Thank you for the support! Library Millage passes, 63% yes to 37% no
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on August 4, 2010
On the behalf of the White Lake Township Library Board of Trustees and the staff at the library, I would like to express my heart felt thanks to the White Lake community for their overwhelming support of the millage request (Yes- 63%, No- 37%) to sustain the current level of library operations. At the time the decision was made in early 2010 to seek a millage increase in the face of declining tax revenue, I had grave concerns that there would not be support for the current level of library services until the community had to live for a year(s) with the pain of cuts in materials, services and staff cuts.
Since arriving in mid-2008, I've also had many residents remark about the value and the importance they place regarding the Library in White Lake, but I had no evidence if that support translated into millage support. Seeing the turnout and the results of the August vote truly makes me proud to be a resident of White Lake. Rest assured that the board, the staff and I will continue to strive to make the Library a real community treasure for current and future generations.
Larry Ostrowski, Director, White Lake Township Library
The Future of the White Lake Township Library ?????
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on July 16, 2010
On June 26th I attended the grand opening of the new Novi Public Library. The new library has been built on vacant land that was located next to the old Novi library. The old Novi library has been demolished and the site is currently being turned into a parking lot for patrons at the new facility. Arriving late in the afternoon, I lucked out into getting the complete, behind-the-scenes tour, courtesy of Director Julie Farkas. It was hard not to ooh and awe over all the many features of the building, the furnishings and the latest technological capabilities. (Got to catch the end of the U.S. vs. Ghana World Cup Soccer game at one of the many ceiling mounted large televisions located in the lounge seating areas on both floors of the building.) Since unofficially opening the previous Monday, the number of patrons visiting the building each day was nearly double the door count from the old facility and the pride with which a number of the patrons I talked to was inspiring.
Driving back home to White Lake it was rather hard for me to reconcile how one community could be opening the doors to a new, state-of-the-art facility, while the situation in White Lake and many of the surrounding libraries is one if worrying about just keeping the doors open. It's hard to believe that just last summer our state representative, Eileen Kowall presented the library with a State Proclamation recognizing the quality of library service we had finally achieved. Moving forward and without the income from the proposed millage, the library will not meet minimum state standards for a library serving a community of our size.
I final somewhat disturbing observation I had about libraries came when I accompanied a group of teens from our area on a mission trip to the town of Monessen, Pennsylvania near the West Virginia border south of Pittsburgh. During some free-time from our work emptying, cleaning, painting and repairing apartments in a federal housing project, I made a point of visiting the public library in the town. The library was built in 1959 for a community of 20,000, and which now numbers 8,000. The library had a photo history of the library on the end panels of the shelving and it was so sad to see visually a key element of the community gradually drift into obsolescence. I expected to see a building in need of great repair and I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't prepared for a library with a VHS collection that dwarfs it's DVD one, a computer lab with monster-sized monitors and a new book shelf with mostly romance paperbacks and titles like the DaVinci Code (copyright 2003). I fear some libraries, because of the current economic situation in the Detroit area may be heading down this path. I'm putting my money on the residents of White Lake not to be one of those communities whose Library is going that way.
My thoughts about the August 3, 2010 Library Millage request
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on May 2, 2010
Have you ever had the experience of paying a hefty car repair bill and being told your vehicle checks out fine only to have, a short time later, another costly item surface that needs repair? That's kind of how I feel about the funding situation for the White Lake Township Library since moving to White Lake in May of 2008.
Few people, including the members of the Library Board and myself, had any idea of the economic changes that would begin in the summer of 2008. The resulting decrease in tax revenue was unexpected and is significant. Currently I'm sitting in my office looking at charts, graphs and projections for library revenue that in 2008, I would have assumed I was holding upside down. Sadly, I'm not.
I wish I could say “I got us into this mess, and I'll get us out of it.” But I can't. The Library Board, the Friends, the staff and myself have been as pro-active as we can: applying for grants, fundraising via the establishment of a Mini-Golf Tournament, increasing the frequency of book sales, and partnering with local organizations and governmental units to share program costs. Behind the scenes, we were one of the first libraries or governmental units in Oakland County to freeze salaries in mid-2008. Staff members who receive health benefits have had to increase their contributions 2 years in a row. We have limited the substitute staff to cover vacant service desks due to vacation or illness. Book and materials budgets have been reduced.
These efforts will not be enough to ensure having the needed funds to provide basic, quality library service. Andrew Carnegie, benefactor of American libraries, knew this long ago when he offered to build and furnish a wonderful, state of the art library building ONLY if the community committed public funds for the staffing and maintenance of the building and the development of the collection.
This August the residents of White Lake will be presented with the choice of deciding how vital a role the public library will play in the educational, technological, and life-long learning experiences it provides for the current and future citizens of White Lake by voting for a millage that will offset the now known reductions that will be realized in future years' funding for the library.
