Vote Info


Information about the May 18 Library Vote

Library Budget Vote - Tuesday, May 18 from Noon to 9 PM at the Pavilion High School

The Library's Vote is a Separate Proposition From the School District's Regular Budget Vote.

Meeting Dates were held at the Hollwedel Memorial Library

The Board of Trustees of the Hollwedel Memorial Library hosted two in-person informational meeting dates for residents on Saturday, April 24 and Monday, April 26. These meetings were opportunities for residents to ask questions about the library's May 18, 2021 vote. We thank the residents who attended!


DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION TO LEARN MORE!


Want to know more? Please read the press release at the bottom of this page and download the Informational Flyer or the PowerPoint Presentation about the vote.


Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for residents to learn more about the vote for the Hollwedel Memorial Library to become  a school district public library.


FAQs


Is the school district going to run the library?

 

No.  As a school district public library, the library would have a service area that aligns with the boundaries of the Pavilion Central School District. The library’s budget and the board of trustees would be determined by a public vote. The library itself would remain housed in the same building and be staffed by the same professionals. The school district would collect tax money for the library and turn the funds over to the Library Board. The school district would have no direct control over the operations of the library.


Why is the term "school district public library" used? 

 

It is called this because the library would have a service area that aligns with the boundaries of the Pavilion Central School District. Currently the library’s service area is the Town of Pavilion.


Why does the library want to do this?


The change to become a school district public library is being considered in order to provide enhanced library services to all residents of the area, to comply with the New York State Board of Regents policy, and to provide a secure and sustainable source of operating income for the library. 


With this type of community-based funding, the  library would be able to continue to provide opportunities for life-long learning and access to the latest technologies laid out in the Strategic Plan. It would also make it possible to keep the library open for more days and times than our current funding allows.

Questions?

Contact us at hollwedellibrary@gmail.com


Watch Our Informational Video

This online Informational Presentation is hosted by the Hollwedel Memorial Library Board President Joan Gray and Board Vice President Stephen Gould.


The video explains the decision by the Board of the Hollwedel Memorial Library to ask Pavilion School District residents to vote to change the library from a Municipal Library (currently) to a School District Public Library.


The Board is also hosting two meeting dates at the library in April for residents with questions to come and talk with Board Members. They are Saturday, April 24 from 10 AM to 12 Noon and on Monday, April 26 from 6 PM to 8 PM. These individual meetings will take place at the library at 5 Woodrow Drive in Pavilion.


Please wear a mask. We will be observing all the safety protocols for the Covid-19 Pandemic at these sessions. There may be some waiting time in between visits by residents with questions.


Press Release

March 22, 2021 - Designation as a School District Public Library Considered


The Board of Trustees of the Hollwedel Memorial Library has formally requested that the Pavilion Central School District hold a vote on creating a school district public library that would take place in May of 2021. 


In a letter sent to the Board of Education, the Trustees expressed their desire to comply with the New York State Board of Regents policy urging libraries to shift tax support from general appropriations from municipalities to a direct public vote. Currently the Hollwedel Memorial Library receives operating funds from the Town of Pavilion, and to a lesser degree from Genesee County, the Towns of Bethany and Covington, donations and fundraising events.


As a school district public library, the library would have a service area that aligns with the boundaries of the Pavilion Central School District. The library’s budget and the board of trustees would be determined by a public vote. The library itself would remain housed in the same building and be staffed by the same professionals. The school district would collect tax money for the library and turn the funds over to the Library Board. The school district would have no direct control over the operations of the library.


The change to become a school district public library is being considered in order to provide enhanced library services to all residents of the area, to comply with the New York State Board of Regents policy, and to provide a secure and sustainable source of operating income for the library. 


The Hollwedel Memorial Library has seen a steady growth in the number of borrowers and use of services by local residents, while experiencing flat and/or reduced funding revenue over the past several years. In addition, the mandatory New York State Minimum Wage Laws have had a significant impact on the library’s budget.


The Board of Trustees of  the Hollwedel Memorial Library will communicate the details of the library budget vote to all residents of the Pavilion Central School District before the vote.  Communication plans include an informational mailing to district residents, an online presentation, small one-on-one sessions to be held at the library, newspaper articles and legal notices in print, as well as information posted on the library’s website at www.HollwedelMemorialLibrary.org.


“This is the beginning of a process. The Hollwedel Memorial Library Board of Trustees is working to share information. It is important to us that school district residents are well informed about the future of the library,” says Board President Joan Gray. 


“We know that many local residents use our Wi-Fi, computers, materials and services. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, more people are relying on the library for internet usage, materials, services, and programs. With this type of community-based funding, our library would be able to continue to provide opportunities for life-long learning and access to the latest technologies that we have laid out in our Strategic Plan. It would also make it possible for us to keep the library open for more days and times than our current funding allows.” 


“While much more information about this process will be announced soon, we invite residents to visit our website or the library to read our Strategic Plan,” says Gray, “In addition, residents with questions can contact me directly at 585-506-5642.” 

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