By MAUREEN PICHÉ

NORWOOD – The fate of the Norwood Public Library comes down to a special election to create a library district on Tuesday, Nov. 15—and whether voters are willing to pay a few extra tax dollars a month to keep it operating.

Registered voters who own or rent property in the Norwood-Norfolk School District, excluding anyone who lives in the town of Norfolk, are eligible to vote on the district between noon and 9 p.m. at the Norwood American Legion on Maple Street.

At stake is the library’s continued existence, according to library board President Phyllis McFaddin. Without the approval of an $85,000 operating budget, the nearly 100-year-old library will be closed in about a year.

She stresses the loss of the library won’t just cut access to books, but it will also mean the loss of a community space and a place where those of modest means can access technology and information.

“Libraries have always been important to the community, but now more than ever,” McFaddin said. “Computers are provided free for everyone to use for email, applying for jobs and getting information from the government.”

She noted the tough economy has forced many families to cut back on purchasing computers and Internet service. Meanwhile school-aged children need access to computers to do homework; after school hours, the nearby public library is often the only place available to them.

McFaddin said she has seen entire families come in to use the computers in recent months.

And of course, the library is still a free resource for books, magazines, CDs, movies and a variety of other items. It’s also where groups can meet, and children’s reading clubs gather.

In fact, 779 Norwood area residents (26 percent of the population) have library cards, and people borrowed about 7,000 books last year, according to library statistics.

The public computers were used more than 8,000 times and there were over 200 participants in last year’s summer reading program.

McFaddin said the library’s customer base hasn’t decreased in recent years, but funding has.

Right now, the facility receives public funds from the village of Norwood ($7,750) and the town of Potsdam ($15,450), and a small amount from St. Lawrence County. These sources, however, don’t add up to enough to keep operating, McFaddin said.

For close to 18 years, its primary source of funding was interest from stock purchased with an endowment left to the library by Marge Bowhall--a $100,000 life insurance policy.

But as is the case with many investments these days, McFaddin said the failing stock market has hurt theirs, forcing them to sell most of the stocks to keep the library going.

“We’re down to two stocks, and it’s not enough to keep the library going,” she said. If the district fails to gain approval, the library board estimates they have less than a year’s worth left in funding before they’re forced to close the doors and try to find a buyer for the building.

On Nov. 15, a week after the general election, voters will get to decide whether to create a special district with a proposed operating budget of $85,000, including $47,500 for personnel, $13,500 for building costs, $12,000 for materials, $5,000 for technology and $7,000 for miscellaneous and reserve funds.

The average cost to the taxpayer is $6 per month for a property assessment of $80,000.

And unlike other budgets, the library board cannot increase it annually at will.

McFaddin explained that, if at some point, the board wants an increase, they would have to again put the amount before the voters.

“It can’t go up unless the voters vote for it,” she said.

With the $85,000 budget, McFaddin said two part-time library staffers who were laid off will be rehired and library hours will be increased. Right now, the staff consists of one library director and library hours have been cut back to three days a week (the minimum required by law).

Programs will be brought back and more books will be purchased, too, McFaddin said. There’s also a possibility the board will apply for a matching construction grant to add on more storage space.

At the same election, voters will be electing a slate of nine library board trustees for the first time.

Currently, the board of trustees of the library is self-perpetuating. Individuals express their interest in volunteering their time as a trustee and the current board appoints them when openings occur. But now they will serve at the will of the public.

The nine running for office are Denise diVincenzo, MaryLou Cutler, Sue Perry, Phyllis McFaddin, Julia Colbert, Art Palmer, Leonard Halpern, Michelle Rowley and Joanne Wellings.

McFaddin said library supporters will be making calls to get the word out and answer questions voters may have. They’ll provide rides to those who need them. Call the library at 353-6692, McFaddin at 353-2834 or diVincenzo at 244-2886.