Jan Lawrence

ZELIENOPLE — With help from recent donations, the borough public library is seeing a more financially stable 2016.

The library’s updated financial reports say the 2016 budget has been adjusted to $200,000, a $10,000 increase from January. Total income to date is at about $102,000.

“We’re holding our own,” library director Jan Lawrence said. “Once we got state aid in, it really helped make our bottom line look a lot better.”

The library received $35,520 this year from the state, the same as in past years.

Library board member Gregg Semel said the library is “not out of the woods yet.”

“We still have some ground to cover as we look ahead to 2017 and completing 2016 in terms of generating enough revenue so we can go back to full strength and full hours all year long,” Semel said. “We think we can provide better service to the community with expanded funding.”

The library faces a “slight” financial deficit, officials said.

Adjusted expenses for the year are set at $201,650, a $1,650 deficit. To date, $78,600 has been used for expenses.

Lawrence said part of the reason for the deficit is because the rental property next to the library suffered water damage from burst pipes.

The library board voted to tear down the building, which cost $11,000.

Last year, the library faced the consequences of decreased contributions and state aid that hasn’t increased.

The result was a cut in operating hours, part-time employees’ hours and Lawrence’s voluntary layoff. Lawrence was reinstated to her director position in March.

However with a $7,000 donation in January by local resident Randall Hart and about $2,500 so far from the Smiles for Life campaign out of dentist Mark Marion’s office, the library’s financial woes have been kept at bay.

Since then, more contributions have come in, including a gold coin from an anonymous donor.

Lawrence said the coin, a South African Krugerrand, will be auctioned in May. She also said this is the second time in five years the library has received a gold coin.

The library will host events this year to help with funding.

These include a wine walk in July in Harmony, a “Book the Night” event in September and a music festival and beer tasting event in October.

A comedy night was held in February that raised about $7,500 for the library.

The library also received an $18,000 state grant for new lighting.

“It has helped tremendously,” Lawrence said of the contributions and fund-raisers.

Semel said, “The individuals that have made contributions and the various entities in the community that continue to support the library have really helped us improve our situation.”