UPPER NAZARETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WLVT) - A general rule at the library is to keep it down, but few are staying quiet about what could happen in Nazareth.
Upper Nazareth Township faces a deficit of more than $135,000, and supervisors are trying to cut costs.
"We're responsible for a lot of things within the township above and beyond the library," noted Supervisor Donna Hirst.
Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity serves Upper and Lower Nazareth townships, Bushkill Township and Nazareth Borough, where the library is located.
The library has asked Upper Nazareth Township for $98,000 for 2020, but the township is considering chopping that in half.
"We're being as fair as we can possibly be with everyone by giving the library $50,000," Hirst said at a board of supervisors meeting Wednesday night. "I know that you have a formula, and I'm sorry."
Though the township has had two public budget meetings already, several residents claim they only heard about the cuts recently. More than 100 residents and supporters of the library spent more than an hour urging supervisors to reconsider.
"It's part of what makes Nazareth, Nazareth," said resident Amy Rai, "[it's] the part of what makes me proud to be here in Nazareth."
Upper Nazareth Township residents borrow more than 1,500 materials every month from the library. Director Holly Bennett said the budget cuts won't just affect those residents.
"We'll have to look at staffing and think about creative ways to use less staff for the same amount of work," she said. "We'll have to look at our programming and our services."
One of those programs is "Shake and Boogie," offered weekly at the library for free. Parents, grandparents and nannies bring children to the program for half an hour of music, exercise and socialization.
"I think it's important for him to be able to experience this as much as he does," said Bushkill Township mom Cayleah Bach while holding her son in her arms, "and I enjoy coming, too."
"The schools can't accommodate the little guys, and this is just introducing them to a lifetime of learning and being comfortable with a library," said grandmother Chris Simpson of Nazareth Borough.
"I've often said that the Nazareth library is the living room of our community," Bennett said. "We open our doors not just to circulate books or materials, but it's a place of camaraderie where all ages come together."
This week, Bennett said the library found out it was awarded a Gold Star by the Pennsylvania Library Association.
Township supervisor Scott Sylvanius said the library has been frugal with its budget, and the township should work harder to fully fund it.
"If you cut it to this, that's half the funding," he explained. "That means the library is going to close. That's what will happen. It will end up to close. You can't do that. It's morally and socially irresponsible to do something like that."
Others on the board like Hirst said the library's finances are in stronger shape than the township's.
"It seems a little peculiar for us to go further in the hole for you to go further into savings," she said, directing her comments to those opposed to the proposed budget cuts.
The library’s auditor, Chris Crook, told Hirst that the income pays off end-of-the-year bills and the savings are used to lower what each township contributes to its budget.
Township manager Lisa Klem said Upper Nazareth is considering raising property taxes, looking into grants and holding off on other purchases. However, the township still hasn't promised to fully fund the library's 2020 request at this point.
"Our biggest concern is that if Upper Nazareth makes this decision and actually follows through with this budget cut, it's going to set an example for the other municipalities," Bennett said, "and that's going to sincerely jeopardize the future and the sustainability of this library."
Township supervisors will meet again on December 4. They’re scheduled to vote on the budget on December 18.