The Board of Trustees has released our Proposed 2014/2015 Operating Budget. (Click Here to view it.) Residents of the Cornwall Central School District will be asked to vote on it during our Tuesday, April 8 Budget Vote. You will also be voting for two candidates (from a total of five on the ballot) for Library Trustee, each to serve a 5-year term that begins July 1, 2014. Voting will take place in the Library's Community Room from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

     The Trustees, working in solid partnership with Treasurer, Karen Staples, CPA and Karen LaRocca-Fels, Library Director, have worked diligently to prepare a cost-effective, conservative budget that addresses the needs and requests of our community. We recognize the budget's financial impact to taxpayers and want to stress the tremendous value our library represents with its stellar programs and services.

     The Library has also seen a dramatic increase in the request for technology, in various forms and programs, in past years. The demand for e-books and down- loadable audiobooks has increased over 20% in this
last year alone. Programs using the Friends of the Library grant-supported laptop and iPad lab are a sell-out almost immediately. The new Early Literacy iPad lab (funded by a grant from the Verizon Foundation through the Cornwall Public Library Foundation) will be available soon. In order to meet
the high demands of the community for all the new technology, the Library has increased the budget slightly to purchase additional e-books and equipment and to hire a part time staff person to guide and maintain the ongoing programs and technology.
While there are some increases in spending for technology, the board also strives to provide a
rich and responsive traditional print collection - also reflected in the budget.

     The Library has also answered the requests of the community and is getting ready to install new sound mitigation panels that will help reduce the noise levels in the children's section and near the circulation desk. Although we have been successful in obtaining a state grant and securing donations through the Cornwall Public Library Foundation's fundraising efforts, the Library is still in need of additional funding to complete this project.  

     I encourage all registered voters to come out and vote on Tuesday, April 8. If you have any questions or wish to discuss any aspects of the 2014/2015 budget, please e-mail me at corboardpres@rcls.org.

     Thank You for your ongoing support of Cornwall Public Library. It is vital to our ability to maintain the high standards in programs and services that you have come to respect and richly deserve.
We are proud to serve each and every one of you.
                            Susanne Vondrak