More money for public libraries is on the agenda for Democrat Bill Magnarelli as he runs for Onondaga County executive.
He is running against Republican Joanie Mahonie. Now Magnarelli is the representative of the 120th State Assembly District in Onondaga County. He’s been a state assemblyman since 1998. Magnarelli says he will work with the people he knows in Albany to bring in more library money through grants.
“I know we need modernization of our buildings and our library system. I know that we need technological equipment and software. Those are things that are ongoing costs.” [Bill Magnarelli]
Magnarelli does not say how much new money he would try to get for libraries. But his plan wins praise from local librarians, like the director of the DeWitt Community Library, Susan Reckhow.
“Anything to help libraries, I’m for. So if Magnarelli would like more money, we would know how to spend it and improve our communities and our services with it.” [Susan Reckhow]
And government money is important for the Onondaga County Public Library system. The library system oversees the Central Library, eight city branches, and two satellite libraries. It also helps run twenty independent libraries in the county that are outside the city. The library system’s operating budget in 2005 — the most recent figures available — was about $12.3 million. About 47 percent of that money comes from federal, state, and county funds.
And if given extra funding, renovations would be the project of choice for some librarians. Susan Reckhow of the DeWitt Community Library says extra money would go towards getting a new building. Right now, it’s in Shoppingtown Mall.
“We’ve been a renter of our space for the whole history of the library. We want the library to own the building.” [Susan Reckhow]
The branch manager for the Petit Branch Library, Marilyn Smith, says she wants similar things for her library.
“We’ve been talking about building an addition to the library that would serve as a community room for programs and community meetings, and that sort of thing.” [Marilyn Smith]
But library scientist Scott Nicholson of Syracuse University says libraries need more than just money for construction and resources. He says they need support for marketing and assessing their services.
“Without the marketing, without the assessment, people don’t know what you can do, and you don’t know if you’re doing a good job.” [Scott Nicholson]
For his part, Magnarelli’s record shows support for local public libraries. In 2005, he helped persuade the state assembly to provide a $5,000 grant for the Baldwinsville Public Library. And in 2006, he supported a budget in the assembly that included money for the restoration of libraries in the county.
The election is November 6th, and the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For Democracywise, I’m Tracy Kracker.
(Tracy Kracker is a graduate broadcast journalism student.)
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