By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Fundraising efforts are underway at the Warsaw Library after the Warsaw City Council turned down its request for a $17 million bond two weeks ago.
The Warsaw Community Public Library Board met Monday for the first time since the 4-3 vote that was fueled by taxpayers opposed to any increase in their property tax bills.
The May 18 vote essentially prohibits the library from seeking another bond issue for two years, leaving it to raise money on its own to cover major expenses that could arise.
As a result, the library has established a capital improvement fund with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation to help cover anticipated future expenses related to mechanical systems and infrastructure.
At the same time, the Warsaw Friends of the Library has launched its own fundraiser to assist with renovations, and the library board is now working to prioritize its most pressing needs, says Board President Chris Merrill.
Merrill, along with other library supporters, has warned that without several upgrades, the library could end up closing.
The all-Republican city council, in a rare moment of division, labored over the decision at the end of a five-hour hearing in which library supporters, educators and a few community leaders spoke on behalf of the need to fund needed renovations.
Opponents contend the library has been mismanaged and said the extensive renovations were more about wants than needs.
The library board is now left hoping the community will step up and assist financially
“We could have and probably would have had it either way. It’s a lot more important now, right, because we don’t have the bonds, and now we have to depend on essentially the goodwill of our fellow patrons here. I think it’s fair to say that that triggered it becoming an important thing instead of a good to have. It’s now it’s a need to have.”
“We can’t save enough money to do some of the larger things. It’s just impossible. So we’re going to try to prioritize and just try to hit the most important things so that we don’t get condemned, right? That’s the goal now, is try to get away from being condemned,” Merrill said.
The new foundation fund includes a matching grant opportunity of up to $10,000, thanks to an anonymous donor, Merrill said.
Library officials said they were heartened by the support.
Merrill said they are still learning the rules of how a library can raise money, including the fact that such donations have to be tied to specific repairs.
The board also named Dana Owen as the interim library director, replacing Heather Barron, who recently resigned.
Barron said last week that she informed the board of her decision to take a new job before the city council vote, but did not announce it until afterward for fear it would distract from the debate.
Owen has been with the library for 34 years and currently serves as director of technical services.
Other than staff and media, the only other guests at the board meeting were Andy Semler and November Kelly, who said they were representing the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
“We were very disappointed by the recent vote that denied important funding to our library, and we want to know how we can get involved in our community and help to promote the local resources that are so important,” Semler said
