According to an article in the Morning Call by Arlene Martinez (read it here), both Upper Nazareth and Bushkill Townships decided to pay an amount less than requested by the Memorial Library (Nazareth Borough and Lower paid as requested). This decision prompted the library to request residents to urge their officials to make up the shortfall.
Taking offense at the request Upper Nazareth Supervisor James Fahr stated:
''And furthermore, if they don't like $59,000 the next one will be zero.''
Fahr was recently at the center of the controversy that lead to the township secretary resigning for a second time citing the work environment.
The library request is to pay $19.64 for each resident who pays earned income tax. Bushkill and Upper Nazareth decided to pay $18.63 instead, resulting in about $8,000 less.
15 comments:
I still don't get the problem here.
We had to fight with the Supervisors 2 years ago to get them to pay U.N.'s share. Here they go again.
From what I can remember, the argument stems from the Gracedale residents. But if EIT is the determination for the contribution, that may not be accurate.
If they don't want to pay an extra $1.01 per resident when they are saying we have a big budget surplus, what gives?
The supervisors have been less than fiscally "open" in the past. Their economics have always been suspect and they are only making a bad name they already have even worse.
scott
all about power--if you give less than what is requested YOU made the decision rather than complying thus you feel impowered--seems we have a lot of power hungry people in this community lately, at all levels---
I wonder if they realize the value of having a decent library in the town. This is something that I personally take to heart as an avid reader. A library is a wonderful resource for young and curious minds, and deserves full funding on that score alone. Above and beyond that, since Nazareth has no movie theatre, no youth center, and so forth, the library is often used as a shelter from the weather and a temporary hangout by Nazareth-area teens. I can't really vouch for any other age group, but for that one alone, Upper Nazareth and Bushkill should be greatfully funding the library.
I totally agree with all the posts. The library is a cornerstone of the Naz community, And yes here will go again. I thought this issue was a done deal to fund the library fo Upper Naz a few years back. However this funding seems to be a issue that will arise each year that is crazy. I thought the $$$ committed woudld be solid. This is a resource that has been in Naz for a long long time...they should be adding to its value as a asset, not taking away.
Food for thought before you start saying that the the library is so great, take a moment to see why it is just as important to question the library as it is to question the school board, teachers any anyone else for that matter on how your money is spent. Here are two letters I have written in the past on the subject.
Fair library service for all Pennsylvania citizens
The time has come to set this dilemma to rest. Our children are the future and when we teach them that any one organization can make all the rules and they are unwilling to bend this is the wrong message to send. Why should the community support such an organization? I have spent the last 4 years trying to get the Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity to allow me as a taxpayer the right to pay for their services and to be included in the state Access program (Access gives the library card holder the ability to get books from any participating library). The Nazareth and Bethlehem libraries are the only two libraries in the state that don’t allow non participating community citizens to belong to their libraries. Why is that? Are they so superior that they can’t see the forest through the trees? Two years ago the Nazareth Area School District offered to pay the Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity $ 25,000 a year to allow all of the children in the school district to belong to the library. Guess what, they refused because that was not fair to the communities that already paid. But in retrospect they could have offered those communities a reduced rate on their contribution and that would have been fair. On one hand they complain when someone doesn’t want to pay them what they are asking for and on the other they refuse to accept money from those that want to pay. It’s time for them to make up their minds. They can’t ride on both sides of the fence at the same time.
DENIAL OF LIBRARY SERVICES
• Bullying – how can we teach our children that bullying is wrong when the powers at be feel this is the best way to get everybody to comply – do it our way or you can not participate, no exceptions
• Be the best you can be, follow the rules but don’t expect the full range of resources because we can’t share
• We wonder why our children are angry but we don’t stop to ask why and if we do God forbid we take what they might have to say seriously
• I should not have to say mother may I to participate, especially when I have offered to pay our fair share and then sum
• There is no other public service in this country that I know of that insists on total participation or nobody can
• I’m tired of hearing
1. can’t help you
2. there is nothing that can be done
3. it is what is
4. the only solution is to demand all of my neighbors get on board because I can’t if they don’t – I thought we were smarter than that, but I guess not
5. No municipality support – no service
These are the people I personally hold responsible for this dilemma. Their arrogance and stubbornness is holding at least 10% of the children of our school district at a disadvantage.
The Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity Board members:
I'm so confused how a plan was generated (July 8, 2003 ) to solve the citizens that wish to participate fairly in the library system and then after 4 years of being patient there has to be more discussion on how we can solve this problem. I know that this plan was probably developed with no hope of reaching that goal but some wishes can come true. Now it is time to implement the plan. My father used to have a few sayings that he used on me all the time “patience and perseverance” and “the wheel that squeaks the most gets the oil first”. I have been patient and I feel that now that I have reached the goal line it is completely unfair of the system to call the ball back to review the play. My tax dollars have been collected year after year, though a small portion of them was spent on library service throughout the state they were still spent just the same. I know that the powers at be have been trying but I need a true resolution not an empty one. It amazes me a simple promise (I thought) 4 years ago to my 8 yr. old at the time (now 12 yr. old) would be so difficult to fulfill. How is that the Governor has the ability to pardon criminals but the ability to include my daughter in the library system with all of the benefits is beyond his grasp? There is something seriously wrong with that. I will continue on my quest for daughter until this is resolved and I told this to the powers at be s over and over again for the last four years. What is the system not comprehending? I never asked for this service for free just fair. Maybe that is where I went wrong. Maybe, I should have portrayed my daughter as a poor, disadvantaged illiterate who wants something for nothing instead of a gifted, hard working student who loves to read and be enriched by books with parents that are willing to pay for a fair service. Would I have had a better chance of succeeding?
I would like to thank all the powers at be for the valuable lesson you have taught not only my daughter but me as well. You can work hard, try to be the best person possible and still be put down. And I would also apologize for my arrogance, anger, frustration and if this offends any one in any way. But when you are constantly put down with repetitive no’s you only have but 1 direction from the bottom to go and that is up to a yes. I insist that the powers at be make the appropriate changes to the system to offer fair services to all Pennsylvania citizens young, old and all those in between a fair service especially if they are willing to pay for that fair service.
• this is a poem my daughter wrote 3 years ago when asked to write about something she felt strongly about, food for thought
LIBRARY ISSUES
Why can’t I use the library
With all their books on things like the tooth fairy?
It’s greatly unfair, immensely unjust.
Isn’t the library a 1 single must?
“I’ll pay triple” is what my mom said.
She e-mailed and e-mailed till her fingers were red.
Just by the way it looks,
They won’t let me read their books
So on the premise I won’t tread.
Science, history and math,
Just some of the topics they doth hath.
I can find almost anything there,
But not having a card makes me pull out my hair.
Having a card is important to me,
But that card, I can’t really see.
I want a card so very much,
Till then the library I won’t touch.
I may not be able to vote,
But a grudge, oh, I can tote.
So I can say without a doubt,
When I’m 18, you better watch out!
I'm not 100% certain, but am I correct in understanding that as opposed to paying a reduced amount your borough has chosen not to support the library at all?
If so, I think you're going after the wrong body. If your borough won't support the library, then you should be upset with them, not the library.
I appreciate your frustration with not being able to use it, but if your borough made its contribution like the others did you could.
Further, the school should not pay for the library because then both my borough and school taxes would be supporting it and I'd in effect be paying your portion - not very fair either.
Like you, I'd be upset, but if you want access to the library, take it up with your borough council, they're causing your headache.
It is unfair to blame the library for this situation. Your borough leaders have failed you.
what borough in the nasd does not pay for library usage?
I believe it is Tatamy (I may be wrong I'm going by memory). They previously had a "policy" that if a resident wanted to join the library, the person went to the library themself, paid the fee and then got reimbursed by the borough. In that way they only paid for those who wanted a card.
The library made the decision to stop this practice by not allowing individuals to purchase a card any longer.
Again, that is all based on memory, maybe someone could confirm.
Tatamy is saving all of that money they receive from busting people going through the flashing signal in town and they are going to build their own library.
First of all after four years dont you think oh maybe I tried to get my town (Stockertown)to pay. But as it would seem they are as unwilling to pay as the library is to allow me to pay to use their service. My point is that I never asked for the service for free and to be quite frank I would rather pay directly out of my pocket for a fair service. I should not have to beg you or anyone for a fair service. The fact of the matter is just because the adults are being stupid why should our children suffer. Second if you had spent time reading thoroughly you would know that I think that if only 2 libraries in the entire state don't allow people to join (that don't have home libraries) that in itself is saying something about the system. Who died and left those libraries in charge of the fate of my daughter and the other children in this district? Third those who do allow you to pay only give you half of the service of someone whose town pays for them. What makes the difference of getting a check from my town for me or taking it directly from me? Out of state students who attend our colleges pay more but they receive a complete education not 1/2. Fourth I should not have to convince or beg for a service and should be treated with respect. I feel libraries are one of the most important tools our children need to succeed and 10% of the children in this district can't even use the local library. Lastly, I really appreciate your permission with whom I should be angry with. When in the end the stupidity runs so deep with this issue my daughter will have graduated before anyone realizes. So when I said you can't ride on both sides of the fence I meant you can't complain when you won't take one persons money and then how much those you will accept money from don't want to pay as much as you asking for.
I sympathize with your predicament, but I don't think the library is wrong. It goes back to the point that you do have a home library - but your borough refuses to pay the fee for its residents, so the residents can't use it.
It's a tough decision - not personal, and if every borough and township did what your does, do you think this public service would exist/be supported based on individuals paying out of pocket?
