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From the Desk of the Director:

            Kinsman is RICH! Rich in family; rich in character; rich in history! The Kinsman Free Public Library has always been one of Kinsman’s riches. Many call the Library the “Jewel of the Community.”

            The citizens of this community have every right to be proud of their Library, a Top 10 American Library.

            The Library staff has always made it a priority to be on the cutting edge of technology, and to be a first-rate service-oriented facility.

            We care! We care that you receive that Best-Seller for which you have been waiting; care that you are provided with that high-speed internet access when you need it most; care that your children are instilled with a love of reading at an early age and that they continue to be nurtured into young-adult and adulthood. We care.

            That is why it has been such a difficult time for us during the last six months. The continuous loss of funding, starting in 2008, but really turning for the worse in 2009, and now even more so in 2010, has been devastating to us and to you. (See graph below.)

            The State of Ohio’s Public Library Fund is our only source of income. We have had to make drastic cuts in order to keep our doors open. Cuts in hours, staff, programming and purchasing have left us all with a feeling of frustration.

            But I want to assure you that we are doing everything that we can to keep as many services available to our patrons as possible.

            We have been contemplating ways to bring additional funding to our Library, but we have to be realistic in our funding attempts. Thoughts of a library levy have been discussed with our Board of Trustees, but the mutual feeling is that the voters of our library service area are already being affected financially by the struggling economy and it would not be fair to ask for one more financial sacrifice.

            So, we are hoping that the economy will gain strength soon and that library funding will increase. Also, we have provided you, our patrons, with a way to help. We have placed in our Circulation Desk area a Wishing Well, signifying the wishes we have to return those areas cut because of lack of funds. There is also a list by the Wishing Well showing the items or programs which you may help to fund with your donation. Please help.

            The challenges we face are worrisome. Our hope is that the economy will show a positive change. For now, we are counting on you, our loyal patrons, to turn our setbacks into steps forward.

            Yes, Kinsman is rich. Please show our community’s rich character and help us to return the hours, staff, programs and purchasing power of this “Jewel of the Community.”

Sincerely and with my best wishes,

 Darla Bates, Library Director

Keep our wishes alive. Your donations are tax deductable.

TAI-CHI classes return in January 2010. Click Library News for info!

WATERCOLOR PAINTING resumes January 12th. We are ADDING Acrylic painting instruction too!

Site-ings a link you should know!

Winter Weather Policy
When Jospeh Badger School System is closed, the library will operate on a 2-hour delay on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday.
Severe weather stituations may occur and the library may be closed.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for any closings that occur.
If the library is closed, no fines will be assessed on that day.
Call ahead before venturing out.