Think of your library around budget time

Library Corner

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September 6, 2012

Think of your library around budget time

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Thu Sep 06, 2012, 09:45 AM EDT

Cities, towns, and libraries all over the state are starting to work on their budgets for 2013. It's a very lengthy process that requires multiple steps and meetings, and a public hearing before adopting the budget.

Funding comes from many sources and many of our expenditures require advance projections. There are many figures to look at which include those from previous years, as well as obtaining estimates for next year. Now with the 2 percent property tax cap, there are even more procedures and online forms to complete for the state comptroller's office before you can even think about adopting your budget.

Last week, I told you that Huntington Memorial Library is chartered to serve the city of Oneonta and that we are seeking additional funds from the town. We're asking town residents for help. We have a display which shows usage statistics by city and town residents, along with a sample letter that town residents can pick up and send to the Town Board requesting increased support. We also have petitions for both city and town residents to sign which will be presented to the Town Board at its Tuesday meeting. If you value the library and all it has to offer to all ages, please pick up a letter and mail it, and/or sign our petition.

You can also attend the meeting that night at 7:30 to show your support for the library.

Mysteries

Settle back with one of many new mysteries now available at the library.

Three elderly men are having coffee at a local diner when they are gunned down in "A Killing in the Hills" by Julia Keller. There were a lot of witnesses, but not a single one of them got a good look at the shooter. How could that be? Bell Elkins, the prosecuting attorney, is helped by her daughter Carla to solve this strange tale which takes place in West Virginia.

Odelia Grey's job is in jeopardy now that the law firm she works for has merged with another. She's convinced that her new boss Erica has it in for her in "Hide & Snoop" by Sue Ann Jaffarian. When Erica assigns her babysitting duty for her niece and takes off for the weekend, it's the last straw.

Odelia goes to her boss's house for a confrontation, only to discover Erica's sister murdered. She has to prove her innocence and solve the crime in this popular series.

Casey Maldonado is returning to her hometown to get her brother out of jail.

He was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Alicia. Casey believes he's innocent, and discovers that Alicia was not who she claimed to be. "Dying Echo" by Judy Clemens, finds Alicia sorting through truth and lies to uncover this puzzle of death.

Cork O'Connor is in the Minnesota wilderness for "Trickster's Point" by William Krueger. He is sitting with Jubal Little who is the favored candidate for governor and an American Indian.

But, he has an arrow in his heart and is dying. He and Cork are longtime friends and have always gone bow hunting together. The arrow turns out to be one of Cork's and he becomes the primary suspect.

Cork knows he has been set up and has to clear his name and track the real killer. This one will have you on the edge of your chair.

Children's Books

Thousands of people have climbed Mt. Everest, with Pete Athans having succeeded seven times. Read about his adventures in "Tale from the Top of the World" by Sandra Athans. Learn about the dangers, the excitement, snowstorms and avalanches, and see all the photographs showing all the different view of the mountain.

"Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook" helps young cooks as they learn how to cook. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack recipes offer a large variety of recipes for children to try.

Marie Bruni is director of Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta. Her column appears in the community section of The Daily Star every Thursday. Her columns can be found online at www.thedailystar.com/librarycorner.