I'm not sure you have any right to tell me how to feel or react,sir. I'd like you to tell me what other service is based on all or nothing. How much knowledge do you actually possess about the library system. I've spent the last four years learning and when the reallity of the matter is the library board is the deciding factor in this issue. You talk about not having to pay twice for this service if indeed the school district would have contributed to the library but in plain english you already are. Your state tax money is paid towards the library system in this state and then your town pays into the library, this my friend is called double dipping paying twice for the same service. If the library accepted the money from the district(which already shares services with the library) they could have reduced the rate you where paying to your town. And the deal was for the children not the whole town. You have talked about our childrens well being, do you truly care or is that retoric? In this state 97% of the population already supports a library. In my humble opinion any vote of 97-3 means that is what the majority wants. There are school districts and counties that contribute to this service in this state, ours is not one of them. There are states that support their libraries fully and their children don't have to fight with anyone to use any library. As part of the 3%, if I choose to be part of the 97%, I should be able to and should receive the full benefits of that service. No library should have absolute say if I can only be part of the majority if I don't have the support of my neighbors.
Why can't this frustrated mother use Easton or Bangor / PenArgyl or Blue Mountain Libraries?
I asked about this at the Library and the residents of Tatamy and Stockertown can get service from the Easton Library which has a branch in Palmer next to the police station on Newburgh road. All this person has to do is drive there or have their parents drive them there. These towns are in the Easton Library district (appparently the state is divided into library districts which do not correspond to school districts)anyway, so that is where they are supposed to go. Hey, I live in Lower Nazareth and the closest post office is Nazareth but have to get my mail delivered through the Palmer Post Office - The Morning Call won't deliver the Easton edition to my house - only the Bethlehem edition. sometimes we need to work with what is in place - go to the Easton library or get your neighbors to get the towns to pay for service.
I do not feel that they should get service if their towns are not willing to pay their fair share. I pay taxes to my township and they pay money to support the library. I should not pay for service for people who live in a township not willing to give people that service. If 97% of the state supports libraries than those remaining 3% need to get with the program. That is the way library funding is set up in this state - give locally and you will receive state funding. Otherwise, move to somewhere that pays for library service.
These are 2 questions I came across while researching the library system in an article on
a Students Right to Read.
"What is the nature of humanity?"
Answer - compassion, sympathy, or consideration for others
"Why do people praise individuality and practice conformity?"
Answer – distinctive character and personality versus consistency
It’s nice to see that you must be one of those people who thinks everybody should just conform and play by your rules, or you’ll take the ball and play somewhere else. Maybe that works for you, but not me. Do I think my town should pay? Absolutely, but I can’t make them. They say there isn’t a need for the library and as a town can’t afford the expense. I beg to differ, and I was told to go to Easton or use the internet if I wanted to read. I hope, for the sake of our children, that this isn’t what you feel is the best they can be. We always need to question and attempt to change for the better and that doesn’t come in the form of conformity. It comes in one of our most basic rights – Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We use to pay for a library card at the Nazareth Memorial Library for 4 years and then one day, when my daughter was 8, they decided that wasn’t good enough. It was all or nothing. I don’t know about you, but the library was my daughter’s favorite place. Do you have any idea how heart breaking it was when we were standing in front of the library and she is pleading, “Please, Mommy, help me get my card back?” Being a devoted, loving parent, I promised to do everything I could to get her privileges back. That promise is proving to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted to do. Do you realize that we are only talking about borrowing books? It is a promise that I have every intention of keeping hopefully before she graduates. I grew up in Bethlehem Township and attended school in the Bethlehem School District, and, believe it or not, this is the same issue that seems to be plaguing me 30 years later. With all the illiteracy in this county today, you would think we would have learned, but I guess not.
I spent 4 years on this subject, and, just so you know, I have yet to find where it is written that Tatamy and Stockertown belong to the Easton District Library. I’ve found many lists that display towns that already belong and pay for library services but none that state which district the remaining 3% belong to. Do you realize I can pay to every library in the state for a nonresident card except Bethlehem and Nazareth? What makes these two libraries special? And if I did pay to every library in the state, I still could not be part of the Access program that entitles me to borrow from any library within in the system. The School District and the Memorial Library share services through the Access program in the High School. Why can’t they extend services to the elementary and the middle school students where it is crucial that our children start out with the right tools to succeed?
I blame the whole system, my town, the school district, the Nazareth Memorial Library board members, the state board of education, and lastly people like you that think our children should be punished for the stupidity and arrogance of the powers at be. It is time to stand up for our children, and say right is right, and wrong is wrong; and this is just down right wrong. Our children are our future, and it is our responsibility to give them the best tools, and library privileges is one of the most important tools. Knowledge is power, lets give them the power to be the best they can be.
§ 131.57. Nonresident fees.
A library may charge an annual nonresident fee to patrons who do not reside in or are not taxpayers to municipalities from which public funds are received and for which State aid is claimed, and the income may be counted as part of the local financial effort of the library.
Source
The provisions of this § 131.57 adopted June 4, 1970, effective June 5, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 101.
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