When voters go to the polls May 19, they will notice minimal increases in the budgets Cazenovia and New Woodstock libraries.
“The board felt that economic times were difficult for most taxpayers and this was a year where we could hold the line mostly from last year,” said New Woodstock Free Library Director Norm Parry.
The New Woodstock Free Library budget is increasing three percent to $135,156, an increase that Parry attributed to minimal adjustments for the cost of living.
Cazenovia library officials felt similarly, increasing their budget by two percent to $338,523 for 2010.
“We are so amazed and happy every time this budget vote comes up,” Cazenovia Public Library Director Betsy Kennedy said. Kennedy said that 60 to 70 percent of voters consistently vote in favor of the libraries. “People are just so generous and supportive,” she said.
The library has minimal projects in store, and its budget will largely be used for upkeep, maintenance and basic costs of operation.
The New Woodstock Free Library is opening to reroof the main section of its library, a task which has not been done in about 25 years.
Parry credited the time, donations and support of volunteers in helping the library maintain circulation numbers in the top five small public libraries in America for five years. There are over 950 libraries in that category.
“We just set a record in circulation,” said Parry, with over 64,000 objects circulating in 2008.
Both libraries offer electronic resources, Internet access and numerous, regular programs and events geared toward the community.
The budget vote will be held in the Cazenovia high school small gym May 19.
Kennedy credited the public for the high quality of the library.
“Whenever people say, ‘oh, your library is so good!’ — it’s because of the community support,” she said.
