General Info

The Library continues to nurture and sustain a love of reading, learning, discovery, and culture. In addition to offering a myriad of reading resources, we offer a variety of programs at Main Library and the five branch sites. In 2009, 1, 814 Van Wert County children participated in a wide range of Summer Reading activities. Infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and schoolage children enrolled in our 94th annual program, read over 73, 000 books during an eight week period in June and July. Based on the theme, Be Creative at Your Library, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Fort Wayne Ballet, the Mossburg Strings, Kim Hohman's DanceWorks, and the Mad Cap Puppet Theatre, plus numerous other groups and individuals, presented an impressive array of programs and events. To reward the children for their reading accomplishments, a carnival served as a culminating event. We were extremely blessed that over forty area businesses and countless other donors helped to underwrite the costs of this program. The Young Adult, Adult, and Homebound Summer Reading Programs established a new record too with over 5, 000 participants collectively. Throughout the course of the past twelve months, the Reference Department has answered over 13, 800 questions. Although the majority of these were either in-house or telephone inquiries, we received a growing number of requests for information via e-mail and regular mail. Homework assistance for elementary and middle school students, along with research help for high school and college students, kept our librarians very busy! Technologically speaking, upgrades to the Internet workstations in the Adult and Children's Departments (as well as the branches ) occurred in 2009. These upgrades included enhancements to the wireless system at Main Library too. Ongoing maintenance at the Main Library and the branch sites included the replacement of a small roof, repairs to the HVAC system, various painting projects, and other projects too numerous to mention. While our circulation, programming and outreach efforts have grown greatly, funding has not. Since 2002, the Brumback Library, like each of Ohio's public libraries, has experienced declining income. In 2009 alone, a 20% cut to the Public Library Fund, otherwise known as the PLF, occurred. The Brumback Library lost over $180, 000 in funding. From 2008 through 2010, nearly $385, 000 will have been lost in overall funding to the Brumback Library. In June of 2009, Governor Ted Strickland proposed a 50% cut in public library funding to balance the state budget. Such a move would have been catastrophic! Thousands upon thousands of Ohio residents, many from Van Wert County, contacted the Governor, as well as their local Senators and Representatives, to protest. Thankfully, because of this unprecedented response, the Governor's plan was rejected. To make ends meet, the Brumback Library made cuts in staffing and purchasing. The staff received a 10% cut in salary, the Director voluntarily cut his salary 10% as well. (This was Mr. Carr's fourth cut in salary from 2002 to 2009. ) Hours of service were marginally trimmed at Main Library and the branches. Through the generosity and kindness of many individuals and area organizations, the Brumback Library received numerous monetary and material donations, particularly over the past six months. The Board of Trustees, Director, Staff, and Volunteers are extremely appreciative and thankful for this assistance which has been so generously provided. Your help and support is truly a blessing! Looking ahead to 2010, the Library will continue to be good stewards of the funding resources which are entrusted to our care. Having struggled financially for over seven years, we are most grateful to those who approved the Library levy in 2005. With these additional funds, the Library has been able to maintain it facilities and services to the public. Collectively, we diligently work to ensure that the Brumback Library remains a vital place of l