PUBLIC LIBRARY STRUCTURE IN NYS
& LIBRARY SERVICE OPTIONS FOR THE TOWN OF SCHODACK

Prepared by: Panz Library Consulting, Webster, NY
Presentation funded by NY State Division of Library Development

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PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

• Review types of libraries in NYS - characteristics & steps for creation
• Review potential library service options available to Schodack residents
• Review advantages & disadvantages of each option

TYPES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

• Association Libraries (363)
• Municipal Libraries (212)
• School District Public Libraries (139)
• Special Legislative District Public Libraries (40)

OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES RE: TAX SUPPORT

• Direct appropriation from a municipality or school district
• Placement of funding proposition on a municipal ballot
• Placement of funding proposition on a school district ballot

MUNICIPAL LIBRARY

Steps for creating

• Town notifies the State Library of its intention to create new library
• Municipality passes resolution to create new library, appropriates funds and appoints trustees
• Trustees apply to Board of Regents for a charter and if granted, govern library

Advantages

• Municipality assumes responsibility for survival of library - ownership
• Municipality can bond for capital projects
• Close relationship between library and municipality
• Opportunity for library to receive in-kind services from the municipality

Considerations

• Potential for conflict between library board and town re: who is in charge of library
• Library must continue to compete with other municipal services for funding
• Annual funding may fluctuate based on Town budget challenges

SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Primary characteristics

• Created by residents of a school district by approving propositions to create & fund a library and to elect trustees
• Service area of the library mirrors the boundaries of the school district
• Budget is approved annually by voters
• Trustees are elected annually by voters
• Library operates independently from school district

Advantages

• Library operates independently
• Elected trustees provide "representation" for taxpayers
• Opportunity to bond for capital projects
• Once established, library sets time & place for election
• Consistent funding stream
• Straightforward process for seeking increase in funding

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Primary characteristics

• State legislation authorizes local election to establish and fund a new library and elect trustees
• Legislation specifies service area and election process
• Boundaries freely drawn to reflect library user base
• Library has consistent funding stream - funding level continues until voters approve new amount
• Separate from any municipality and school district
• Library has ability to bond for capital projects

Advantages

• Service areas can be freely drawn to mirror usage patterns
• Opportunity to eliminate unserved areas & equalize support
• District can bond for capital projects
• Library can set time & place for initial and succeeding votes
• Stable funding - once budget approved by voters - cannot be reduced
• Library is independent from municipalities & school district
• Elected trustees provide "representation" for taxpayers
• Straightforward process for seeking increase

Considerations

• Library responsible for running local election
• Trustees are subject to election
• Requires strong education & advocacy effort
• Once created, library must comply with Civil Service & Municipal Purchasing laws

Local Area

This is a cropped version of a map shown during the presentation.
Distant areas and some details have been removed

CURRENT SITUATION: TOWN OF SCHODACK

• Town of Schodack is funding three libraries - East Greenbush, Castleton Public Library, Nassau Free Library
• Castleton is a municipal library chartered to serve the Village of Castleton
• East Greenbush is a special legislative district public library chartered to serve the Town of East Greenbush
• Nassau Free is an association library chartered to serve the Town of Nassau
• No library is chartered to serve the Town of Schodack

SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS

• Maintain status quo and continue to appropriate funds for three libraries
• East Greenbush, Castleton and Nassau libraries could place funding propositions on the municipal or school district ballots if town of Schodack eliminates its appropriation
• Create a new municipal public library serving the Town of Schodack except for village of Castleton
• Castleton Public Library could re-charter as a town library and open up a second branch in the center of Town
• Create new special legislative district public library serving the Town
• The East Greenbush Library District could be expanded to incorporate the Town of Schodack
• East Greenbush and Castleton could re-charter as school district public libraries serving their respective School Districts

MAINTAIN STATUS QUO

Advantages

• Path of least resistance if no consensus can be found
• Requires no effort to change things
• Enables Schodack residents to access all three libraries

Considerations

• No representation for Town residents on library boards
• Town & its residents have no control over costs of library services
• Potential for continued disagreement within Town on best option for library service
• No library officially chartered to serve town residents
• Town residents have limited sense of "ownership" of libraries

