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 

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WARSAW — Leaders with the Warsaw Community Public Library will present their case to the Warsaw City Council on Monday in hopes of gaining their support for a $17 million bond needed for significant renovations.

The request comes amid uncertainty about government spending as state leaders try to implement property tax reform measures, and just days after a primary election in which opposition to a parking garage proposal became a hot issue.

[caption id="attachment_131147" align="alignright" width="440"] Warsaw Community Public Library staff and board members show their support for an upcoming Warsaw City Council Monday. From left are Barbara Beck, Cathi Zdenek, Tim Keyes, Chris Merrill, and Jill Beehler. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Library Board President Chris Merrill acknowledged that there are concerns out there as they prepare to make their pitch.

“Yeah, I agree that does seem to be the case. I think it's because there's a lot of uncertainty in what's going on at the state level, especially,” Merrill said Monday after a board meeting.

He and others contend there's a sense of urgency over the building's aging infrastructure. One of the most recent problems involved a burst pipe that flooded part of the building and caused extensive damage.

“If we don't do this now, there's a chance that things will get (beyond what) we can fix in the next few years. And that puts us into a territory where we can be underground for being shut down by the fire marshal, for accessibility, for all sorts of different things. And because the uncertainty is what it is, I think we just try to be positive about it, and get done what we can. And if things do go south, then we'll do the best we can,” he said.

Merrill points out that it's tough for libraries to set aside money for big expenses and that bond issues are the common path for such projects.

“Like I said, we're doing the best with what we have, but we're kind of at the end of what we can do with the money that we're allotted. So we've got to come and ask for the big bill. And we think it's worth it. We hope everyone agrees, right?”

One of the building's biggest problems is accessibility, in part because it relies heavily on service elevators and stairs. 

On Monday, an area resident, Dennis Crumbly, brought his 92-year-old mother to the library board meeting to highlight some accessibility issues inside and outside the building.

Much of the handicap access is difficult to use and out of date with current standards. The building relies heavily on stairs, and the elevators have a long history of malfunctioning.

He said he thinks even if they move forward with renovations, which include parking lot improvements, immediate upgrades in the parking lot are needed.

Crumbly said he plans to attend Monday's city council meeting.

The library board fully supports the renovation plan, but the city council holds the final decision.

Library officials will make their support to the city council at a meeting that starts at 7 p.m. Monday at the training center adjacent to the city police station.

[caption id="attachment_131148" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Dennis Crumbley, left, talks to library officials (Director Heather Barron and Board President Chris Merrill) about accessibility that his mother, Marlene Collins (seated), faces when visiting the library. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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