Libraries build communities.  Will this community
build a new library? 

Realizing that property owners in the Borough are concerned about the increase in costs for services and the possibility of a significant tax increase, I would like to provide some explanation of what Middletown Public Library is able to do for the community and how its services would be enhanced by a new facility. 

Nearly 40 years ago, a group of library supporters rallied to renovate the Liberty House to establish a home for the public library.  Since 1926, members of The Middletown Womens Club kept library services alive by finding temporary homes in living rooms, basements, schoolrooms, and the old Borough building.  In 1978, this building, at 20 N. Catherine Street, opened its doors to the public as established home to Middletown Public Library, thanks to The Womens Club and the newly formed Friends of the Library.  These visionary people ensured that library service would continue uninterrupted through the rest of the century. 

Forty years later, we are fortunate that our use by the community has grown.  In 2006, library users have visited us, on average, more than 5,000 times a month.  We continue to offer other standard services such as preschool storytime, summer reading club, and occasional special programs such as concerts and hobby presentations.  Through the end of September, we had offered 72 individual programs for children, teens, and adults—with 1,556 people attending.  We provide not only books and a place to find homework information--a mainstay of the 20^th century library--but we now also provide free internet service to our patrons.  Last month, more than 300 people logged onto our public computers over 1,000 times.  Never fear, however!  The book is still alive and well.  This year, through September, our patrons checked out books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other materials over 47,000 times.  This year, we were the only outlet for tax forms in the 17057 zip code area; the Post Office stopped carrying them! 

In addition, Middletown Public Library is the sole repository for the history of Three Mile Island and its affects, both positive and negative, on the community.  The Library is also the sole repository of documents related to the HIA environmental cleanup.  This library is the collector of documents and materials related to the history of Middletown, including a microfilm collection of the community newspaper—now The Press and Journal—going back to the late 1800s.

As the technology revolution has expanded the ways in which people educate themselves and find information, we have made it our business to help them with this newer medium.  People seeking jobs often use our public internet stations to apply online (a requirement by some companies).  They can type their resumes and design fliers and promotional materials for a new business launch.  Our staff assists people who, through us and in the comfort of their homes, to access full-text magazine articles; Associated Press photographs; and a variety of encyclopedias; and tutorials and practice tests for Civil Service, College Entrance and Graduate Entrance exams, EMS, GED, U.S. Citizenship, and many more.  Students who are enrolled in online study programs can request that we proctor their exams.  Recently, through our library district affiliation, we have been able to provide free downloadable e-audiobooks. 

As beloved as this Liberty House building is for many Middletown residents, it has reached its limits in use and ability to accommodate growth.   Our collection size must remain the same, so we must take out one item for each new item we purchase.  The waiting list for our computers grows lengthier as time goes on and lighting is inadequate; our ability to wire for new capacity is difficult because of the stone wall construction.  The little street parking that is available quickly fills up at storytime or when there is an event, making it difficult and hazardous for families with very young children or for the elderly or handicapped to come to the library when they must park far away.  People who want to study, tutors who use our library for instruction, and students who are having tests proctored have no quiet space in which to work.  Staff workspace is almost nonexistent.  We receive frequent requests for computer instruction, a service our staff is trained to provide, but we have no place in which to do instruction. 

With the dream of a new library always in mind, our original request for capital improvements was to renovate the first-floor interior of the library and to build a parking lot.  These requests were estimated to cost approximately $600,000.  Such improvements would have helped, but they would not have relieved the problem with expanding need for space.  Such renovation would make the space more comfortable and a little sturdier, but it would not allow us to meet the growing need of the community for additional services.  If the numbers of visits and items borrowed, and uses of public computers, and attendance at programs is an indicator of how important this Library is to the community, then I hope that the residents of the community will want to support a facility that can only allow even better library service. 

It is true that a new facility will cost every homeowner money.  At $3 million, the impact would be approximately .92 mil.  I am not a resident of Middletown and don’t have to decide how I would absorb this.  Because I prize libraries, I would want to be supportive if I were a resident; but like everyone, I have a bottom line.   It is a balance of economics and how much value one places on the service.  Not an easy decision to make. 

With increased space for books and other materials, more space for public computers, a computer instruction lab, quiet study rooms, public meeting and program space, Middletown Public Library will be able to completely launch into 21^st century library service.  And we are ready!  We hope this community is ready, if not this year then in the short-term future. 

Last, if you have not used our library or have not visited us in a long time, please do come.  Libraries have more to offer than you may imagine.  Our greatest resource is the library staff, which endeavors to help every person who comes in the door.  I am asking you to support this library—your library—and you can start by using our services.  We are here for YOU! 

Respectfully,

Stephanie Liva, Director

 

Contact the library for detailed information on how you can help support .

WE NEED YOUR BUDGET SUPPORT!