Pocono News Section

Voters Will Decide on New Pocono Mountain Libarary

Voters Will Decide on New Pocono Mountain Libarary - Monday, April 21, 2008 at 2:44PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Apr 21, 2008 @ 02:44pm EST
COOLBAUGH TWP., MONROE COUNTY- Voters won't only decide on candidates during Tuesday’s Primary Election. In Coolbaugh Township and Mount Pocono they will decide whether or not to pay for a new library.

The Pocono Mountain Public Library is a lot like one of its most popular children's books - The Little Engine That Could. The book is loved - but worn -- just like the building that holds it.

For years Ann Shincovich has tried and tried to find a way to build a new library - but so far no one has paid the $6-million dollar fee. "We really thought it would be best for us to see if we could get public support first - it's very hard to go out in the community and fundraiser for six million dollars," said Shincovich.

Ann told us the books desperately need a new home. This place is crowded and cramped. The air conditioning barely works and there's hardly room to turn around.

It's especially hard to move ahead because about a third of the library's books are in storage - packed together so tight - you can barely squeeze between the shelves.

The little engine thought it could chug up an impossible hill - and Ann thinks the library can chug into a new home -- with voter's help.

Tuesday voters in Coolbaugh Township and Mount Pocono will decide whether or not to pay for a new library. Ann asks anyone who loves the place - to vote yes. "We just keep going and going and trying to do the best we can with what we have," she said.

And Ann hopes that just like the little engine, the library can get over the hill, with the help of good friends.

If approved -- the library tax would costs voters roughly $20 a year for the next 20 years. Some people say that's just too much to support a facility that they never use.