Even a careful reading of the Task Force Report and listening to its chair Terry Kauffman at times left confusion of whether the reference was simply to the System which provides certain services or to the federated 14 libraries including the System.
The county provides $2 million a year to the System located in a posh suburban office setting, but in fact only a tiny amount ever passes through to the 14 independent libraries which comprise the federation.
Several years ago the County Commissioner added a $300,000 challenge grant where by these funds would be used to match contributions to the individual libraries. Then they reduced the grant to $150,000. Then it was eliminated.
This year the commissioners mandated that at least $150,000 of its funding of the System be passed through to the individual libraries.
At a time when the state and local funding have been drastically reduced, the individual libraries are scrambling courageously to make do. Meanwhile, the System is faring well. The System does provide certain support services, many of which used to be provided by the downtown Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street) at a fraction of the expense.
Moreover Adminstrator Susan Hauer has become a library Czar, since she has subtle but powerful influence on how state funds are to be distributed to the individual libraries. Furthermore, each library, be it tiny Mt. Joy or large Lancaster Public Library on Duke Street (serving around 1500 persons a day), has the same vote. This means the needs of the individuals visiting the downtown library only carry a small portion of representation compared to those of visitors to smaller libraries throughout the county.
The Task Force has urged that the System board be totally reconstitute so that library directors are replaced with qualified individuals from various sectors of the community. This is an excellent first step.
