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Home My WebLink About1995-11-27 96-43 RESOLVECODNCIL ACTION Date: 11-27-95 Item No 96-43 Item/Subject: Resolve: Calling Upon the Penobscot County Commission and the Penobscot County Legislative Delegation to Provide Assistance in Funding the Bangor Public Library Responsible Impartment: City Council COAmentary: The at ached Resolve has been introduced at the rawest of councilor Poppe[. Aso o£ the City's representatives to the County Budget Committee, Councilor Popper has bean a part of the recent budget deliberations regarding the County Budget. The Bangor Public Library has nude a request to the County for support of their Operating budget given the extent of service provided by the Library to Wn-Bangor county reSldente. The Library currently providesto 13,151 n -Bangor county residents which represents approximatelyservices 37B of the Library's active card holders. At a recent meeting of the County Budget Committee, the Committee recommended that this request not be funded. The attached Resolve calls upon the County Cpmmtssi nera aM the Penobscot County legislative delegation to provide a $5,000 appropriation to the Bangor emlic Library for its operating budget. This represents approximately 39 cents per each n -Bangor c unty resident who is provided service. yor comparative purposes, the City of Bangorprovides the Library with approximately $34 for each of its active card holders. Given the extent of regional services provided by the Library, the reality that State support for the Library as a regional resource enter has been Steady and/or declining Over the past few years, and the reality that deny of the individuals served in neighboring towns live in communities that do not provide libraries, such support seem appropriate. Manager's Comments: I would recommend your approval of this Needled. CITY MANAGER Associated Information: Resolve, Request from the Bangor Public Library to the County Commission RZNAMfR pTR F.('TOR Legal Approval: � �. rzzY e _Introduced For Passage _ Firirstt Reading Page—of — Referral Assigned to Councilor Popper November 27, 1995 96-63 CITY OF BANGOR MEL) PDOIUt,....Gallign_U,got..the Penobscot. County,_ Commission.__, and the Penobscot County Legislative Delegation to Provide Assistance in Funding the Bangor Public Library By tAs Citg Couaeit oftFs Ci[g ofBaapor: ' R OLVVD, '- WHEREA$, the Bangor Public Library is a regional facili NymWth provides backup reference service and materials to all libraries in this area; and WHEREAS, the Bangor Public Library also provides direct services to 13,151 registered borrowers from Penobscot County who live outside of Bangor; and WHEREAS, non -Bangor County borrowers represent almost 378 of the Library's total registered patrons; and WHEREAS, Penobscot County communities with more than 50 registered borrowers include Bradford, Brewer, Charleston, Carmel, Corinna, Corinth, Dixmont, EEdington, Etna, Exeter, Glenburn, Hampden, Hermon, Holden, Howland, Hudson, Eenduskeag, LaGrange, Levant, Lincoln, Milford, Millinocket, Newport, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, Stetson, Stillwater, and Veazie; and WEENsmS, the City of Bangor provides substantial support, appropriating approximately $39 for each of its active resident card holders, a portion of which is used to support non-resident patrons; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT: we hereby call upon the Penobscot County Commission and the Penobscot County Legislative Delegation to appropriate $5,000 in the County budget to offset a portion of the cost of providing library services and support provided by the Bangor Public Library to the citizens of Penobscot County. such an appropriation to the Bangor Public Library represents thirty-eight cents for each non -Bangor resident library user, a small and reasonable amount to support the significant and quality library services which are provided. IN CITY COUNCIL 96-43 Novmeber 27, 1995 Passed R E S 0 L YE CITY CLEM Calling Oman the Penobscot County Commission and the Penobscot County Legislative Delegation to Provide Assistance in Fending the Bangor Public TM—rary �P RANWR PUBLIC LIBRARY 16 KARLOW STREET. PANGOR, MAINE 04401 4900 TELEPHONE too an 93 Pambsect County Commissioners 97 Hammond Street Bangor, Maine 04401 Dear Members of the Commission 96-43 September 28, 1995 Access to information is