Easton Area Public Library Sees Continued Growth in Hard Economy

In 1811, the cost of an annual subscription to the Easton Area Public Library was just $1.50. Nearly 200 years later, the library faces new challenges, like competing with new technologies and budget cuts. But service has not dwindled and the library has even seen an increase in visitors.

The library has a main branch located in the heart of downtown Easton and two additional branches, the South Side branch and the Palmer Township branch. The library's budget is appropriated through the Easton Area School District via tax revenues that the district collects annually.

The remainder of the funds comes from Pennsylvania and funds collected through late return fees. There is a Library Board that sets the budget and, as library director, Jennifer Stocker decides where the funds should be spent within the library system.

The library system is run on a fiscal year, which is from June to July.  During the 2009 fiscal year, the library's funds were cut by 20 percent. Then for the 2010 fiscal year, the library received an additional 11 percent decrease in funds. That totals some 31 percent in the past two years.

"If this state budget cuts any more, we might have to look at some things strategically," said Stocker.

Stocker said although it has a challenge, the Easton Area Library system has been fortunate in comparison to other library systems throughout the nation.

"We were able to look at our budget and carefully examine," Stocker.

Over the past several years, the state has had to reduce funding to the some 630 plus libraries it services. Just this past year, the funding cuts totaled $54.5 million. And although it's not clear where the chips will fall in the upcoming 2012 fiscal, Stocker remains optimistic.

"I don't know what next year's gonna hold," said Stocker.

The state will likely present their proposed budget for 2012 in February or March sometime. In addition to state cuts, the library may face additional cuts from the school district. The district now has to make up a deficit of  $290,000 as a result of losing a lawsuit filed by the Palmer Park Mall that reassessed the property of the mall by some $5 million.

"We haven't had to cut any programs," said Stocker. "We've had to cut some online databases. We have not had to cut hours. We reduced staffing but we didn't cut hours. We've always been very careful with our tax dollars and spending," Stocker added.

The library also has reduced purchases of popular new release titles.

But even in these hard economic times, Stocker says the library has actually seen an increase in donations and video rentals. There has also been an increase in traffic at the library.

According to Stocker, the library had a 19 percent increase in book circulation last year.

"This year we're on target to check out over 400,000 items," said Stocker.

And on the eve of 200 years since the January 14th signing of the original library bylaws, the library still remains a go-to community resource. "Here we are 200 years later," said Stocker. And it's likely that the library will continue on for another 200 years, there just may be a little more adjusting.