Dear Lynn, In answer to your question, we have a pretty small conservative shul (about 100 families) in a pretty small midwestern town. When I got here about 7 years ago, the library, which had been professionally run at different times, was then staffed by a volunteer "who liked libraries". It was a mess with no budget whatsoever. I made a case to the board for a small salary ($12/hour, 6-8 hours/week), money for ResourceMate to automate and a book budget of $1000/year. (Also included were expenses for periodicals, professional dues, & general supplies, adding up to about $500 -- much of which is not always used). I also put out calls for donations of all types -- furniture, computers, books, etc. and established an annual used book sale, that nets between $100-200. We were lucky in that there was a library fund established years ago for much of this, that had rarely been touched. Well, over the years, I've had to fight for many aspects of the budget. My salary was moved to the general budget (a huge victory, since the fund was being depleted largely by my salary) and the book budget was nearly wiped out several times, but as of now is at $800/year. I'm also lucky that I've had a relatively strong, passionate library committee on my side. I don't know what other battles I'll have to fight, but for now, as long as the religious school and parents find the library relevant, I'm ok. I also try to keep the library front and center with annual programs (funded through grants), even if, as some have mentioned, we are tucked away in the back of the shul. As for my salary, sure I'd love to be paid more, but I'm realistic. We're a small shul with the usual lack of interest. Frankly, with 3 kids, I'm happy for the enormous flexibility my job affords me, so I find it a decent tradeoff.
Rachel Haus Library Director Congregation of Moses Library Kalamazoo MI rhaus_...@yahoo.com >________________________________ > From: Lynn <ls...@satx.rr.com> >To: hasafran@lists.service.ohio-state.edu >Sent: Friday, February 8, 2013 10:59 AM >Subject: [ha-Safran] Library Budget Question > > >I would like to know what the average yearly library budget is for synagogue >libraries for congregations of approx. 500 families. > >Thanks, > >Lynn Waghalter >__ >Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author >and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) >================================== >Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: >Hasafran@lists.service.ohio-state.edu >To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: >https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran >Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu >Ha-Safran Archives: >Current: >http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html >Earlier Listserver: >http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html >AJL HomePage http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ >-- >Hasafran mailing list >Hasafran@lists.service.ohio-state.edu >https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > >
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran@lists.service.ohio-state.edu To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list Hasafran@lists.service.ohio-state.edu https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
