Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Texas Public Library Fundraises for Its Life



Lindale Public Library looking for permanent solution to stay open.  (Tyler Morning Telegraph, 1/13/2015)
Library Director Carrie Custer said the library already has reduced its budget from $168,000 last year to $143,000 this year through salary and program cuts, but she’s afraid they can’t cut anymore. 

The city of Lindale donates $40,000 annually, leaving the remaining $103,000 to be raised through donations and fundraisers. Coming up with capital has been difficult for the library since it lost a key donor several years ago and individual donations have declined over the years. 

Mrs. Custer said the library made it through the last two years by pulling 10 to 15 percent of its budget out of savings, but now the situation is dire.

Lindale is located in Smith County in northeast Texas.  Its 2012 estimated population if 5,087.

The Lindale Library's funding model is not proving to be sustainable.


Source of Texas and U.S. percentages:  Institute of Museum and Library Services Public Library Service Data 2011.  (Latest available data.)

Lindale's percentages are from 2014.  State and national percentages show little change from year to year.  In 2008, for example, Texas public libraries received on average 4.4% of their revenue from other sources.


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