The Southwick Public Library is a Town owned facility and Town Department. Most of the funding to operate the Library comes from town funds appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting in May of each year. For the current fiscal year (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) the Library budget from the Town of Southwick has been reduced from the prior year budget. Cuts include materials (books, subscriptions, DVD's, etc.) as well as utilities. At this time the Library has not reduced hours of operation to the public but is reducing the purchase of materials for the public. The number of Library users continues to increase as does the requests for materials from other libraries, etc.
In order to supplement this funding the Library relies on a small grant from the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners(MBLC) a state agency as well as grants from the Friends of the Southwick Public Library(Friends) as well as small grants from charitable organizations in the Pioneer Valley, the Southwick Cultural Councill and gifts from local residents. The online databases and computers in the Library are funded through the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). Funding from the State of MA to the Library (MBLC funding) as of October 2009 has been reduced 30 percent for the current fiscal year. The proposed state budget for the year beginning July 1, 2010 continues the 30 percent cut as well as additional cuts in the regional library systems which may result in changes in services available to the public. For more information on this click here.
As a result on the national recession less funding is available from the State of Mass. (MBLC), the Cultural Council and areas charitable organizations. This will impact the number and type of programs and other resources the Library is able to provide to the public during the current fiscal year. If the trend continues with more users of the Library each week (and the inability to add staff) this may have an impact on the public. The preliminary instructions from the Town for fiscal year (FY) 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011) are to cut operational budgets by 10 percent from the current spending.
The Library budget was discussed at a joint meeting of the Southwick Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee on Saturday February 20, 2010 at about 11:00 a.m. in the Land Use Room on the second floor of Town Hall (454 College Highway), rear entrance of the building. The Town Budget for the coming year will be discussed and voted on by the public at the Annual Town Meeting in May. _____________________________________________________________________________
If you would like to assist the Southwick Public Library you can do so by making a contribution to the Friends of the Southwick Public Library and mailing it to:
Friends of the Southwick Public Library c/o Southwick Public Library 95 Feeding Hills Road Southwick, MA 01077
or send a check to the Southwick Public Library (make check payable to Town of Southwick) at the same address shown above and request that it be put into the Gift Account. Charitable gifts to the Library are tax deductible since the Library is part of the Town of Southwick in accordance with IRC section 170.
The Friends of the Southwick Public Library typically holds two fundraising activities each year for the Library. For more information on the Friends click on the Home page of this website.
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