The Cohoes Public Library is seeking to establish a library district through a vote on June 9th. As a municipal library, it has lost over $120,000 in funding since 2009 due to budget cuts. This has led to reductions in hours, programs, and materials. A library district would provide stable, community-based funding and allow the library to restore lost services and programs. It would cost the average homeowner $97 per year. If approved, the district would generate $490,000 annually to support expanded hours, staffing, and collections at the library.

1. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Facts and Figures
About the Library’s District Initiative
Creating Stable and
Sustainable Funding

2. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where We Stand
• The Cohoes Public Library is presently
chartered as a municipal library
– Library is funded by the city through its
property tax base
– The trustees are city residents who are
appointed by the Mayor and the Common
Council

3. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where We Stand
• Because of the tax cap and many other
competing financial priorities, the Library
has lost over $120,000 in funding since
2009

4. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where We Stand
• These cuts haven’t deterred the Library
from providing programs and services
• In 2013
– Over 40,000 items were borrowed
– Our public computers were used 13,635 times
– Over 1,000 adults and children attended
programs
– 2,400 reference questions were
answered

5. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where We Stand
• The values of all
library programs and
services in 2013 was
$912,948
• For every tax dollar,
you received a
public service return
on investment of
$5.31

6. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where We Stand
• Stagnant funding or continued cuts to the
Library will damage our ability to operate
• The Library can no longer do more with
less
• The community has told us they want a
stronger, more vibrant library

7. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Impact of Budget Cuts
• Lost five morning hours per week, 260 per
year
– Time that was often used by seniors who
would often walk to the Library from
downtown senior housing
• No regular Story Time
– In 2008, there were 43 programs for babies
through 5 year olds.
– There were none in 2014

8. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Impact of Budget Cuts
• Fewer summer reading programs
– In 2008, 28 programs with 338 children
participating
– In 2014, 7 programs with 108 less children
reading and improving their skills
• Our ability to buy new materials including
books and DVDs was hamstrung

9. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
What the Community Wants
• Fall of 2014, conducted a series of focus
groups
– More programs for seniors, teens and children
– More community collaboration and outreach
– More computer classes
– Better staffing
– Better and bigger collections
– More hours

10. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Library District Is The Answer
• The Library’s Board of Trustees have decided
that becoming a library district that shares the
school district’s boundaries
– Called a School District Public Library in State Ed
law because of the shared boundaries
• District will be established by a vote of school
district residents
– Stable community-based funding
• Elect nine library trustees
– Each petition to get on the ballot

11. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Library District Is The Answer
• Library will live within its own tax cap
based on the initial level of community-
based funding voted upon by school
district voters
• By law, the school district collects the
library’s funding and turns it over to the
library
• Library may put a new budget before the
voters each year

12. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Library District Is The Answer
• The Library will be completely independent
of both the Cohoes School District and the
City of Cohoes
• But, will have the funding it needs to
create needed community collaborations
with both

13. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Community-Based Funding
• The Library will be asking school district
voters to establish the library district with
$490,000 in community-based funding
– $1.20/$1,000 of assessed value
• Restores what the Library has lost and will
enable us to strengthen and create new
library programs and services
• Funding will put Library on
solid financial footing

14. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Community-Based Funding
• For a Cohoes home worth $150,000
(assessed at roughly $84,000), Library’s
funding would be just over $97 a year
• $1.87 a week—
less than a cup of
coffee
• Just 2.3% of all the
taxes you pay each year

15. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Proposed District Revenue

16. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Proposed District Expenses

17. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
If the District Is Approved
• Restore new materials budget for DVDs,
books, periodicals, eBooks and audio
books
• Increase hours—Open Tuesday until 8
p.m.
– Total open hours: 50 per week

18. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
If the District Is Approved
• Appoint a Children’s Librarian to build local
outreach, including school collaboration to
support our children’s research and
education projects
• Appoint a skilled technology staff that will
offer digital literacy and technology training
and support

19. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
If the District Is Not Approved
• Close on Saturdays
• Drastic cuts to new materials
– No New Books, DVDs, etc.
• Slash Children’s Summer Reading
Program by ¾
– 8 programs will be cut to 2

20. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
If the District Is Not Approved
• Increase fines and fees for printing/faxing/
copying/scanning from 10% to 50%
• Stop all technology upgrades
• Reduce the number of public access
computers by 2
• Cut staff even further

21. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
Where and When
• The vote to create the Library District will
be on the Tuesday, June 9th
• Voting will take place from Noon to 9 p.m.
at your usual school district polling place
• Absentee ballots are available.

22. www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
For More Information
• www.cohoes.fundourlibraries.org
• Matthew Graff, Library Director
– 235-2570
– director@cohoespubliclibrary.org
• Carol Clingan, Library Board President
– chclingan@gmail.com