By PAULENE POPARAD

The Westchester Public Library Board of Trustees went on record Thursday opposing Gov. Mitch Daniels’ proposal to do away with a state agency that has provided WPL patrons with valuable services since 1974.

WPL director Phil Baugher said the governor’s 2007-09 state budget recommends eliminating the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (INCOLSA) and redirecting its funding to the Indiana State Library. INCOLSA has over 700 member institutions including public, academic, school, special, legal and medical libraries.

Baugher said even though officials say the state library will continue INCOLSA’s services, he feels the state lacks the trained technical staff, program experience, member-driven accountability and strategic plan necessary to provide them effectively.

Baugher also noted that INCOLSA, which is funded with state money, grants and membership fees, currently is governed by its member libraries and they direct INCOLSA to provide the services they need. “I doubt we would have that kind of responsiveness to our needs if the state library controlled the services.”

These currently include cataloging services, cooperative purchasing and document delivery, database access services, a buyer’s club, the Indiana Shared Library Catalog, the INSPIRE virtual library of electronic resources, interlibrary loan, IT training and support, library automation and products, and reference search and delivery.

According to Baugher, INCOLSA’s loss would be significant. Last year WPL borrowed 390 books for its patrons from libraries across the country through INCOLSA’s interlibrary loan service, and in 2005 over 142,000 reference questions were handled and books delivered by INCOLSA to Hoosier libraries including WPL.

“I’m really concerned about our ability to use these tools to get information for our people,” said Baugher, who called the takeover attempt a grab to get INCOLSA’s funding.

“I’d like to see us go on record to support INCOLSA,” said WPL board member Karen Nash. Vote to adopt a resolution to that effect passed 6-0 with member Sue Harris absent. Baugher said he will forward the resolution to Daniels’ office, to the state library and to area legislators. Additional lobbying may be required, he emphasized.

2007 taxes unsettled

Baugher reported that WPL has not received its final 2006 property-tax settlement so a planned transfer of surplus cash into the Rainy Day Fund will be delayed until later this year. He also said although WPL’s revenue loss is predicted to be minimal under the state’s controversial circuit-breaker tax cap, three other items could impact the 2007 library budget.

Mittal Steel has a large outstanding tax appeal pending, he noted, and Chesterton, Burns Harbor and possibly other local government units have unresolved issues with the Porter County Auditor’s Office over shortfalls in its distribution to them of past tax-increment financing or TIF payments.

TIF could be especially problematic, the director said, because it may have affected the assessed valuation WPL used for budgeting purposes. If the TIF distributions were too low and money is owed, “The question is, how do you correct it? How do you resolve that being fair to the units shorted and the other taxing units?”

Additionally, said Baugher, no one knows the impact of trending as Indiana restructures its assessment method. Despite the uncertainty, he said WPL has $4,004,118 on hand in all funds and, unlike some government units, faces no cash shortfalls.

The Porter County Council has scheduled a Jan. 27 meeting to update local governments on the status of 2007 property-tax billing, which will be delayed, and related issues.

Also Thursday, the Library Board convened as a Board of Finance and reviewed interest earned from 2006 investments. Baugher said a total $138,400 was earned with $1.89 million currently in certificates of deposit soon to mature. He was authorized to reinvest the funds.

Circulation jumps again

Year-end 2006 statistics showed WPL circulation increased by almost 13 percent over 2005 with 370,375 items circulated at Chesterton’s Thomas Library. Hageman Library in Porter circulated 14,497 items. 2006 was the first year comprehensive statistics were kept reflecting individual times a WPL patron was helped or used WPL facilities, services or programs.

Last year WPL provided 900,619 total public service units (PSU). “Things are hopping at the library and it reflects usage. The staff that did all this labor certainly is to be commended,” said Baugher. The library’s website alone had 175,122 hits and total visitor count at WPL’s four locations was 232,396. WPL has 13,151 registered borrowers.

Board members termed it “impressive” and “amazing” that the relocated WPL-operated Westchester Township Historical Museum generated 10,448 visitors last year at the Brown Mansion, a 537 percent increase.

“(Assistant WPL director Jane Walsh-Brown) and everyone at that museum is doing a great job,” said Baugher.

In other business the Library Board authorized Baugher to pursue purchase of a new commercial cargo van to replace WPL’s aging model, and it was announced that the library will hold a used-computer equipment sale Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tax forms also are available at Thomas at the entrance to the second-floor Serials Room.

Baugher distributed materials and asked board members to be prepared Feb. 8 to discuss the library system’s current strengths and weaknesses, and its potential opportunities and threats in the future.

Posted 1/12/2007