To the editor:

Claiming the Tiverton Library isn’t really part of the town, the Tiverton Budget Committee decided to essentially level fund the library for the second year in a row.

Budget Committee member Justin Katz presented data cherry-picked from the state RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) website to show that Tiverton Library is funded above the Rhode Island median. However, when all the OLIS categories are examined, it is clear that Tiverton is below the state average for library funding and staff salaries are likewise below average.

Without offering any evidence to support their claim, committee members Hollenbach and Driggs say the library is mismanaged. However, again according to OLIS data, Tiverton provides more services per capita than most state libraries. This means Tiverton residents are receiving better than average service at lower than average costs compared to other libraries in Rhode Island.

The library compiles its own statistics for library usage and in nearly all categories we track, library usage has doubled since our move from the Essex Library. Those statistics include a count of patrons coming to the library, however committee member Cook has expressed doubts our electronic count of patrons is accurate. She is entitled to her opinion, but even if we discard the patron count; we still have 19 other categories of statistics that show usage has doubled.

The committee seems especially unhappy that the library is staffed at a level above the minimum required by OLIS. The library and its trustees are committed to providing library services to town residents at level above absolute minimum. Services that meet OLIS and American Library Association guidelines, services that have embraced by the community. I don’t know of any Rhode Island library that is operated anywhere near the OLIS minimum.

Committee member Caron was concerned that library lights were left on after hours. Library lighting is automatically controlled after hours by motion and sound. Sometime the lights are triggered by outside noise, but they automatically turn off after a short while. This is really not a concern, since the lighting fixtures are LED and consume minimal electricity. In fact, the energy efficient library uses only twice the energy of the old Essex Library—despite the fact it is about 8 times as large.

While the Budget Committee claims to “love the library,” it is clear they would not mourn the loss of library services. Last year, the library had a roughly $60,000 shortfall in funding. Part of the shortfall was made up with carry-over from an insurance claim, part by a donation, and a third by cuts to the library budget. The trustees worked hard to ensure that the impact to library services was minimized. Accordingly, programs were preserved but library operating hours were cut to 50 hours per week, the OLIS minimum. We were also able to take advantage of an OLIS provision that allows libraries to close on Saturdays during the summer months even though this reduces weekly hours below the minimum 50. Regrettably, these cuts required staff furloughs.

If the Budget Committee cuts for the coming year are ratified by the voters at the Town Financial Referendum (FTR), the library will be faced with insufficient funding again this year. The sources of revenue we used last year are no longer available, meaning additional cuts will be required. The reduction in library hours of last year will continue, but this year cuts to programs will also be necessary. Programs such as the children’s programs, teen programs and adult programs will all be at risk. We anticipate about three to four employees will need to be laid off.

The residents of Tiverton can be proud of their library, an $11 million project which cost Tiverton only $2.6 million. In spite of Budget Committee claims to the contrary, library costs and staffing have increased by about 10% over what they would have been had had we stayed in the Essex Library. Nevertheless, as usage in the new library continues to increase, the library is asking for an increase in this year’s budget that amounts to about $6 per resident for the entire year. That’s 11 cents per week!

The Budget Committee does not have the final say in town funding. The town voted on the library construction and has since embraced the library and all it offers. With numerous programs and services to the town, the library is an incredible asset. The library offers programs for everyone. If you haven’t been to the library, please stop by; I’m sure you’ll be impressed. In any case, please come out and vote at the FTR. The library needs your support.

Greg Jones

Chairman, Board of Trustees — Tiverton Public Library