The Phoenixville Public Library is asking the borough to increase its annual contribution, proposing a four-year plan that would double municipal support as the library faces rising costs and the loss of about $200,000 in passport revenue.
Library representative Lara Lorenzi told Phoenixville Borough Council September 8 that the library is seeking a gradual increase in municipal support, with a long-term goal of reaching $5 per resident — a figure cited from the Pennsylvania State Library Code.
For Phoenixville, the library is proposing a more immediate and attainable path: increasing the borough’s contribution by about 25 cents per resident each year for four years, eventually reaching $2 per resident.
Lorenzi said the proposed increase is intended to give the library and municipalities a more predictable funding structure. She acknowledged that the figures are negotiable and described the four-year plan as a starting point.
The presentation was part of the library’s effort to visit the municipalities it serves and make the case for continued — and potentially increased — local funding. It also coincided with Library Card Month in September, with borough officials encouraging residents who do not already have a card to sign up.
Nearly 100,000 Visitors
The library, located at Main Street and 2nd Avenue across from Reeves Park, serves Phoenixville Borough as well as Schuylkill, East Pikeland, and Charlestown townships, according to the presentation.
It is a component unit of the school district and a member of the Chester County Library System. Lorenzi said it is the third-busiest library in the system outside of the main libraries in Exton and Chester Springs.
The library is currently open six days a week. Lorenzi said insufficient funding would not force it to close an additional day, but could result in reduced operating hours.
The library recorded more than 98,000 people walking through its doors last year, along with more than 21,000 computer sessions, including use of its public computers and Wi-Fi.
Phoenixville Borough residents account for about 7,400 library cardholders who checked out more than 56,000 items, according to figures presented to council.
Using an estimated $20 value per item, Lorenzi said those checkouts represent more than $1 million in value to borough residents compared with roughly $20,000 in annual municipal funding.
That calculation does not include residents using the building, attending programs, accessing free services, or taking advantage of the library’s digital resources.
More Than Books
The library’s services extend beyond traditional book lending.
Residents can use the Libby app for free electronic books and audiobooks, while the library maintains more than 30 museum passes that can be reserved by patrons.
The library also operates a book locker for patrons who cannot pick up materials during regular hours. The locker, added during the COVID-19 pandemic, has remained heavily used.
Other offerings include Wi-Fi hotspots and a “Library of Things” collection with more than 60 items available to borrow. Those items include lawn games, a carbon monoxide detector, a laminating kit, a webcam, virtual reality goggles, and equipment for creating podcasts.
The library also provides meeting space and notary services.
Passport Revenue Adds To Funding Pressure
While the library still offers passport photos, its finances have been affected by the loss of passport processing services.
Lorenzi told council that the library lost about $200,000 from its budget after passport processing was taken away. The library has already eliminated its passport agents, along with other staff positions, and would need to reduce hours further if additional funding is not secured.
The library received a last-minute $70,000 grant that Lorenzi said is helping carry the organization through the end of the year, but she said the library has already made significant staffing reductions.
A Complicated Funding Picture
Local municipal contributions are only one part of the library's budget. Lorenzi said the library receives state and county funding, with state funding distributed among member libraries according to a state-based formula.
The library also raises money through annual fundraising, individual appeals, grants, corporate support, and partnerships with local organizations. Its annual Wine, Wit & Wisdom fundraiser is scheduled for November.
General operating revenue comes from services and fees. Municipal funding, however, provides an important and predictable piece of the overall picture.
Lorenzi said the library is seeking a funding structure that municipalities can anticipate and budget for rather than relying on an annual “push and pull” over the amount requested. The proposed four-year increase would give the library a clearer path for planning while allowing municipalities to anticipate future costs.
For now, the presentation was a request rather than a final funding decision. Council did not approve a new contribution during the presentation.
The library’s message to borough officials was that demand remains strong, its services have expanded further than traditional lending, and a gradual increase in municipal support could provide a more predictable financial foundation for the years ahead.
