As the Oswego Public Library Project completes the final phases of construction, funding becomes critical to ensure that the new structure can fully realize its potential when the doors are opened in the coming weeks.

The 2008-09 library budget includes funding to add and improve library services as well as support for the final construction details. The historic building is not the only thing that is being improved. Internal infrastructure, security systems, other equipment and staffing also need to be maintained, and in some cases, updated or expanded.

“We want to make sure that we are ready to serve the increase in library patrons we expect when the doors open on our new and expanded facility. We will have more space, a larger collection and new community space to maintain and manage, and the bottom line is that it will require additional funding to make it work,” said Oswego Public Library Director Carol Ferlito.

In the soon-to-open library, new posts such as the reference desk and local history section will need to be staffed and the expanded space (nearly three times the size of the former space) will need to be heated, cooled and maintained.

“Energy costs, additional facilities such as restrooms and other expanded areas will all require additional costs, and our budget must reflect those improvements,” Ferlito said.

One such service improvement that was made last year included a new circulation system. Partnering with North Country Library Services, the library installed the SIRSI circulation system. With the new system, patrons can access many services from their home computers, including browsing a selection of hundreds of thousands of books, videos and more in regional libraries, requesting interlibrary loans and renewing and reserving titles.

“Part of this renovation and expansion project involved spending significant time completing several program studies,” said Ferlito, library trustee and Building Committee chair. “The studies indicated two things. We needed to double the size of our facility and work aggressively on increasing the menu of programming for our patrons. Now that we are close to completion of the construction and renovation of the building, our work continues to make sure these new services are ready to be provided.”

The 2008-09 budget will fund both the final completion of the building expansion as well as other improvements. To complete the project and upgrade other important systems and equipment within the newly renovated structure, a proposed increase of approximately $83,000 in the 2008-09 library budget is necessary.

Oswego Public Library trustee Mercedes Niess said, “The cost of new books, utilities, retirement systems and health insurance keeps going up. At the same time, we will soon have a larger facility to maintain. We have good people working for our library; we need to support them so that they can continue reaching out to our community.”

Although the Oswego Public Library is seeking an increase in their budget, they currently trail many other community libraries in the region in per capita funding, or the amount per person that is contributed each year in terms of approved funding. For example, the Massena Public Library is funded at a per capita rate of $44.49 per year while the Oswego Public Library currently operates at a rate of $20.83.

The Renovation and Expansion project has stabilized and created a support structure for the historic building; doubled the space of the children’s room by moving it from the lower level to the top floor; added a community meeting room; increased facilities such as restrooms; improved accessibility to all floors including the installation of an elevator; increased book stack space; added more computer stations and updated network technology; created a Young Adult area; provided private/quiet areas for tutoring students; provided for rotating art exhibits; offered a local history/genealogy room; and more. Space for library services has almost doubled with the completion of this building project.

“Trying to control construction costs and provide quality services to our patrons is quite a balancing act,” Niess said. “This budget will adequately address both sides of the equation. The cost of the budget increase to an average taxpayer is less than the price of a bestseller. It’s a great value for something our community has clearly said it wants.”
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For more information concerning the Oswego Public Library, call 341-5867 or visit the Web site at www.oswegopubliclibrary.org.