MACUNGIE, Pa. - No late fees apply: Macungie Council has renewed its support of the Emmaus Library.
Council affirmed Monday that its funding partnership would remain in its current budget.
Community members heard that the budget item would be debated in a workshop meeting when Emmaus Public Library Director Maryellen Kanarr sent out an email encouraging cardholders in the borough to voice support for the library.
- Following community support from Macungie Borough members of the Emmaus Public Library via email and at Monday's budget workshop meeting, the borough council affirmed that funding would remain on the 2023 budget
- Worry came after a message from the library director that said the item may be at risk as the borough attempted to balance the budget
- Councilman Carl Sell Jr. was the only council member who decided to be against library funding
About 40 community members sent emails to the council, and at least eight, some of whom addressed the council, showed up at the meeting to show their support.
Barbara Levinson, the Macungie representative of the Emmaus Public Library, said 30 more residents to whom she spoke expressed the desire to keep the support of the library.
Levinson said library funding is always an item at risk when local budgets get tight and are looking to be balanced, as is happening in Macungie.
The library said that if the partnership is severed, residents of the borough would have to pay $40 annually to join the library as non-residents.
"Since half of Macungie residents ages 5 years and older have library cards, we figured they should let their voices be heard in this decision making, including making them aware of the consequences if the borough doesn't fund the library," Kanarr said.
The library's current budgeted request from Macungie is $21,028, a slight increase from the prior year. The library says operating expenses for the next year are projected to increase by 4.1% over the last year to $385,000.
The library would cost $6.40 per resident in taxes.
If it is not funded, borough residents would have to pay the $40 non-resident fee for use of the library, potentially creating a financial barrier to access.
"If you would ask every citizen that pays taxes in this town, are they OK with that? Paying for somebody else to go to the library, would they all say it's OK?"Macungie Councilman Carl Sell Jr.
Councilman Carl Sell Jr. was opposed to continuing the funding, saying current access to technology diminishes the need for the library and that $40 would not be that much to pay.
"If you would ask every citizen that pays taxes in this town, are they OK with that? Paying for somebody else to go to the library, would they all say it's OK?" Sell said. "Probably not. Maybe the majority of them would. But me, personally, I wouldn't fund the library. But that's just me."
Former borough council member Dorothy Kociuba spoke as a member of the library, saying the library provides access to technology and resources to those who may not be able to afford them in their homes.
"Many people go to the library to use the computer, to do other things, to partake in programs that they offer," Kociuba said. "You're closing doors to some people, and in today's world, with inflation and current rates, prices are going up. Not everybody can afford to buy a lot of books. it's very important for children."
An informal vote kept library funds on the current draft budget for 2023. Council members Lisa Yeager, Todd Rutledge, Ron Karboski and council President John Yerman all voiced support for continuing funding.
According to the Emmaus Public Library, 1,343 Macungie residents ages 5 and older — about 40% of the borough population — hold an active library card. Macungie residents checked out more than 3,300 physical items in the last year.
The budget still has to be finalized by the council at the remaining budget workshops and council meetings.
