All you ever wanted to know about local libraries

In the case of local libraries, one board should rule them all

Hindsight is 20/20.

You can call it Monday morning quarterbacking or second-guessing … whatever. It is seductively easy to look at decisions made in the past, with the clarity and benefit of time, and criticize those who made them as being foolish or myopic.
It is unfair. Often it ignores the context in which decisions are made.

With that said, let’s talk about the decision to build a new Corbin Public Library.

Whether we actually NEED a new library or not I will leave up to others to debate. To my mind, though, there is no question everyone in Corbin who cares about libraries WANTS a new one. A beautiful new one is under construction right now. It should be very nice.

But there are doubts on the financing on this venture. Several tell me there should be cause for concern. First, it doesn’t really add up. The Corbin Library Board went out on a limb and borrowed $900,000 to build our new library – money they don’t realistically have the ability to pay back without significant assistance from other government agencies or an outpouring of support from the community. This they admit. A quick peek at their budget will also confirm it. It is nightmarish to think our new library could be sold on the courthouse steps one day to pay a defaulted loan. If that sounds far fetched, think again. The city leaders I’ve talked to are lukewarm about the idea about bailing out the library if it struggles to make payments. Hearts and minds change. Circumstances are fluid, so you never really know for sure. But it is perilous gamesmanship to rely on a “bailout.”

The fact that Whitley County Magistrate David Myers is trying to convince the Whitley County Library Board to dip into their ample $1 million (or more) building fund reserve to help out with Corbin’s new library is a signal to me the finances here are shaky.

And when I last talked to a Library Board member about the this issue, one of the responses I got was something on the order of, “you aren’t going to make us look too bad are you?”

That lack of confidence is cause for concern.

The last thing I want to do insult our Library Board members. It is pointless and uncivil. In truth, I understand their dilemma. It’s the same one many government’s and quasi-government entities face on projects like this. Our arena here in Corbin is a perfect example. Cost projections end up being much lower than expected, but once you are so far into a project (land is purchased, expensive studies are performed, construction begins, etc.) it’s really difficult to pull the plug and just back out when the price tag is higher.

I don’t want to blame the people who are gracious enough to put their time and effort into unpaid public service by serving on this board. I’m glad

I think the big problem here is systemic and historic.

The way the Corbin Public Library is set up and managed is silly. There is no London Public Library or Williamsburg Public Library, for instance, separate and apart from the county library system. I know Corbin is a little different, but why can’t our new library be built and managed by the Whitley County Library System and its board of directors? It just makes sense. Currently, we have some esoteric agreement dating back eons whereby the Whitley County Library System will give Corbin a portion of the tax money it collects for a library here in town, run by a separate board that is appointed by the mayor, but answers to no one.

This is not really a good arrangement. I can understand why Whitley County Library Board members might be reluctant to just fork over a huge chunk of their building fund cash for a library they have no say-so in constructing or managing. I wouldn’t do it if I were on that board because it’s insanely irresponsible. Besides, they may have other plans for that money.

The Corbin Public Library, by the admission of its own management, runs “on a shoestring” and is always strapped for cash. That explains the thinking behind its absolutely schizophrenic hours of operation. If the Whitley County Library System managed it, you would think at the very least the hours would be normalized. And there would be more money to go around.

I think our county library in Williamsburg is beautiful. It does not appear to me to be mismanaged. Perhaps it’s time to end antiquated agreement and turn over control of all libraries in this county one board … the one with the resources to properly get the job done.

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Board of Directors President defends Corbin Public Library

To the Editor:

In a recent editorial in the Whitley County News-Journal, Trent Knuckles called those who made the decision to “build” a new Corbin Public Library “foolish or myopic.” The fact that even he admits that is an “unfair” statement did not prevent him from making it.

As a member of the Corbin Public Library Board of Directors, I am proud to be a part of the group who made that decision, and I think the people of this community will be proud of their new library when it is completed. Yes, the library will be completed and yes, the Board of Directors knows exactly how they plan to pay for it, in spite of remarks made in The News-Journal.  

If Mr. Knuckles or members of his staff had regularly attended our Board meetings over the past two years, he would have been aware of the many hours this group of dedicated volunteers has relinquished to be certain not to “jump out on a limb” and not to be irresponsible stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Mr. Knuckles claims that he took a “quick peek” at our budget; perhaps it was too quick.  Of course, we will have to pay on the new library for years, but the money should be there for the payments.

