Library Funding Cuts - a Nationwide Problem

Katonah Village Library is not the only library concerned with its budget and seeking to set up an operating endowment. Here's another example.

Libraries constantly struggle to maintain the high quality of services they offer and to retain talented staff. Public librarians in New York State are required to have an master's degree in library science. Despite their high level of specialized knowledge and education, librarians are routinely paid far less than other, similar master's degree holders (as in information techology, for instance). Next time you stop by the library, thank a librarian for her dedication to library work. At the present time, an MLS degree from Long Island University (the one local university to offer the degree in Westchester County) costs upwards of $25,000. Paying off those loans is difficult on a librarian's salary.

In addition to librarians, libraries employ clerks (those friendly people who check your books in and out, among many other vital duties) and pages (generally, local teens who work after school shelving books so they're in proper order and readily available soon after being returned to the library).

The operating endowment we seek to set up will help us attract and retain the wonderful staff you've come to expect from Katonah Village Library. This is just one small way the endowment will help Katonah Village Library continue to be the heart of the community.

Demystifying Dewey

Mystified by the Dewey Decimal Classification? In order to navigate the non-fiction section at Katonah Village Library with ease, you may want to try one or more of these websites to understand Melvil Dewey's classification system better.

Oregon School Library
Gallaudet University
Duke Libraries

In use for more than 100 years, most public libraries use Dewey to organize their non-fiction books (fiction fits into Dewey, but at Katonah, as in most public libraries, we organize fiction alphabetically by author in a separate section).

Twain's Words of Wisdom

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them." – Mark Twain

The Online Public Access Catalog, or, Where Did My Card Catalog Go?

If you miss the old card catalog since the computerized one seems so foreign and strange, Library Catalog Tutorial offers a very helpful tutorial to help you understand and use the online public access catalog, or OPAC, as we call it in libraryspeak.

Are you coming to our film screening in October? Remember, it's not only a benefit, an exclusive screening and a Q&A with the director/producer and editor, but also a fun social event! We hope to see you there.

Our Leaky Roof

Our roof will benefit from your participation in our fund drive! On rainy days like this, we play "move the bucket" and try to deal with the leaks as best we can. Our staff room has been nearly unusable for a year now, and some leaks are starting to show up in the main room. Thankfully, our collection has not been threatened as of yet, but we just have to keep our fingers crossed (and our eyes open) until work can start on repairing the roof.

It's fabulous that we're approaching 125 years of service to Katonah, but with that comes the aging of our building. The expansion from the late 1960's seems to need the most work.

Roofs are expensive (but oh so necessary). Please keep us in mind when you're feeling charitable. Only 75% of our funding comes from the Town of Bedford, we have to find ways to support operating the library, plus those unexpected costs that pop up... like needing a new roof.

Anniversary Logo

Check out our blog profile for a glimpse of our 125th anniversary logo. Frisbees with this logo were given out at the July 25 picnic, and more logo items are sure to become available in the coming months.

Library Quote of the Week:
"What is more important in a library than anything else - than everything else - is the fact that it exists." - Archibald MacLeish, U.S. Poet

RSVP Info for Movie Screening

To request tickets for the screening at the Avon Theater on October 6, please leave a message at 232-2888 or RSVP forms will be available shortly at the library.

Public Library Facts

Did you know?

• There are more public libraries than McDonald's – a total of 16,220, including branches.
• Americans spend more than three times as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries.
• Americans check out an average of more than six books a year. They spend $25.25 a year for the public library – much less than the average cost of one hardcover book. (What a bargain!)
• Public libraries are the number one point of online access for people without Internet connections at home, school or work.
• 95% of public libraries provide public access to the Internet.

Facts courtesy of the American Library Association

Movie Screening

There will be a movie premiere to benefit the library on October 6, 7 p.m., at the Avon Theater in Stamford, CT. The film "Off the Map" is produced and directed by Katonah native Campbell Scott and edited by Katonah resident Andy Keir. There will be a Q&A with Campbell and Andy after the screening, as well as a reception. Tickets are $125 per person. More details to follow. What an exciting event!

Main Web Site

For basic information about Katonah Village Library, visit www.katonahlibrary.org

A quote about libraries to kick off our fundraiser:

"Libraries are not made, they grow." - Augustine Birrell (1850-1933)

Kicking Off the Anniversary Celebration

In 2005, Katonah Village Library has its 125th anniversary. We're so excited that we couldn't wait to celebrate, so we started the party early with a picnic at Katonah Memorial Park on July 25th. Everyone who attended had a great time. Frisbees with our anniversary logo were given out, and a storyteller entertained the kids for an hour.

We've started this blog to keep you informed of our fundraising progress, anniversary-related events, plans for the funds raised and library-related miscellany to keep you amused and informed. Keep coming back! We plan to update the blog at least twice a week.