INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL

Editorial “Library at a crossroads” states “[Administrator Susan] Hauer’s efforts have been largely successful. During her tenure, circulation increased by 40 percent, local funding rose by 60 percent, a business library was established, four new libraries were opened under the library system umbrella and strategic planning was implemented….A non-binding referendum to tax county residents an average of $25 per person per year was narrowly defeated in the 2005 primary election.”

WATCHDOG: The Intell editor’s ignorance concerning the subject is manifested from the title.   It should be “Library System at a crossroad”. The Library System is basically a cooperative effort by a number of independent libraries to share certain tasks which grew into a bloated bureaucracy.

We do not wish to detract from Hauer’s sincere efforts and few accomplishments, but for the record:

1)       Local funding was increased by 60 percent largely because of the  $300,000 matching grant from the County Commissioners in 2006;

2)      In subsequent years the System kept half of the intended matching grant for itself;

3)      The Business Center was created by the Lancaster Public Library on Duke Street, not the System;

4)      Three of the four “new libraries” were branches of existing libraries; the fourth was heavily supported by Manheim Township.   MT increased its library funding from $100,000 to $269,000 after the Manheim Township Public Library became independent and constructed new facilities in 2009/ 10;

5)      It was a colossal bungle to hold a library funding referendum during an off year devoted solely to  local elections.  It should have been done in 2006, a Congressional election year an, if necessary,  tried again in 2008 when it almost certainly would have carried.