We did speak with our city officials (before agreeing to purchase the building) about additional funding necessary to operate a larger, two story building, and because we wanted the new library to be energy efficient, which will cost more, but be cheaper and more efficient in the long run, we asked the city to apply for a grant for us, which they did.  We are still awaiting a decision on that grant.  I hope Mr. Knuckles’ preposterous remarks that “our new library could be sold on the courthouse steps one day” and his suggestion that our library board is irresponsible and “out on a limb” will not reduce Corbin’s chance for that $125,000.  While we know how we are going to pay for the renovation, that money would help us pay for energy efficient portions of the building. I know of no other “significant assistance from government agencies” we have requested. 

As for requesting an “outpouring of support from the community,” we are guilty.  Since the renovation of the building turned out to be so much more than we originally anticipated, board members were in a dilemma as to whether to drop the entire project and let the building sit unused or to make changes in our plans.  We decided to proceed with the renovation so our patrons would have two of the primary needs indicated on the needs assessment surveys administered at the beginning of this project: a larger library and more parking.  In order to proceed with the renovation, the Board of Directors borrowed an additional $200,000, payable as soon as our present building is sold.  We covered the rest of the cost with money we had been saving for years to purchase furnishings and other items needed for a new building.  When we knew we were not going to be able to buy those items, we did reach out to the community.  I was probably most guilty of that; as a lifelong member of this community, I know that people here are very generous to help worthwhile causes.  I love the library and can’t imagine a more worthy cause since the library is there for all people of all ages and income levels.  If you have ‘checked out’ the library recently, you know that many community members are taking advantage of the treasures to be found there.

Though Mr. Knuckles claims it was not his intention, he has insulted our Board of Directors.  It was probably not a lack of confidence that prompted the board member mentioned in the editorial to respond vaguely when questioned by The News-Journal.  It was probably that the board member suspected Mr. Knuckles of fishing for specific material to support just such an editorial as he has written.

Finally, Mr. Knuckles says that the Corbin Public Library Board of Directors “answers to no one.”  That is not true.  We answer to the Kentucky Department of Libraries, the Whitley County taxpayers and the citizens of Corbin.  We have open meetings and open records.  Our motivation is to serve the best interest of the community, not any individual’s bottom line.

One wonders who Mr. Knuckles is answerable to.

Diane Mitchell

Corbin Public Library
Board of Directors’ President

Recent column about library missed the mark, reader says

To the Editor:

“The last thing I want to do is insult our Library Board members.” (News Journal, May 26, 2010) It seems to me that this is exactly what was done. Not only the board members, but also others involved who spent months planning this project and signed off on it were insulted. Did Mr. Knuckles think the bank would loan $900,000 to the library board without thoroughly investigating how it could be paid back? Really!

He also questioned the need for the new library. I encourage people to visit and see how well used our library is; not just the books, but also the computers, DVD’ s, etc.

Concerning the hours open, (he called them “schizophrenic”). I understand the schedule is the result of a canvas of the library patrons’ needs, not what best suited the staff.

Corbin does not have stately columned courthouses paid for by county tax money like Williamsburg or Barbourville has or a Federal Courthouse like London has. Our City Hall Complex downtown has been paid for by the Corbin tax payers.
Mr. Knuckles acknowledges, “Corbin is a little different…” but still thinks our library should be managed by the Whitley County Library Board.

He is correct in the sense that Corbin is unique. It is the only city in Kentucky that lies in three counties. Our city posed such a threat to some nearby counties that they had special legislation passed (which is unconstitutional) disallowing Corbin to annex or incorporate into three counties. As a result, Corbin’s boundaries stop at the Laurel County line.

Now, let’s talk about boards.

There are lots of boards: school boards, water district boards, library boards, and many others. Does Mr. Knuckles think that Barbourville, Corbin, and Williamsburg Independent School Boards are unnecessary and that those independent schools could be better run by the Knox and Whitley County School Boards that are functioning and could perform those duties?
Forgive us if we in Corbin still want to maintain our competent Corbin Public Library Board!

