MONTGOMERY: Library sends message to township that increased financial contribution is overdue

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — There is a great, big overdue item in Township Committee’s outbox — and that is the township’s annual contribution toward the Mary Jacobs Library Foundation’s budget.
That’s the message that was delivered to Township Committee by the Mary Jacobs Library Foundation at the committee’s March 3 meeting.
Citing ever-climbing costs and declining donations, Brenda Fallon asked Township Committee to raise its contribution from $42,500 to $100,000 this year. Ms. Fallon is the president of the Mary Jacobs Library Foundation’s board of trustees.
The foundation’s initial gift came from Harold Jacobs, whose wife grew up in Rocky Hill. The Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, which was intended to be a memorial to Mrs. Jacobs, opened its doors in 1974. The foundation relies on contributions from donors, businesses and partnerships to provide funding for much of the library’s operating budget.
For many years, Township Committee earmarked $85,000 in its budget toward the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, which is located on Washington Street in Rocky Hill Borough. But beginning in 2010, the governing body cut that donation in half. It has remained at $42,500 for the past six years.
“That was quite a blow,” Ms. Fallon told Township Committee.
The drop in the contribution from Township Committee made a “significant difference” to the library foundation, which owns and maintains the library building, she said. This year, the library foundation’s proposed operating budget is $301,050.
Private contributions are estimated at $197,603, or 66 percent of the 2016 budget. Montgomery Township’s contribution of $42,500 is 14 percent and Rocky Hill Borough’s contribution of $15,000 is 5 percent. Somerset County’s contribution is 10 percent. The remaining revenue comes from fines and miscellaneous sources.
The Mary Jacobs Library Foundation has become a “fundraising machine” to raise money to pay the bills, Ms. Fallon said. She praised the volunteers and donors, but pointed out that it is not their job to raise money for the library foundation. That’s why she asked for $100,000, or about one-third of the annual operating budget.
“Speaking in library terms, Montgomery Township is overdue. You have an overdue item in your outbox,” Ms. Fallon said.
The costs of running the building are escalating, Ms. Fallon said. Maintenance is estimated at $130,500 and the cost of utilities is pegged at $50,000. There are costs for furniture, insurance, building improvements — roof and heating and cooling system repairs — plus professional services and fundraising.
“I’m just putting you on notice (that) the situation is not sustainable. The current fundraising situation is not working,” Ms. Fallon said. The library foundation needs Township Committee’s help, she said, adding that asking citizens to raise money “is not the solution.”
Ms. Fallon pointed out that although the library is located in Rocky Hill Borough, 88 percent of its users live in Montgomery Township. More than 9,000 children and adults attended programs sponsored by the library last year. The building was used more than 200 times by 53 community groups.
Bonnie Giacobbe, who volunteers at the library, said the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library is the town center. Ms. Giacobbe said that one of the first things that a family new to the township will do is to go to the library and take out a library card.
Library user Trisha Thorme agreed that the library is the community center. Ms. Thorme said that taking money out of the library foundation’s endowment will “shortchange the future.” She told Township Committee that she realizes it has a hard decision to make.
Sarah Roberts, who also uses the library, said that without the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, she would likely go to the Somerset County library in Hillsborough Township. She would also probably patronize Hillsborough businesses, which means Montgomery Township businesses would suffer.
In response, Mayor Patricia Graham said that “I don’t think anyone here does not believe in the value of the public library.” While the library supporters are “here at the right time,” Township Committee has a very tight budget, she said.
Deputy Mayor Ed Trzaska told the library supporters that the cut in the library contribution was made before the sitting Township Committee members were elected. It was not the only cut made by the prior Township Committee, he said, pointing to cuts in funding to Montgomery Emergency Medical Services and some employee layoffs.