SEVEN POINTS - It's a tough go for the state's public libraries these days as the economic downturn and deep state budget cuts force administrators to rely more heavily on private donations, fundraisers and volunteer workers.
To that end, Best Friends of The Library at Cedar Creek Lake will hold a "Book, Bake and Plant Sale" Nov. 10-12 to raise money for the library's operation. The sale will include audios, videos, games and magazines. A raffle for a Kindle Fire is also being held for the library's event.
And the Tri-County Library in Mabank will also host a "Sidewalk Sale" fundraiser with the help of Old Friends antique store that weekend, Nov. 11-12, near its Market Street location.
Libraries need more help from the public because funding and other assistance from government and other civic sources is drying up while the demand for services is increasing, said Gil Betts, treasurer of The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, which is a non-profit public independent organization.
"The library is a growing enterprise, and the state of the economy affects that," Mr. Betts said. "Every year it becomes a little harder to keep the doors open."
High unemployment rates have brought more people to the library to use public computers to look for jobs, to work on resumes, to learn basic computer skills and to attend GED classes in an effort to compete with other job seekers. Last year, about 128,000 people visited the Cedar Creek Lake library, according to administration statistics.
Mr. Betts said the budget for the next year forecasts $163,000 in revenue and $168,000 in expenses, resulting in a $5,000 shortfall. Administrators are counting on fundraisers, such as a bridge tournament hosted by the Literary Club, and new private donations to make up that deficit.
The Cedar Creek Lake Library's building is owned by the Seven Points Economic Development Corp., and it also provides utility service and building maintenance for the library's operation. Henderson County gives the library a $27,500 annual stipend. All other funding comes from donations, fundraisers and grants such as one for $2,500 furnished by the United Way to pay for the children's summer reading program.
"Right now we're trying not to cut services," said Sondra Price, director of The Library at Cedar Creek Lake. "We're hoping that through fundraising and grant writing it will not be necessary."
Budget crunches are a dilemma for library administrators across the state, Mrs. Price said. Lone Star Library grants administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission will no longer be available as of Aug. 31 because of state budget cuts, and the North East Texas Library System that provided consulting and continuing education services to the area's public libraries will cease to exist next year.
The new state budget for 2012-2013 signed by Gov. Rick Perry July 26 reduced funding for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by 64 percent and cut funding for the agency's library programs by 88 percent. The state library budget will shrink from $19.8 million per year to $7.2 million and funding for the agency's library programs will go from $12.8 million to $1.6 million in the new state budget.
Mrs. Price said that many librarians are now looking for jobs as a result of the state budget cuts after the state library agency announced impending layoffs.
The Cedar Creek Lake Library has not let any employees go, but one position was not filled when the worker resigned, Mrs. Price said. That made the volunteer workforce more important than ever, she said.
Mrs. Price, who has worked for the library since 1995, is the only full-time employee, and she is assisted by three part-time employees.
Volunteers like Ann Morrow, who works all day one day each week, help the library continue to provide the same level of services prior to the latest budget crisis, Mrs. Price said. There is a critical need for maintaining the current level of services because the library provides assistance to so many young people and adults who often are disadvantaged and in dire need of help with literacy and speech skills, she said.
"It makes you want to cry when you see how much someone has been helped," said Mrs. Price, who volunteered at the library for a year before joining the staff. "The volunteers help make that possible in so many ways."
In addition to the satisfaction of contributing to a worthy cause, volunteering at the library is a pleasurable pastime, said Mrs. Morrow, who runs the front desk checking in and checking out books and other library materials on her volunteer work day.
"I just enjoy volunteering at the library," Mrs. Morrow said. "I even enjoy the way it smells, and the people are so nice."
Mr. Gill said there are many ways that members of the community can help the library to continue providing its important services in addition to attending the fundraisers. He urges everyone to either join the Best Friends of the Library Club, to donate or to volunteer to help in the library. Call 903-432-4185 for information.
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