Shelby Thurston Pennington
Corbin
 

New Corbin Library project faces funding uncertainties (published in March)

Officials will celebrate the start of construction on a new Corbin Public Library next Monday, but exactly how the higher-than-expected bill for construction will be paid is still up in the air.

Corbin Library Board Chairperson Diane Mitchell said this week that the board recently borrowed an additional $200,000 to pay for the cost of construction, bringing the total indebtedness for the project to $900,000. The move came following a series of meeting at which board members were able to slash about $50,000 off of the $873,000 project.

"We thought in the long run we’d be better off to go ahead and try to build the building that we dreamed," Mitchell said. "What we are hoping is that the Corbin Community will help us put some furnishings and all in it."

Mitchell said shelves, tables and other furnishings from the current library building will have to be used in the new 12,000 square foot facility when it is complete.

The Corbin Library Board purchased the former Vintage House Restaurant Building for $300,000 last year to use as the new library. Plans are to sell the current building for $200,000. Mitchell would not say who intends to buy the library’s current facility.
Planners hit a snag when bids for renovations at the new library site more than doubled the $400,000 set aside for construction costs.

According to the Corbin Public Library’s 2009-10 fiscal year budget, the library has a total income of $268,000. There are line item expenses in the budget for construction expenses ($40,100) and mortgage payments ($30,000). Mitchell said the Library Board was relying on a pledge from the City of Corbin to provide a larger percentage of property tax revenue in order to help pay down impending $900,000 debt. Last year, Corbin City Manager Bill Ed Cannon said the city budget contained more money for the Library, but City Collector Dorotha Weber said Tuesday the Library is slated to receive only six percent of the city’s portion of property tax collections – the same percentage it has received for at least the past 18 years. About 68 percent of the property taxes collected by the city goes to the Corbin Independent School District. The library would get six percent of the remainder.

The city did raise property tax rates slightly, allowing it to collect four percent more this year in actual dollars, often called the "compensating rate," than the previous fiscal year. Last year, the city transferred $75,912.36 to the Library Board for operation of the facility. The board budgeted $105,000 in tax revenue from the city for the current fiscal year. But if four percent more were due the board this year, then the increase would result in only a $3,200 revenue bump. Mitchell said city leaders had promised around $40,000.

Mitchell said this week she was somewhat concerned about funding because property tax transfers to the Library Board were only about even with the same time last year, and are maybe even a little lower.

"We are not getting in the tax money we have been getting in previously," Mitchell said. "We are a little bit concerned about it, but they assure us it is going to be OK."

Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said he feels property tax collections are down a bit this year because of the economy. Regardless, he said once the new library building is occupied and in use, the city would make good on its promise to help with debt service payments.

"They have taken on so much and we want them to have the library," McBurney said. "To keep the new library functional at all, it will just have to be something we do. We will have to take a look at it."

McBurney said he expects the city will give around $40,000 to the Library Board to help pay for the new library. He said city leaders will likely review the stipend annually and plan only to help pay for the cost of the building, and would not agree to fund any other expenses.

Corbin City Manager Bill Ed Cannon said city leaders have discussed assisting with debt service on the new library.

"It’s definitely something we are looking at," Cannon said.

McBurney said he would like to see the Whitley County Library System offer more money to the Corbin Public Library annually. Currently, Whitley County gives $150,000 of the county’s library tax.

All money for construction of the new library was borrowed from Hometown Bank on a low interest loan program specifically geared toward public projects, Mitchell said.

In any event, the Library Board has no money to pay for furnishings in the new building. Mitchell said she is asking for donations from the community to help with that part of the project.

"I’ve lived in this community all my life … I think the library in any area is extremely important for all people," Mitchell said. "It’s probably the only place I can think of where people can make a donation that will not be limited. It will help all people; any race, any religion, any age group … it helps them all. It’s a wonderful place you can put money if you have it and if you can."

Mitchell said she is working with Corbin Tourism and Main Street officials to hopefully secure some additional funding for an outdoor reading café on the side of the building that faces Roy Kidd Ave.

"We would like to have a real nice wrought iron fence there and make a sidewalk café where people could read and work with their computers," Mitchell said. "I think Tourism could help with something like that. We are in the Renaissance district."

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new library will be held Monday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the new library building, located at the corner of Roy Kidd Ave. and Laurel Ave. The public is invited to attend.