LIBRARIES COULD PLACE FUNDING PROPOSITIONS ON MUNICIPAL OR SCHOOL BALLOTS

Considerations

• Requires considerable advocacy & education effort
• Town residents will have no representation on library boards
• Number of signatures required on petition for municipal ballot may be difficult to obtain and petition process must be repeated each time an increase is sought
• If school ballot used, process is subject to counter-propositions that could reduce the amounts earmarked for libraries
• Voters may be confused if all three libraries place separate propositions on ballot

CREATE NEW MUNICIPAL LIBRARY SERVING TOWN OF SCHODACK EXCEPT FOR VILLAGE OF CASTLETON

Advantages

• Town assumes responsibility for funding library at level that meets state minimum standards
• Town residents appointed to library board providing residents with representation
• Town could bond for capital projects and facilities
• Town could also elect to fund existing libraries until new library is able to offer services on par with others

Considerations

• Library must compete with other municipal services for funding
• May take several years for new library to offer services on par with existing libraries
• Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding
• Potential for future disagreements between new library board and Town officials re: control of library
• Castleton Library tax base is diminished

RE-CHARTER CASTLETON AS TOWN LIBRARY WITH TWO BRANCHES

Advantages

• Relatively easy process to complete
• Town would appoint library board
• Town could bond for capital projects and facilities
• Library Board & Town would determine need for additional branches within town

Considerations

• Not much different from current situation - Town funds library through appropriation
• Library must compete with other municipal services for funding
• Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding
• If library opens second branch within town, operating costs will increase

CREATE NEW SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY DISTRICT SERVING TOWN OF SCHODACK

Advantages

• Elected library board would be directly accountable to Town residents
• New library board could determine need for additional branches within town
• New library board could determine need for continued funding to E. Greenbush & Nassau
• Public would have opportunity to vote annually on library budget & special bonding propositions
• Town could remove library funding from its budget
• Governance & funding structure would mirror E. Greenbush & N. Greenbush

Considerations

• Requires substantial advocacy & education effort
• Operating two branches within Town will increase operating costs
• Requires dissolution of existing Castleton library and merger into new library district
• Town government has no control over library services
• May take several years for new library to offer services on par with existing libraries
• Access to existing libraries may continue to be curtailed if Town decides to eliminate funding

EXPAND GREENBUSH PL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE TOWN OF SCHODACK

Advantages

• Relatively straightforward process
• Would provide Town residents with representation on library board and opportunity to vote on library budget
• Determination of number of library outlets to operate within new district would rest with the library board
• Potential for Castleton Library to merge into new district
• Town would not have to fund library service

Considerations

• Requires E. Greenbush residents approval to expand the library district
• Requires significant advocacy and education effort
• Territory covered by district is relatively large - need for additional library outlets will increase budget
• Town would have no control over library services

RE-CHARTER E. GREENBUSH & CASTLETON AS SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Advantages

• Library services consistent with School District boundaries - some natural connection
• New service areas would cover most of the Town of Castleton
• Town would not have to fund library services
• Elected boards and publicly approved budgets would provide residents with direct control over library services within each School District
• Relatively easy process for forming School District Public Libraries
• Once budgets approved by public, libraries would have consistent funding stream

Considerations

• Small portion of Town of Schodack lies outside of both School Districts and will remain "un-served"
• Would encroach on service area of Nassau Free Library may require merger into new district leaving rest of Town of Nassau unserved
• Requires strong advocacy and education effort
• Divides the Town re: library services
• Requires dissolution of existing E. Greenbush and Castleton libraries - creation of new school district libraries
• Town has no control over library services

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOVING AHEAD

• Identify process for making decision (appoint blue ribbon panel to recommend best option)
• Identify additional options, analyze each, select best for long-term success
• Do not underestimate the cost of quality library service (E. Greenbush $50/cap; similar size communities - $44/cap; must meet minimum standards - facilities, hours open, personnel)
• Develop timeline for implementation
• Determine need for legal and/or consultant support

WHY THE NYS BOARD OF REGENTS RECOMMENDS LIBRARY DISTRICTS

• Funding is more predictable and steady - once approved by voters, level cannot be decreased
• Increased autonomy and control by library board
• Library is more "accountable" to public
• More ownership by community - elected board
• Simplified funding stream
• Potential for offering enhanced services
• Success rate for ongoing funding propositions exceeds 90%
• Ability to "bond" for capital projects - improved facilities
• Libraries funded by public vote have per-capita support that is twice that of libraries that depend on appropriation

INFORMATION SOURCES

• NY State Library Website (Click on Public Library District "How to Guide" in pull down menu)
• Upper Hudson Library System
• Other libraries