Did you know you were already a donor to the library? I certainly didn’t until recently. My naïveté even extended to the fact that our library is owned and operated independent of the town, by a not-for-profit foundation.
Despite not being owned/operated by the town, New Canaan taxpayers currently pay 75% of the operating costs of the library as per a longstanding agreement between the town and this independent foundation. In addition to covering costs, library employees get town healthcare and until recently a town pension.
Since 1996, the taxpayers of New Canaan have given the independent non for profit that owns and operates the library in excess of $40 million. In 1996, the taxpayer’s annual contribution was $1.13 million and as of 2019, that contribution has increased to $2.6 million, not counting heath care expenses. Over the past four years, this non-profit’s costs have grown 5% on average and since 1996, the library’s annual operating expenditure per capita has increased 186%.
What is equally troubling, is that costs continue to grow despite a decline number of registered borrowers, data show. As per this foundation’s own public records, the total number of library visits has declined to 213,000 in 2019 from 365,000 people in 1996 yet the population of New Canaan continues to grow. You might say, well with a new library, this will reverse the trend. Darien’s recent experience is illuminating. Since building a new library in 2009, the town of Darien has experienced an 11% decline in library visitors, and the costs associated with the Darien library have increased 29% since 2009.
I support education, learning and especially books. The excitement of a new book is hard to match. Having been a treasurer of a local nonprofit, I understand the energy that the entire team needs to put forward to raise funds and operate a successful non for profit. But as a taxpayer of New Canaan, I would prefer to donate directly to a cause and not indirectly. Taxpayer funds should be not be used to fund foundations. I should have the choice on where to donate.
Yet here we are at a turning point. The independent nonprofit that owns and operates the New Canaan Library is asking the taxpayers of New Canaan for a minimum of $10 million dollars which will certainly increase our mill rate, and need to be bonded despite a deep recession. And this foundation’s expectation is that New Canaan’s taxpayers continue to continue to fund the library’s day-to-day operations.
As we are now in a deep recession, it is time to be practical and prudent. The independent not-for-profit that owns and operates the New Canaan Library must be able to stand on its own. If this non-for profit has raised the $16 million as they report, they should be able to fundraise sufficiently to meet their annual operating expenses without dependency on further government largesse.
I am proposing that this gift of $10 million be the last donation. The MOU in front of the Town Council should require the independent foundation that owns and operates our library to outline within three years how they will be become self-sustaining like every other non for profit, as well as question why the final design fails to incorporate the original 1913 structure. With project costs now exceeding $35million, no expense for the renovation appears to have been spared. A smaller space one which supports all the interests of the town including the 1913 library would be more practical and make it easier for the library to take on full responsibility for the new library’s entire operating costs going forward.
Let’s make sure that the MOU outlines a sustainability plan, provides New Canaan’s taxpayers with an annual statement of the library’s annual operating expenses, and a more practical approach to a new library structure.
Jennifer Holme
I completely disagree with this. I can’t think of another institution that is more worthy of taxpayer money then a, but especially our, public library. I am grateful that the town is supporting it financially and actually would be fine with it being completely funded by my tax dollars. To imply that the New Canaan Library could exist and function at the level of quality our community deserves as an independent non-profit is unrealistic and a bit outrageous. The new library is an investment in our town and the only thing that would bother me is if we kept pouring money into the existing building that is wrought with deficiencies.
Agree!
Thank you for this concise, data-driven summary, Jennifer. Full transparency is key.
This is a pretty clear candidate for a public referendum and I am not sure why all are not in agreement to do just that. The costs appear to have increased by $5m since the January ‘launch’, and the town in being asked to demolish an iconic structure to make way for the new building, and expect will also need to fill any funding gaps to ensure completion of the project. I suggest the Library puts together a good presentation including much more detailed financials (construction and running costs as well as visitor projections) and conducts a series of public meetings (Zoom and hopefully soon in person). After that we will see what the voters think in November. By November we will also have a good sense on where the economy is as well i.e. are schools still closed, has unemployment come down etc. etc.
So, in other words, if the independent, not-for-profit foundation that runs the Library hadn’t been providing 25% of the operating cost since 1996, the taxpayers of New Canaan would have been paying 100% of the cost, not 75%.
Sounds like a good deal to me.
I like the new library plans — but what this letter brings to light is
A decline in visits—- will these town libraries become the empty malls
In the next 10-20 yrs. what happens when amazon starts renting books
What happens when books get downloaded or printed from a main source
For a yearly fee. — a lot to think about
“Since building a new library in 2009, the town of Darien has experienced an 11% decline in library visitors, and the costs associated with the Darien library have increased 29% since 2009.”
This is important data for taxpayers to know. Although Darien built a new library, their visitors steadily declined over the years. However, the larger building resulted in increased operating expense.
In addition, the MOU must reflect our Town’s representation on the Library Board of Trustees and Building Committee commensurate with the 75% annual Town/taxpayer contribution to the library’s operating costs and to the $10 million (or greater) donation for the library’s proposed $35 million cost. which will come from New Canaan taxpayers.
I am repeatedly impressed by the number and variety of services that the Library offers the various groups of residents of New Canaan. The children’s room is over-subscribed and additional room is urgently needed. Students use the Library for studying, research, and tutoring. More space is needed. The Library lacks space to accommodate all the requests from non-profit groups that need a central meeting location. The Library’s lectures are creative, varied, and well-attended. Seniors and others sign up for digital assistance two afternoons a week in normal times. Books, magazines, and newspapers are made available to patrons on their home terminals and cellphones. Wi-fi is available 24/7 for residents whose cable service is interrupted. The doorways count the number of users per day, and my understanding is that those numbers have steadily increased year-after-year in normal times. I don’t think of anything the Town spends money on that provides a greater return.
I agree completely! Thank you for putting my thoughts into words.
Congratulations to Jennifer Holme for a truly thoughtful and enlightening letter. She has gone beyond just the defense of our 1913 landmark and raised important issues about the Library Foundation and its fiscal place in the community. It should be required reading for every taxpaying citizen in New Canaan and for a few that aren’t.
The investment of taxpayer dollars in our library is vital to an having an educated, involved community. Defunding these efforts is short sighted….”penny wise, pound foolish” as they say…..Removing these dollars would distract from the vision, and require constant fundraising, rather than serving the community. A library is more than a place to pick up books. It is a community hub and educator of multiple generations. Our taxpayer dollars are well spent on this important institution.