an American traditionbe today s society information is becoming a valuable commodity. However, the threat grows that society will fragment into `9rfformmion Haves' and `Information Have Nots.' Basic library service is essential for our children leaming to work in an iNbrtnation society, for our businesses needing to keep competitive and, indeed for all of our omens wanting to make informed choices. It is impractical for a person or business to buy every publication it needs, even in speaaliud subjem azeaz. probe libraries, since the time of Benjamin Rearm, have assumed a wW mfiw role with the wider community to house and access iMorrnation and ressomces needed by am/ and all. The Bangor public 1:1rary bas assumed this role forthe area for many years. The library houses over 5w,000 volumes, subscribes to ova 600 periodicals and has access to on-line databases and indexes. All these resources are free to the residents of this area. Over 2,000 people pass through the library each day. We are proud to be one of this area's key resources -- a resource available to people of all ages and businesses of all ores. M one of the three Ares Resource and Rekreace Cintas in the state, we provide backup refinance service or send needed books and materials to all libraries (public, academic, special and school) in Northern Maine. We have the distinction of sending more interlibrary loans (books from our collection reopened by other libraries) then any library, including Harvard, in New England. We are proud to be able to provide this service. 96-43 Besides bring the backup for area librsries we serve area residents dirmady, without charge. There are 35,593 registered borrowers of me Bangor Public Library, over 15,400 of than live outside the city limits. Of this number 13,151 five outside of Bangor, but in Penobsca County ?owns in penobsom County which have more Wan 50 registered borrowers at our library include. Bradford, Brewer, Chaderton, Carmel, Corman, Corimh, Dlxmnnt, Eddivgton, Etw, Exner, Glenburn, Hampdw, Hermon, Holden, Howland, Hudson, Kenduskeag,LaGrange, Levam, Lincoln, Melford, IvBllmocket, Newport, OW Town, Orono, Orlmgton, Stetson, Stillwaza and Veazie. Although we are not a city department, aurally we obtain about half of our operating fads Womthe CityofBaga. We receive some State rrmwe to Provide backup service tolibraries in Maine. In the past, Store funding has baa 5110,000 or newly 10%ofthe Library's operating budget; however, the amount has nm increased in the last T years, and nextyearwellbeless. Hmpwglumamefromthefedeallaeleithe. Jn Wet,ourcre ethical federal subsidy, the Lbrsry Bate for U. S. Postage, vanished her January, increasing reading costs by 740/a. I w writing to ask Penobscot County to provide fords for the hbmry operating budget. It is our hope that financial assurance would be forthcoming to help defray the rising costs ofprovidivg filmy service to patrons who live outside the city limits. The City of Bangor provides the library with approximately $3400 for each of its active cardholders. Support for other county residents using me binary is essential to help us continue an, provide needed library service to this was- We eaWe know that these are not the been of times, however, the library is an economic rise that needs to be maintained and exparded in this age of new information technology. We are an important asses for Perobsoot County. Please help us provide this important service. I look forward to meeting with you to explore this matter. The you for your interest ad asdataa. (ice elY, a� Barbara A- McDade I)ireaor 96-43 . 145 HARLOW STREET, BANGOR, NE 04401 4BOO TELEPHONE Ro'/I 947.8336 mtrm txe comber Adult 28,955 juvenile 5,802 . Staff 33, Institution 31. Library 643 Organization v' Professional 98' Slut -ins 24 Tytal 35,593 Bangor Addresses: 20,147 Non -Bangor Addresses: 15,446 1CFdS WtfFl lOP6 Si@N 50 HPL PATRYS * Bradford 193 * Hudson 212 * BreweL 2,681 * Henduskeng 236 Hucksport 670 * LaGrange 73 * Charleston 191 * Levant 523 *' Carmel 846 * Lincoln 130 * Corinna 119 * Milford 158 * Mxmont 252 * Millinocket 74 * Pddington 289 * New,wrt 146 Ellsworth 428 * Old Toon 603 * Etna 207 Orland % * Exeter 85 * Orono 11030 * Glenburn 106 * Orrington 786 * Hampden 1,473 * Stetson 148 * Hermm 135 * Stillwater 313 * Holden 1,037 * Vearie 553 * Howland 68 winterPort 691 Patrons N ether towns: 816 *towns in Penobscot COXNtT