Facing an estimated $74,868 shortfall in its 2012 budget, the Pottsville Free Public Library has made a plea to 400 of its supporters in January by mail, library Director Nancy Smink said last week.
"I've been director here since 1980 and during my tenure we've never done this kind of appeal," Smink said.
Libraries across the state have suffered in recent years as a result of state and other budget cuts. For example, in July 2010, the state cut funding to the state's 474 public libraries by 9.1 percent.
Smink attributed the library's projected shortfall to inflation.
"It's utilities and health care costs. All of our expenses keep going up. Garbage goes up. Sewer goes up. Lighting goes up," Smink said.
In 2011, the library's budget was $743,000. This year, it's $761,000, Smink said.
The budget supports the library's operations, which includes five part-time and eight full-time employees.
Anticipated revenues include $411,495 from the state, the same amount the state provided in 2011. Since the library is the headquarters for the Schuylkill County library system, roughly 20 percent of its state funding is paid to other libraries in the system, Smink said, including in Minersville, Orwigsburg, Port Carbon, Shenandoah, Tower-Porter, Tremont and Tri-Valley.
Meanwhile, the Pottsville library also receives $53,000 from the city, $55,000 from the Pottsville Area School District and $37,641 from the Schuylkill County commissioners.
"Part of that $37,641 from the county is also shared with 13 other libraries in the county," Smink said.
Every year the library also collects an estimated $130,000, which includes funds from its annual fundraising campaign, fines and miscellaneous donations, Smink said.
While calculating up the total revenues it expected to receive in 2012, roughly $686,000, Smink said the library board of trustees discovered a $74,868 shortfall.
Unable to cut the budget any more, the board decided to send 400 letters to supporters who had given to the library's annual fund drive in 2011. The letters went out Jan. 20, Smink said.
In the letter, the board said the library "is in dire financial straits."
Unlike a traditional fundraising campaign, this appeal isn't requesting major amounts. The board simply said, "Can you help us and donate $1 or more?"
The donations are to be sent to: Board of Trustees, Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., Pottsville, PA 17901
The library began receiving responses on Jan. 26.
Looking ahead, Smink said she's not sure whether or not the future will be cruel or kind to local libraries.
"I can't predict the future. If I could I would be a wealthy woman," she said.