REPORT
TO THE
Accomplishments
The library system began the year
with the question of how we were going to handle an 18% decrease in our overall
funding because of a 36% cut in state funding.
This cut greatly diminished the plans for the library system in 2004. The library decided to focus on and
strengthen our core services. This also
necessitated a postponement in the initiation of any new services until our
funding returned to its 2003 levels. Also,
in order to maintain our full hours of operation, the Library System used
income from its Endowment funds in the development of the 2004 budget.
One of the hardest hit areas of our
service plan was our collection purchases.
To meet this budget cut, we decreased our book budget by $50,000. We managed this cut by purchasing fewer
multiple copies of high demand items and purchasing a smaller range of
titles. An additional $20,000 was saved
from our materials budget by cutting processing supplies, canceling
subscriptions to 30 magazines and newspapers, and canceling subscriptions to
two online databases.
Also the library system closely managed our personnel
budget. We left a number of positions open
for much of the year. However, these positions have now been filled to allow us
to fully maintain our operational hours.
The library system also eliminated a maintenance position and a number
of part time public service positions.
This management decision saved the library system around $40,000.
The final area which the library made up the loss of
income was in the area of building maintenance.
The library system had plans to replace carpeting in the
Looking Ahead
2005 looks like a better financial year for the Library
System. The state budget included a restoration
of around $126,000 in state aid. This
restoration will allow the Library System to maintain our current operations
without any cuts in facilities or hours.
Also, it will allow the library system move on a number of maintenance
items which we postponed. Specifically,
the Library is planning on re-carpeting the third floor of the
The library system will be implementing a new service in
2005. This service will be a mobile
training lab. This mobile training lab
will allow the system to provide free computer training classes in our branch
and satellite operations throughout the county.
This program is founded through a grant from the ILMS administered
through Commonwealth Libraries.
We
are pleased and proud of the Library System’s success, and hope the residents
of
Respectfully submitted,
Trustees,
STATISTICAL SUMMARY
MATERIALS
CHILDREN: 56,406
CIRCULATION
CUSTOMERS
USING THE LIBRARY
Objectives for 2004
The
Adams County Library System received a $280,000 cut in State Aid appropriation
for 2004. One of the chief challenges
for the coming year will be to manage this cutback, and minimize the damage to
public service. The Library Board has
already decided that this will be done with no cutback in hours or facilities. END OF YEAR STATUS: Service hours have
been maintained and all facilities are still operating.
Continue
to purchase radio advertising for 26 weeks from WGET radio, and continue to purchase
print advertising as appropriate. END OF
YEAR STATUS: Radio and Newspaper advertising has continued and use
statistics have increased.
Complete
the 5 year plan. Begin to think through
operational plans and strategies that will meet those new goals and objectives. END OF
YEAR STATUS: The board of trustees
have developed and passed a five year plan with service objectives which have
been used for the development of the 2005 budget.
Continue
to work with the Adams County Historical Society on this project to digitize
photographs relevant to the history of
Continue
to evaluate current bookmobile service and plan for subsequent years. Evaluate need for a smaller vehicle, and / or
vehicle to provide specialized services, i.e. to daycares, nursing homes,
etc. This is an ongoing objective. Obviously purchase decisions will need to be
pushed back until our funding situation is improved. END OF
YEAR STATUS: Replacement of the Bookmobile has been slated for 2005.
Objectives for 2005
Due
to a number of breakdowns and other mechanical issues it has been determined
that it is time to replace the bookmobile.
The Library System has organized a committee of staff and board members
to develop specifications and develop a fund raising plan.
Space
requirements and services in the
The
Harbaugh/Thomas/Biglerville Foundation has been established to provide a
library facility in the Biglerville area to serve the
The
Library System has received a grant to implement a mobile training lab. This lab will help decentralize where computer
training classes are being offered. The
system will try to offer one class per month in each branch and satellite.
The Library System has established a Wireless
Internet Access Point (HotSpot) in the
RETURN ON
INVESTMENT 2004
Adams County Library System Service:
How Much Is It Really Worth?
The Adams County Library
System is in the business of making books, information and related materials
available to the residents of Adams County, PA and to offer culturally
enriching programs to County residents.
If our customers had to buy at fair market price the materials and services
available to them in 2004 from the Adams County Library System, they would have
paid an estimated $ 11,275,000
For example:
520,000+ books and
materials were borrowed from the
Library System in 2004. At an average
retail cost of $20 these would have cost: $
10,400,000
47,500 books,
periodicals, and newspapers were
used in libraries but not checked out.
At an average retail price
of $10 these would have cost: $ 475,000
60, 000 reference
questions were answered in
person and by telephone by the library staff.
If the library customer had to pay $5 for each inquiry,
the cost would have been: $ 300,000
1000 residents took free
computer classes at the library. At a cost of $50
per class this represents a value of: $ 50,000
3500 children and
adults attended library programs
in 2004.
At a $10 admission, these
activities would be worth: $ 35,000
1500 children
participated in summer reading
programs in 2004.
If each had paid a $10
registration fee, this would
have cost:
$ 15,000
These are just some of the
services the
Library System provided
during the fiscal year.
The value was much more to
many users than
the income the library
received
from State, County or Local Municipal sources in 2004.
(Data
as of 11/04)