Bethlehem Area Public Library is financed by Bethlehem, Bethlehem Tp, Hanover Tp and Fountain Hill Borough. Bethlehem Tp has 9,749 cardholders, including 528 new cardholders in 2015. That translates to 41% of the Township's population. In addition to the annual per capita assessment of municipalities, the library benefits from nearly $215,000 in donations and grants each year.
Commissioners are unable, under the current Library Law, to directly ask voters whether they want to remain at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. So the only question that can really be asked is whether residents are willing to pay a special tax for a library of their own.
Solicitor Jim Broughal has come up with the following referendum question: "Do the voters of Bethlehem Township desire that the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township levy a special tax on all taxable property within Bethlehem Township to be used exclusively for the establishment and maintenance of and aid to a local library?”
But thanks to the Library Law, this is really confusing.
A "Yes" could be interpreted as acknowledging support for what the maintenance and aid of the Township's own library. But it could just as easily mean that residents support the already existing Bethlehem Area Public Library. A "No" could indicate that taxpayers want no library of their own. But it could also mean they want no library at all.
I understand that Commissioners want to give voters the final word on this question. But to give this matter more certainty, I think the question should be more clear. Here's a suggestion: ""Do the voters of Bethlehem Township desire that the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township levy a special tax on all taxable property within Bethlehem Township to be used exclusively for the establishment and maintenance of and aid to Bethlehem Township's own library?”
36 comments:
A number of years ago the Bath branch of the Northampton library was closed. Funding and use. And the Northampton borough library wanted to use the monies spent on Bath for an expansion in Northampton. Sad to see the Bath library go from such humble beginnings in a tiny and damp church basement. Persons in Bath once again looked into an independent library, and it was quute a complicated undertaking. Mary Mueser library was looked at as the model, but the Bath group could not pull it together. Nice idea that BethTwp wants a library of their own. Taxing the township is such a liberal resolution. Withdrawing from the Bethlehem Library hurts all of those library users. Maintaning a library into the future is a commitment no one can really make. Btw, what is the % use on the community center and the park?
I agree that the question may be confusing, but it is also a voter's responsibility to know what is on the ballot and know what they are voting for, before they enter the voting booth.
Who in the right state of mind can honestly say that Bethlehem Twp can provide a library as special as the Bethlehem public library? It can't be about the money as it's as simple as raising taxes. Hell, the Public works department has over $300,000.00 worth of purchase orders on tonight's agenda.
Bethlehem Tp has 9,749 cardholders, including 528 new cardholders in 2015. That translates to 41% of the Township's population.
Hudak needs to get numbers from the library that supports his argument, if he believes it is a small percentage. The library can provide numbers on how many of the cards were actually used during 2016. Active users are what would justify (or not) the expense. Some people might have gotten a card for a one-time need of a printed book, some may have moved, some may have died.
So basically there is no option of backing out of supporting the Bethlehem library while at the same time not supporting another municipality's library and not starting a Bethlehem Township library is the way I'm reading this. The state forces the municipality to be affiliated with a library no matter what?
I too question the number of cardholders that are active users. I have a card, so does my wife, who knows if they even still work. We probably haven't set foot in there or used their online resources in probably 5 years. We read e-books and online magazines.
I used to be a strong supporter of the physical library concept but in today's internet world, with e-books, online databases, etc. they are trending towards obsolescence over the long-term.
I'll add to my 7:01am comment that even if BT pulls out of BAPL, there is nothing stopping BT residents from visiting the library, reading books, doing research, etc. You just can't borrow anything outside of the building or use the internet databases from home.
Just because Hudak is ignorant and can't sit still and read a book, doesn't mean that the township children and it's future generations have to be...
Looking at the percentage of residents who have a library card is a foolish way to assess the benefits of having access to library services. Libraries were created to allow people equal access to education through reading. Saying that only a small portion of residents take advantage of this service is irrelevant. How many people call 911 in Bethlehem township every year? How many people directly take advantage of our police force? And do you know how much we spend per capita on our police in Bethlehem Township? $226.31 per resident, according to the 2017 budget draft. Now why do we think that number is justified, but spending $17.25 to allow people of all income levels access to a library isn't? I am all for cutting wasteful spending in local municipalities, but there are certain services that a community MUST provide to its residents. We consider our community center worth $2 million in renovations, despite the fact that if it was paying a lease on its property right now, it would be showing a loss on its books in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Bethlehem Township should get its priorities in line. Otherwise, this township is going to go to sh*t, if it hasn't already.
@8:04,
Brick and Mortar buildings are coming to an end. It's a digital age. You're comparing life saving services to an institute of knowledge. As another commenter pointed out, that wealth of knowledge is no longer found only in a physical library containing printed books. Libraries are soon to be obsolete - in the way we remember them. Instead of books they will provide the public access to the Internet with computers for use, or the ability to "loan" books or movies in digital form to those who are card holders - that can access the library computer base from their homes. I suspect that within 20 years each county within PA may support one brick and mortar library of a community willing to pay the lions share of keeping theirs up and running.
