library will lose 29% of its income. This loss means:
- Library hours will be reduced which will decrease staff hours and utility costs.
- Material budgets will be cut by 30-50%.
- Special events and programs will be reduced.
- A Young Adult Librarian will not be hired.
- Meeting rooms may no longer be available free of charge to specified groups and set-up and tear downs will no longer be provided.
- Plans to increase/add: bandwidth, instant messaging, a business center, Vocera communication system and a part-time clerk will be sacrificed.
- Technology upgrades for public computers will be limited. In time there will be fewer computers available for public usage.
- Facility maintenance will be minimal.