In 1928, recognizing the need for a free public library, the Pike County Commissioners designated the organization now called the Pike County Public Library, which was and is an independent, private corporation, to serve as the county agent for the provision of public library services. For decades now, in exchange for the PCPL serving Pike County as a public free library,  the county has provided approximately one-third of the PCPL 's annual operating budget-and one-third of the members of the  PCPL board are appointed, two by the County commissioners and one by the Community House trust. The remaining directors are elected. This structure is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Library Code. Approximately two-thirds of Pennsylvania public libraries, along with millions of other non-profit organizations supported in whole or in part by tax dollars, have independent elected boards like that of the PCPL. In the more than eighty years since choosing to designate the PCPL as its agent for library services, neither the Pike County commissioners nor the public has ever questioned the library's system of governance. 

In recent years the PCPL has recognized that its operating budget must grow if library growth is to keep pace with the explosive growth in the county population. The county appropriation has not grown in more than a decade.  That is why the PCPL, with the encouragement of the county commissioners, sought a tax referendum last year to ensure steady support for the library system. During the referendum campaign, there were public suggestions that if the PCPL obtained, via a dedicated library tax, a significantly larger proportion of its budget from county tax revenues than previously, then the PCPL should have greater community input into its operations.  The PCPL agreed with that suggestion and had considered various ways to implement it if the referendum was successful.

However, the tax referendum did not pass. The PCPL plan for expanding library services countywide was immediately put on hold, and the architect's contract for the planned new library headquarters was cancelled.  Since the day after the referendum, the PCPL Board has been actively working on ways to balance its budget, improve library services economically, and avoid forfeiting all of the 4-plus million dollars raised over the past four years for a new headquarters in Milford.  However, the Pike County 2010 budget was enacted with no appropriation for the PCPL.  The County Commissioners have indicated that they will make no appropriation for library services unless the governance of the PCPL changes, perhaps radically.  

If the PCPL receives no county funding, it will lack $200,000 for its 2010 budget.  However, if the PCPL board loses its independence and becomes a political entity with political appointees as board members, then it appears that the majority of the $2 million in private donations raised over the past 4 years will be withdrawn.  Some donations have already had to be refunded.  The further $2 million in grants obtained for a new library in Milford must be matched at least dollar for dollar with other funds, so if the private donations are lost, then the grants will be lost also.   The PCPL Board believes that it is critical for the future of library services in Pike County to keep as much of the $4 million raised, in order to make possible some improvement in the Milford library facility.  Thus the PCPL Board does not believe that it is in the best interests of the PCPL to convert to a non-independent, political entity. 

Instead, in  order to both increase municipal input into library planning, and maintain the maximum of the funds raised for library expansion, the PCPL has suggested that, effective immediately, the Commissioners appoint three rather than two members of the PCPL Board, and that, when the PCPL moves out of the Milford Community House, the Community House board seat should also become a commissioner-appointed seat.  (Any township or municipality that chooses to contribute to the PCPL funds equal to fifteen percent of the total local support of the PCPL is also entitled by law to a board seat.)  The PCPL has also urged the establishment of  an Advisory Committee of township representatives, as suggested by both public officials and private citizens.  But the PCPL would retain 5 independent, non-political seats on the Board of Directors. With that structure, the majority of the current board members who have worked for many years to raise money and obtain grants in order to improve library services county wide, could seek to reassure private donors, retain donated funds, and complete the desperately-needed task  of building a new library-albeit a smaller one than first planned, more economical to run, and not requiring any financing at all.

The PCPL urges the Commissioners to adopt this plan and restore the PCPL's funding at least to its prior levels.  Libraries provide essential free services for tens of thousands of county residents.  The current library board has done an unprecedented job of fundraising for the library, and is anxious to translate that fundraising into bricks and mortar for the benefit of library patrons county wide.  There is no legal or even common sense basis for suggesting that county commissioners who provide one-third of the PCPL funding should appoint more than 1/3 of the board.  The Advisory Board suggested by Rep. Siptroth and others will provide further input from and communication with the various townships.    To make the PCPL a political body will put $4 million at risk immediately, and, more importantly, it will deprive the library as an institution of the benefits of an independent, apolitical board that can concentrate on fundraising, grantwriting, administration, and the myriad other tasks that a 21st century non-profit corporation must address to succeed.