Hudsonhubtimes.com - Library planning levy for next year

by Laura Freeman

Reporter

Hudson -- The Hudson Library and Historical Society plans to put a five-year, 2.3-mill replacement levy on the ballot in 2011 to generate $2.03 million per year.

The levy would replace a five-year 1.6-mill levy passed in 2006, which will stop generating revenue at the end of 2011.

Library Board President Jim Sexton said he anticipates the levy will be on the May ballot. Collections from the levy would begin in 2012.

"We could wait until November but decided to go earlier in May in case it didn't pass," Sexton said.

City Council members were scheduled to discuss the levy Nov. 9. The workshop meeting had not taken place by press time.

Because the library is not a taxing entity in Hudson, City Council must place the levy on the ballot.

The levy would cost the owner of a $300,000 home $211.31 per year.

Sexton said the levy would allow the library to maintain services. The library has already made cuts after the state cut funding to local libraries, he said.

In 2009, the State of Ohio's Public Library Fund provided Hudson with $929,122 in funding. In 2010 that funding was reduced to $862,082, and Sexton said library officials anticipate more reductions in the future.

"Hudson has to make up the difference," he said.

Read more in the Nov. 14 Hub-Times.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150

16.	Posted by former explorer November 13, 2010
	"... I couldn't believe a town this nice would have that cramped little excuse for a library." In other words, we deserve better. The phrase that launched a thousand debts. I couldn't believe this town did not position itself as an example of smart growth. The library, the schools, first and main. Morse Controls or a similar employer offering DECENT wages would benefit a town like Hudson exponentially by comparison.

15.	Posted by jane November 13, 2010
	So the internet could replace the library...what an interesting comment. Why do people continue to use the library if that is true? Why wouldn't they stay home and just use the internet? Most of the things found in the library can't be found on the internet, but you would have to come into the library to really know that. The library is packed with people who will support the levy. I will be taking more out now knowing that you are subsidizing my entertainment. Thanks, I appreciate it ;-). Also, the other library was a dump. I went into the basement to have something notarized and that area was mold and mildew infested. When we moved here I couldn't believe a town this nice would have that cramped little excuse for a library. I don't know "averagehudsonresident" you went from saying what a great neighbor I might be to seeming downright surly. I agree let's all not pay taxes for what we don't use. I won't pay for social security or medicare because I don't use them, could you pay my portion of that? I don't see it lasting long enough for me to get my share anyway.

14.	Posted by former explorer November 13, 2010
	$2.03 MILLION a year. $2.03 MILLION A YEAR?!! I worked at the old Hudson library when I was in high school (way back in the 80's). I don't remember fancy private offices for the staff. I remember one large common area in the basement where the staff all had their desks and it doubled as a break area. The library was basic but it was SUFFICIENT. We studied there after school, socialized it was fine. Now Hudson has built this monument to excess in the name of community education. Maybe we do need more education for this generation so that they don't grow up to be suckers who subsidize blatant excess with tax dollars.

13.	Posted by AverageHudsonResident November 13, 2010
	Great for Jane that I can subsidize her entertainment and it only costs me $20 a month. My taxes and others allows Jane to save $200 a month. Jane may I ask you to pay $40 per month (my portion also) since you are in favor of the levy? You will still save $180 per month! Talk about a win-win situation! By the way, police and fire are essential safety services and cannot be made obsolete by the internet. Also the police and fire departments do not compete against local merchants like Mammouth Video by loaning free entertainment DVD's or selling coffee. I remember when the library was being designed and the administrators were so demanding about their own interests -like insisting their offices cannot be on the second floor and how they wanted to be isolated from the lowly public. Time for a reality check. I am very confident this levy will fall apart faster than the binding on a poorly made book!

12.	Posted by jane November 13, 2010
	AverageHudsonResident you are correct in saying it isn't free it cost about $20 a month. It's a great bargain, to check that out use the library calculator at http://hudsonlibrary.org/LibraryServicesCalculator.html I found that if I bought all the stuff I use there I would be spending over $220 a month. I'm saving $200 a month. I have lived in this town for 12 years and never once called the fire or police, but I don't mind paying taxes to have them available to everyone.

11.	Posted by Hudson Mom November 12, 2010
	I LOVE the library, but I wonder if the need for this levy (as well as the last one) is because of the increased costs that HAVE to have come from building such a huge library? I was perfectly happy with the library the size that it was, in the old location, and was not thrilled about the new library. I was less thrilled when I saw how much wasted space there was in the central rotunda area. We were told that the new library was needed for all of the new books, yet I see a lot of empty shelves and giant areas of wasted space at the new library. The old one was fine for pretty much everything,except for some of the children's programs....but even though I have children, I don't agree that so many children's events are needed to be hosted by the library. A giant new library requires a lot of added costs, including the large salaries being paid to the director and other administrators there. The old building was old & leaky, but was it more expensive to heat and upkeep than this new one? Also, where are all of the great new books that we were told would be added at the new library? I see a lot of half-full shelves, and when I check out the new adult book wall, I see the same books over & over for months on end! I also don't think the library needs to be providing dvds, although I know that pretty much every library does that now. It's very disappointing to see families in the checkout line w/ children holding stacks of dvds and no books.

10.	Posted by AverageHudsonResident November 12, 2010
	Dear Jane, You keep implying that the library is "free". If it were free as you say, there would not be a tax levy. Not only is the library not "free", we are forced to pay for it wether we use it or not. People should not get DVD's for free (taxpayer funded actually), they should go to Mammoth Video and pay for them and Mammoth Video thrives and pays taxes to our schools and libraries. Your train of thought is representative of why we are in this position. I still think you are a nice person Jane and probably someone. I would like to have as a neighbor!

9.	Posted by jane November 11, 2010
	Well AverageHudsonResident we can agree to disagree :-). 1. Have you been to the public library? It's busy with people, it is or should be the cornerstone of the community. The use of a public library sky rockets during economic downturns. (free entertainment) 2. People who don't have a job or a laptop do come into the library to apply for jobs by using the computers there. Not all unemployed people have the resources to have a laptop or wifi access. They also ask the librarians for information regarding unemployment and other things. 3. Why would they patronize shops when there is an economic downturn, they can come to the library and engage in activities for free. Get books, cd's, dvd's, and music for free. I would agree they should also use parks as those are free. You can get books from any library in Cleveland through Clevenet (30 public libraries). If Hudson doesn't have it they can probably get it for you through interlibrary loan, just ask. I don't, and never have worked at Hudson Library, but am familiar with their resources. Please check it out and use them!

8.	Posted by former explorer November 11, 2010
	The library is indeed operating like the schools if it is not more straight forward with its spending. I mean what "programs" are planned for the future that will be funded with this money? What has the library done to improve efficiency. I have been to library book sales (outside of Hudson) where I noticed people scanning the bar codes. The device they used told them what the book was selling for on Amazon or Ebay. Alot of people buy a book at a library sale and then turn around and sell it for a profit on Ebay. Is the Hudson library using or at least implementing these types of revenue savers, generators? If not, why not?