This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Library: More on Budget, Board and Please Don't Fix What Isn't Broken

In response to comments by Library Board members Mr Morkan and Mrs. O’Neil to my previous "speak out",

I appreciate that you responded to my concerns. However, I hope you are understanding and accepting that I have an opinion and I want the library board and the public to hear it, acknowledge and think about it. I am giving you feedback, which I hope you encourage.

I am concerned that proof of a clear need for a full-time teen librarian is completely lacking. I think we deserve real proof before our dollars are spent. Isn’t it true that there is already an open part-time job now due to attrition (or a promotion within?). Why not just fill that existing parttime position and see how it goes? Isn’t that more fiscally responsible? Or use that money to hire an independent consultant to provide some services and do some third-party research and surveying about what the teens and taxpayers want and need and is reasonable. Once a regular fulltime staff member is hired, I would imagine it’s not easy to just let him or her go if it turns out that we don’t suddenly have a run on teen services. And I see no emergency that would require us to hire a new fulltime staff in addition to whatever services are already provided. An independent party/consultant could also train the existing staff how to better serve the teens-- make it more teen-friendly if that’s an issue. 

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The library has recently been asking people to fill out paper hearts concerning their thoughts on and love of the library (they are now strung all over inside). And this helps prove my point: Everyone appears to love the library and be very impressed by the services. I didn’t see that anyone had written that they wish there were more or better services! I agree. It’s great right now.

I think the library budget presentation was confusing, but maybe that’s usual or it’s because I’m not a politician.  But if I understand what was presented, the director noted that we already provide teen services. 

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I remain of the opinion that there simply is not a need for this FT position, especially at a time when Simsbury is losing The Hartford tax revenue and supposedly seeking to save money wherever possible. We are considered a fairly wealthy town, I suppose, but we do not have a pile of money to play with and not everyone here is wealthy!  And I find it very hard to believe that the personnel budget will not effectively increase, as just stated by Mr. Morkan in response to my initial comments.

If the Library can save money through attrition, fantastic. Pass that savings on to the taxpayers. We’d appreciate it.  Don’t use the savings to enlarge your staff and keep your budget at the same level  just because you can. I’m familiar with the “use it or lose it” mentality that exists in both business and government. If I were to save $300 a month on my utilities, I would use it to pay for something like prescriptions I hadn’t been able to afford last week. I wouldn’t plow it into a new car that is going to cost me more in insurance, taxes, etc. Especially when my current car works just fine and everyone says how nice it is (like the library). I don’t live in a million dollar house or have a vacation home. I’m lucky to afford an inexpensive vacation every other year and rarely go out to eat. And yes, I often have to decide between buying groceries, or sports gear, or prescriptions because I can’t afford them all at one time. Please think of me and people like me. Because I’m not alone.

I understand that Boards and department heads may have their “wish lists”. I have one too. But the taxpayers shouldn’t be granting your wishes. We should be paying for things proven necessary. My message: give us formal “market studies” and proof of significant benefits (not just your own speculations) before hiring this new full-time position. The library is great, don’t fix what isn’t broken. I have a feeling that others will agree that there are more proven, necessary line items to spend Simsbury tax dollars on instead of this.

Simsbury has great schools and guidance departments. We have a fantastic children’s room at the library. I think that when children are ready to leave the children’s floor and go upstairs, they’re really ready, partly because of all the great services that already exist in town and at the library. If the board thinks the librarians upstairs aren’t ready for the teens, I suggest they need to be better trained. But I haven't heard any complaints and have no complaints about teen services myself! Again, nothing is broken.

I think members of town boards are elected to look out for all of the taxpayers, and not just look to support their particular special interest group.  I think when we take the time to express our views, they should acknowledge these views and use them in their decision making, not just defend their own point of view. You represent us and we hope you listen.

Regarding the new director’s salary, I am probably mistaken in my thinking. Since our previous director with probably twice the years of experience retired, I guess we can assume that she was making quite a bit more at her departure than the new director is now, so we saved money in that salary. But salaries grow over the years, and I think we need to keep that in mind. The salary of every person hired will grow.

Regarding Mrs. Karim's (Lisa’s) performance, I will take your word that she is excellent (I have no reason to believe otherwise) and I really wish her well. I can also understand that you are showing your support of the candidate you, the board, chose to hire.  My comments about her first attempting to use the existing staff stand, though. I think she should spend more time here first, before trying to make these changes. And we need proof of necessity.

I also want to thank the library board for their service to Simsbury. I know it’s not an easy job sometimes. My comments, however, are nothing personal! I think our library is a wonderful place and it’s great right now, and that is definitely in large part because of the library board members and their services, giving guidance and policy-making.  Thank you for your time!

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