Letter To The Editor – The Importance Of The Petersburgh Library

Dear Editor:
As Town policy makers consider difficult choices in finalizing Petersburgh’s 2014 budget, I feel it is important that Petersburgh residents understand several key facts about our Library. I offer this in the hope that this will assist our Town Board as they grapple with this year’s challenging budget process.
With a population of 1,525 citizens, the Town of Petersburgh has 864 library card holders. This means that over one half (56%) of Petersburgh residents are Library customers. In September 2013 alone, nine additional citizens received their Library cards so that they, too, can use the Library.
The Library offers reading materials, both print (including large print) and downloadable e-books, as well as audiobooks. It provides music CDs, movies, museum passes, genealogical materials, story hours, book discussion groups and programs for all ages.  In addition, the interlibrary loan service provides materials from libraries in the entire Capital District – all public libraries and school and college libraries – free of charge. Moreover, Library staff are able to obtain rare or unusual books from sources throughout the country. In other words, the Petersburgh Public Library is our portal to the nation’s library systems, coast to coast.
In 2012 the Library circulated a total of 32,503 items in addition to the 775 electronic items borrowed by Petersburgh patrons. If residents had to buy these materials, it would cost about $370,000.
Today’s libraries are much more than a place to find books and movies. We also provide high speed Internet access via our public computers housed in the Library. In one year, our residents signed up to the Library’s computers for over 1,600 sessions. Since many residents do not own a computer or cannot afford or have access to high speed Internet services, the Library provides a critical service in this “Digital Age.” For example, our residents use the Library’s computers to develop their resumes, search for employment opportunities, apply for employment opportunities, apply to college, stay informed about current events in our state, nation, and around the world, conduct personal and professional research and to do their homework. Our section of Rensselaer County remains one that is poorly served by high speed Internet access, so the Library fills a critical need for residents who need access to the vast amount of information available on the World Wide Web.
The Board of Trustees for the Petersburgh Public Library is made up of nine residents appointed by the Town Board. The Library Trustees work closely with our Library Director to ensure that the Library is operated in a responsible manner, serving the needs of our Town residents. A key part of our job is to seek outside grants and donations. Town residents are already familiar with the annual book and plant sale, but we also pay close attention to other opportunities to raise funds from County, State and private organizations. For example, some of our computers were purchased via a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. We have also received grants to provide materials for pre-school story hour programs, to fund a digital photography class for youth ages 10-16 and to fund the summer reading program. Funds available via the Town are used for maintenance of the building, wages for our personnel, utility and telephone bills and for new books. We use volunteers on a routine basis to help deliver the services available at the Library, and we welcome new volunteers as well.
If you have never visited the Library, I invite you to do so. You will find that we provide many services beyond just borrowing the latest best seller. Indeed, the Library is a comprehensive informational resource for residents seeking to broaden their horizons and to advance themselves both personally or professionally.
Last year hours were changed to make the Library more accessible by staying open until 6 pm four days a week and until 7 pm on Wednesday.  If you have not yet visited the Library please come in and visit.
Sincerely,
Gordon R. Batcheller, President,
Library Board of Trustees