Apologies. The comment above was directed at 8:54
As a 20+ year homeowner in the township, I have never stepped foot in any township building, called the police or fire departments but spent untold hours in the Bethlehem public library with my children.
Great. Then you pay for the library and I will opt out of ever being granted use of it. You can do the same for the other services you don't use, but you can't opt back in the day you need them.
9:45, your ignorance resembles that of commissioner Hudak.
@9:45 Government is not an la carte operation.
You're right, Bernie - voters need to be aware that ballot questions are crafted by politicians and the solicitors who are paid to represent them - and voters need to educate themselves before walking into the booth.
While changing this one question may help the instant situation, the same structural problem exists with each and every ballot question.
"I too question the number of cardholders that are active users. I have a card, so does my wife, who knows if they even still work. We probably haven't set foot in there or used their online resources in probably 5 years. We read e-books and online magazines."
BAPL has e-books available as well, along with audio-books, and you don't have to pay Amazon an arm and a leg if you like to read. I enjoy e-books, but still prefer the bound book.
Bethlehem Twp cannot manage their roads or community center so what makes them think they're smart enough to manage a library?
Here's a question for the voters in Bethlehem Twp: should we divest our community center or cut ties with the Bethlehem public library?
Buying everybody LexisNexis subscriptions would be more cost effective. Libraries are outdated and expensive.
Another good place for e-books is the Free Library of Philadelphia. Anyone can join free online as long as you are a resident of PA.
To 10:32 (aka 10:59)
Libraries aren't required for government to function. Libraries are a luxury not a necessity.
Does the township employ any African Americans?
Pippy Squeek, I had no idea I could get a membership at Philly's Free Library. Thanks for making this known. Will sign up today or tomorrow.
4:06, your question is really off topic, even on MLK Day. But I will ask tonight.
My public library is well utilized. Our kids attended story time and developed an appreciation for reading there. The programs are fantastic and sets the foundation to be a responsible student. After 3pm when the school closes, tutors meet their students at our Library. Adults that do not haves PC use the desktops for job/internet searches. online classes, or resume writing. There is more to a public library than romance novels.
Bernie-tip for when you sign up. You need to pick a "home library" off the list. Just pick any of them. You will still get your library card which will allow you to sign on so that you can start borrowing books.
4:06, Melissa Shafer advises me that, to her knowledge, there are no African American employees in Bethlehem Township. But she cautioned me that she keeps no records concerning the ethnic background of municipal employees,and this is strictly her perception. She added that there may be some African Americans on the staff at the community center. I would add that Felix Barnard, who was a Commissioner until two years ago, is African American. I also believe that some Township staffers and police officers are Hispanic, but am unable to say for sure.
Pippy. I am already signed up and will be borrowing e-books as soon as I finish off the hard copy book I am reading now. Thanks so much. I am going to mention this in my next blog.
6:35, 2:48
you're right nobody in their right state of mind can say that bethlehem township can provide a library. That is why the commissioners are NOT saying that. You really need to go to these meetings if you want to comment on them. what the township is looking to do is simple, stay with me now, what the commissioners want to know is, if the taxpayers want to continue to pay bethlehem $500,000.00 dollars a year to their library when less then half the township population has a card and way less then half of those that do use it more then once a year. anyone can use the library for free ! you only need a card if you want to check something out.
the internet has replaced the library and i don't have to take my kids there for story time. I read to my children at HOME, from my KINDLE FIRE !
call hudak all the names you want, only shows YOUR ignorance. He has been a neighbor of mine for years. we don't always see eye to eye but i believe he is right on this. I personally don't know any bethlehem township taxpayer who disagrees on this point and in reading this blog it sounds like a lot of you agree with him too. adults can agree to disagree without calling each other names. see you at the next meeting.
10:13 Did your neighbor Mike tell you the full story or do you simply want to pick and choose what to believe in: "levying a special tax for the establishment and maintenance of a local library".
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
You are very welcome. Enjoy!
While reading to your children at home is a wonderful thing, it is a very different experience than a childrens story hour at a public library. You can do a lot at home, but you can't do everything. A kindle brings your children into contact with the internet on a tablet. A library brings your kids into contact with books, and with people, and with the library's neighborhood, and with the city, and with everything and everyone on the way there and back. Plus, when you are a grandparent, your kids wont be telling their kids you never took them anywhere. Just do it.
$1.44 a month is too much for access to a library? OK.
MAGA
We read e-books and online magazines.
BAPL provides e-books for checkout on their website.
Here's a question for the voters in Bethlehem Twp: should we divest our community center or cut ties with the Bethlehem public library?
Neither. Raise my taxes. I've lived here for 15 years and don't recall any tax increase of any size. Lets support the community.
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