Referendum 2017 Imagine the possibilities www.ghal.org - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Referendum 2017 Imagine the possibilities www.ghal.org 724-837-5620

Our Mission To enrich our community by promoting literacy and fostering lifelong learning. Value Statements ● Respect ● Knowledge ● Access ● Community ● Innovation

Brief History of GHAL 1912 - First stage of the building completed 1912 to serve as post office. 1935 1935 - The library was founded by Concord Club. 1969 1969 – Moved to its current location on Pennsylvania Avenue. 1990 1990 - Added those communities in the Hempfield Area School District to its service area becoming the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. 1997 1997 - 3,000 square foot Children’s Library and increased its children’s programs and services. 2009 2009 - The Library added the Youngwood Area Public Library as a branch.

2016 2016 By the numbers Collection Hours open per week 47 Programs Attendance Annual library visits by patrons 144,769 Books 90,449 Adult 71 2,676 Total cardholders 18,484 DVDs 10,315 Children’s 351 9,100 eBooks 8,295 Total new cardholders 1,319 Teen 29 111 Audiobooks 2,358 Interlibrary items received 35,165 Book Discussions 15 New items added 6,990 & loaned Total 466 11,887 Total collection 111,417 Circulat Ci rculatio ion Technology Books 84,144 Sessions used on internet computers 14,531 DVDs 47,522 Hours of use on computers 15,605 eBooks 25,617 Volunteers 68 Wifi sessions in library 4,972 Audiobooks 7,906 Volunteer hours per year 6,240 Hours of wifi used in library 10,018 Children’s items 39,233 Staff members 25 Total checkouts 165,189 indicates an increase from previous year

Library Services Pronunciator Online Database Free of charge • Summer Reading Programs Programs at St. Clair Park • Outreach Programs • At the Library • Early Literacy Focus • eBooks • Online Databases • Genealogy and local history Preschool Fitness Therapy Dog Program Read to Kaya and Friends eBooks & Westmoreland OverDrive

Library Services Free of charge Children’s Programming During Summer 2017 , we had 248 programs and 5,254 children and adults in attendance. 2016 year round Children’s programs 351 with 9,100 in attendance. Stop Motion Animation Read to Succeed: Rising 1 st Graders Outreach to Hempfield Total minutes read Parks and Recreation Fairy Gardeners Extraordinaire this summer Summer Day Camp

Library Services Free of charge Adult Programs Computer Classes Adult Solar Eclipse Program with St. Vincent College Part of displays for It’s a Wonderful LIFE program Genealogy Program Greensburg Art Center Exhibits and Receptions

GHAL cardholders as of today GHAL 18,091 Youngwood 1,279 Total 19,370 “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” ― Neil Gaiman, author

The Problem: The Solution: The library does not The Greensburg receive enough Hempfield Area Library money from the state, board has placed a one mill levy levy county, municipalities and referendum on the boroughs to meet its November 7, 2017 local yearly budget. election ballot to fund library programs, services, staffing, and “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than facilities upkeep. money will get you through times of no libraries.” ― Anne Herbert, author

Plan A & B

What we’re asking The municipalities and how much What will the measure cost income is 1 mill expected to generate property owners? (approximations) Based on the property’s City of Greensburg $120,000 appraised value, 1 mill would Hempfield Township 500,000 cost the average homeowner Southwest Greensburg 15,600 an estimated South Greensburg 22,000 $20 to $30 annually or Youngwood 26,500 New Stanton 32,000 $1.67 to $2.50 per month . Total $716,100

Who we’re asking & their populations Greensburg City 14,892 Hempfield Township 43,241 Southwest Greensburg 2,155 South Greensburg 2,117 Youngwood Borough 3,050 New Stanton 2,173 TOTAL 67,628

2016 Operating cost for 2016 was $751,111 Income sources and amounts received: State $ 157,000 County 13,000 City of Greensburg 20,280 Hempfield Township 30,000 Borough of Southwest Greensburg 500 Borough of South Greensburg 1,000 Borough of Youngwood 6,161* Hempfield Area School District 10,000 Rentals 52,500 Total $290,441 Per library code: The more local financial support libraries receive, the more support libraries receive from the State.

From 2013-2016 budget expenses exceeded the budgeted income. For 2016 2016 2017 steps have been taken to create an equal balance between budgeted expenses and income, while still meeting the state requirements of no less than 12% of the total operating budget being spent on materials. Some Some of of the st the steps eps taken ta ken to to re reduce duce ex expens penses es Decrease full time weekly hours from 40 to 32 Technology updates only possible with grants and donations Eliminated Friday hours in 2009 Stopped outreach to daycares due to cut in state aid in 2009 until February of this year thanks to a grant from Standard Bank and PNC

What happens if the referendum passes We will be able to continue serving and helping our community. Imagine the possibilities!

Election on Tuesday, November 7th Jeanne S. Smith, Ed.D. - GHAL Board President Brenda H. White, Ph.D. - GHAL Board Secretary and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library Staff www.ghal.org 724-837-5620