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 past fiscal year (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) the Library budget(non-salary portion) from the Town of Southwick has been reduced from the prior year budget by 6.9 percent. 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. The Library funding from the town for the current year (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011) has been reduced (non-salary portion) by a further 10 percent. The ultimate impact of this cut has not been determined.
In order to supplement Town 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 have been 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 state budget for the year beginning July 1, 2010 continues the 30 percent cut. Effective July 1, 2010 the six regional library systems have been eliminated and replaced with one system based outside of Boston. 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 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 was passed 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 made direct to the Library are tax deductible to the extent of federal tax law since the Library is part of the Town of Southwick.
The Friends of the Southwick Public Library typically hold two fundraising activities each year for the Library. The Spring Book Sale took place April 30 and May 1. For more information click here or call the Library at 569-1221. For more information on the Friends click on the Home page of this website.
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