With school board budget top of mind, there’s also another important vote coming up Wednesday. It’s that time of year to say yea or nea on the Sloatsburg Public Library budget.

The proposed library budget would increase $8,500 over the current budget. Overall the library is proposing to spend $389,500 — a 1.8% dip from last year. Serving as the de facto heart of the Sloatsburg community, the library serves as a significant benefit to the community by providing extensive children and adult programming.

The library is also working on additional investment in its audio and visual catalogs, as well as upgrading the interior and its digital offerings to the community.

“We’ve spent the last year and a half finding more cost-effective ways to purchase materials, more cost-effective vendors, we’ve had an energy audit done,” said Mary Blake, on how the library has managed to reduce its proposed budget this year. Blake, who directs the Sloatsburg Public Library, also said that the library has made an overall effort to reduce costs.

Blake said libraries in general have always been flexible and attempted to make changes according to patron needs. Currently, audio and visual items are high on the list of patron interest. Blake said that in terms of the library’s interior, the focus will be on upgrading the main common space where the magazines are kept as well as adding more audio/visual shelving.

And, of course, the digital footprint will increase.

“We want to get more into the digital age,” said Blake. “A big thing that most of the Rockland libraries do is loan out different types of tablets with books already loaded. We have to get the policy in place in order to loan them out.”

As a municipal property, the maintenance of the building the library occupies is delegated to the village. The library, and residents’ tax dollars, go for interior upkeep and programming.

The Friends of the Sloatsburg Library, an all-volunteer support group, also put shoulder to wheel this past year, contributing approximately $1,400 to help with library programming and services.

The Sloatsburg Library is governed by a board of trustees that serve five year terms. The library board generally meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. For those civic minded out in Sloatsburg, there are currently several open board seats. Call the village hall and talk to Jane Thompson, president of the library board of trustees, or ask the mayor or your nearest village trustee.

The Sloatsburg Library Budget votes takes place Wednesday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the library. Residents of the Ramapo Central School District who are registered to vote in any general election are eligible to vote on the budget. For additional information, call the library at 845-753-2001.