During this time leading up to the August primary election, PLEASE call, email, or stop in the library if you have any questions regarding why a millage has been placed on the ballot. Providing information is what we do.
Thank you for supporting the 2nd Annual Mini Golf Fundraiser
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on March 17, 2010
Attendance at this year’s event was again a success and up 30% over 2009! In fact we had one 7year-old boy who had coerced his mom to bring him to the library at 10:45 a.m. so he could be the first one to tee off! Personally, it was so heart-warming and uplifting to see mom, dad and the kids all together at one time in the library enjoying an activity. And while they weren’t reading, most folks were easily distracted into perusing the shelves and examining materials as they waited to tee off.
Saturday night’s “Teens Only” time was also a success and we will be exploring how we might increase the number of schools participating and perhaps also including church youth groups. A number of parents of teen attending commented how great it was to have fun, safe event for their teenagers to gather and socialize.
In addition to our wonderful sponsors (noted on our home page) a number of businesses and individuals contributed items and services for a Silent Auction. As we received a number of truly great items for auction, we’ve placed them in the Adult Reading area and will accept bids until the end of March.
Once again, THANKS from the Friends, Library Board, the staff and myself for making this event such a success!!
Larry O
March Mini-Golf Madness - Friends of the Library Funraiser!
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on February 13, 2010
The White Lake Township Library will be the place to be for families on the afternoon of Sunday, March 7th, as the Friends of Library conduct the 2nd Annual Mini-Golf Event. Besides the eighteen holes of golf, there will be refreshments, and a greatly increased number of Silent Auction items from local businesses for individuals to bid.
The library will be closing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 6th, so that the library “greens keepers” can construct the course on the two floors of the library. At 6 p.m. the course will be open to middle school students and at 8 p.m. the course will be turned over to high school students.
The goal of last year's event was to purchase two Early Learning Literacy Computer Stations for pre-school and early elementary children. We succeeded in raising enough funds to purchase one station, so our goal again is to raise funds to purchase a second unit. Hopefully we can exceed that goal so that we can address the funding cuts to the purchase of children's books as well as programs for this year's Summer Reading program. Participation in the Summer Reading program has increased from 800 to over 1000 children in just the past two years. Sadly, we had to cut the children's book budget by 20% and programming budget by 50%. We are hoping that support for our golfing event will allow us to acknowledge and reward the children of White Lake for their efforts to develop a lifelong love of reading. Any support or contribution you can make to assist in making this event a success would be greatly appreciated.
See you on the links March 7th!!!
Despite Record Usage - Budget Reductions necessary for 2010
posted by Larry Ostrowski on 12/9/09
Due to reduced funding from property tax revenues and state aid, it is necessary to make some painful reductions in hours and services. Beginning January 1, 2010, our hours of operation on Monday through Thursday will be one hour shorter, opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. In addition, the budget for books and magazines has been reduced by 18.5% and the monies for programs by 50%. Behind the scenes, other budget tightening measures have been taken, such as filling a vacant full-time position with two part-time positions as well as freezing staff salaries for the second year in a row. The irony in taking such actions is that we have every reason to believe even more people will be visiting the library, requesting more materials and services in 2010. During these troubling and challenging times ahead the Library Board, staff and myself hope we can count on your understanding and support as we head into decidedly uncharted waters.
White Lake Township Library Receives Library of Michigan Cetification for Meeting 'Essential Level' of Quality Services
Posted by: Denise Stefanick on November 2, 2009
Representative Eileen Kowall, recently presented White Lake Township Library Director Larry Ostrowski, a certificate of completion for meeting the Essential Level requirements of the Quality Services Audit Checklist (QSAC). To earn certification, the
"We are proud that the White Lake Township Library has done such good work in providing services deemed ‘essential’ by the Library of Michigan," said White Lake Township Library board president Jennifer Schulz. "By focusing efforts on these key areas, our library has shown a strong commitment to customer service."
QSAC has defined "essential services" – the basics of all library service – as relatively low-cost standards that every library can and should achieve. They are helpful guidelines to libraries just starting out, while providing important review for more established institutions. Essential standards are described as "those which should be achieved first because of their fundamental importance."
"Two years in the making, QSAC represents the work of more than 100 library directors, trustees and staff members who together created measures of quality for our state’s public libraries," said State Librarian Nancy Robertson. "The staff of the White Lake Township Library is to be commended for achieving a vital milestone in library service."
QSAC was made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through LSTA funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities, supports the White Lake Township Library.
For more information about the Quality Services Audit Checklist, visit http://www.michigan.gov/qsac.
Welcome to our new website!
Posted by Denise Stefanick on October 30, 2009
Our redesigned website has a new look and feel, and is easy to browse and navigate. In addition to standard links to the catalog, programs, services, collections and electronic resources there are links to new information formats such as an event calendar, photo album, library blog, and dynamic new teen pages called the Teen Pac.
