Recovering from the coronavirus pandemic took a bit for Lamont Free Library, but it’s back to pre-COVID numbers, in part because it expanded senior programs after senior centers closed, the Cortlandville Town Board heard Wednesday.
“It took us three years to recover from the pandemic,” Director Heather Cobb said after presenting the library’s 2023 report to the Cortlandville Town Board Wednesday. “We are seeing people come back. We’re seeing new people. We’re seeing people attending programs. Circulation is up, so it’s all been really positive.”
Use of the library is growing, Cobb said, but it isn’t asking for more money this year. The library’s 2023 budget was $91,865, with about $60,000 of that from the school tax levy. The Town of Cortlandville gave $5,000, the library’s report says.
“We’re not asking for any increases or anything like that,” Cobb said.
The library’s expenses in 2024 are projected to reach $95,627 after increases in wages, employee benefits and about $1,000 more put toward increased 2024 programming, the library’s report says.
Town Supervisor Tom Williams said he wanted to hear how the town’s financial support of the library “has been received.”
Lamont Library Board President Maryalice Griffin said the library offers as many programs as possible to all age groups, and said lately the library has worked since Cortland County shut down most of its senior centers to include more seniors, giving them space to socialize. The library bought a 50-inch television, a Blu-Ray DVD player and a license to screen movies.
Cobb said halfway through 2024, the library is on track to surpass its 2023 performance.
“We’re seeing more adult programming, we’re seeing more activities for seniors, more accessibility for seniors,” Cobb said. “We decided to do programs, that’s why we have Sunday Social, we have the book club, just giving people different options. For the seniors especially, if they live alone, they can come and socialize with other people.”
Cobb said there’s likely more programming to come next year.
“Basically we’re just going to focus on getting our collection up and current and pushing our programs, whatever we can for the community, whatever they want,” Cobb said.
