Letter to Bookmobile Patrons
PLEASE NOTE: The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System bookmobile service was discontinued at the end of 2011. Please call 563-5190 with any questions.
August 29, 2011
Dear Patrons:
It is with regret that the CEFLS Board of Trustees announces that the
bookmobile will be retired from service at the end of 2011. We realize that
the timing of this is especially difficult when two local book stores are
closing. It’s obvious that libraries need more help than ever, and that
local readers will be hurting! The System has operated one or more
bookmobiles since 1956 and bookmobile service has been an integral part of
our identity throughout the years. Deep and ongoing state aid based budget
shortfalls are responsible for this decision, which was a hard one to make.
The fact that this decision had to be made brings home the budget realities
that libraries have been facing for the past decade, during which library
state aid funding has been cut six times. However, despite the fact that we
have done everything we could, including not filling two staff positions and
slashing our materials budget each year, we are faced with no alternative.
The numbers pretty much say it all. We have lost approximately 1/5 of our
funding (21.75%) since 2007 and operational costs continue to rise at a rate
that we cannot keep pace with.
CEFLS staff will be working throughout the fall to manage the impact that
this shift in services will have on patrons. Possible scenarios might be to
distribute books to senior centers in a different way, or to explore the
costs associated with a modified books by mail service.
We expect to circulate materials to you until late fall and will keep you
posted via flyers, Facebook and this web page as our plans progress. If you
would like to express your thoughts about bookmobile service, a page will be
soon be operational on our web site (www.cefls.org). Although we have been
assured that there is no additional state aid money that can come our way in
time to reverse this decision, you might want to contact your state and
local representatives as a resident of a region where access to books and
information is taking several steps backwards. Their contact information
appears below.
Thank you for your patronage and support over the years!
Please Contact your State Representatives on behalf of readers in our
region!
Thank your state legislator for her past support and urge her to advocate
strongly for the future of libraries in our region.
Click here for contact information for your state representative:
Please Contact your Local Representatives
on behalf of readers in our region!
Thank your local legislator for his or her past support and urge
him/her to advocate strongly for the future of libraries in our region.
Click here for information on how to
contact the Essex County Board of Supervisors
Click here for information on how
to contact the Clinton County Legislators
Click here if information on how
to contact the Franklin County Legislators
Books and more right to your door (almost!) The bookmobile is your library
on wheels. We regularly stock over 2,500 fiction and non-fiction books,
audio books, large print books, and magazines for all ages. If you don’t see
what you want on the shelf, ask for it! We offer full inter-library loan
service from libraries throughout the region.
Contact us at the email address bookmobile@cefls.org (checked once daily) or if you need help more quickly during the hours of 8am to 4pm M-F please call 563-5190.
Click HERE to see where the bookmobile will be stopping
| We need your Support | Something for Everyone! | Databases: (login with your bookmobile card barcode number) |
| How you can help | Downloadable Audiobooks | NOVELny and other Databases |
| Recommend a Book for Purchase: email bookmobile@cefls.org or call 563-5190 x20 | News on Wheels, the CEF Bookmobile Newsletter | Auto Repair Reference Center |
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| Policies of the Bookmobile | ||
| Bookmobile Calendar | Encyclopedia Britannica | |
| How to request books and other items |
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