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February 16, 2009

Does old library model still work?

Gloucester County Times News
Monday, February 16, 2009
In having the township library become a branch of the Gloucester County Library System (GCLS), East Greenwich Township residents should see improved services at less cost. The move announced last week is expected to save local taxpayers about $45,000 a year and a lot of headaches.

The township's 50-year-old library had been among the last of a breed what the county library commission calls an "independent association" library. East Greenwich residents paid the county library tax as do property owners in 14 of 24 county municipalities but the local library was run by an independent board. Financial assistance from the GCLS was limited and did not cover all costs.

With the switch to branch status, the county system will absorb personnel costs and operating expenses, including about $30,000 to upgrade the old school on Kings Highway where the facility is housed. The library will be open an extra 13 hours a week, and no longer will the volunteer trustee board struggle to raise enough money through bake sales and fundraisers.

Now, only Newfield's library retains "independent association" status. Besides East Greenwich, GCLS branches are the Glassboro, Greenwich, Logan and Swedesboro libraries and the main county library in Mullica Hill.

Other "independent" libraries in county municipalities are fully independent. Residents don't pay the county tax, and these libraries are funded mainly by statutory aid from the municipal budget. Given how economies of scale will help East Greenwich, is this still a good idea?

Independent libraries like the ones in West Deptford and Woodbury are among the county's best. Most have a proud history that predates the GCLS. Washington Township and Monroe libraries are getting new homes, so this may be an odd time to ask about more regionalization.

Maybe the state should be asking the questions. The potential of library mergers seems to be one area that has been forgotten in Trenton's zeal to make towns consolidate to save money.

If other towns are straining limited resources to maintain independent libraries when a first-rate county system is available, it makes sense to look. Independent library associations, like independent fire companies, date from colonial America's custom of mutual aid and local control. Where the model no longer works, however, it's time to improve it.

Posted by tumulty at February 16, 2009 9:59 AM

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