Libraries are an important resource for any community.

But the pandemic has put additional strains on the service, including additional expenses without additional financial resources.

Last week, a number of library directors approached the Carbon County commissioners to request additional funding from the county.

Kara Edmonds, director of Dimmick Memorial Library in Jim Thorpe, told the board that now that libraries are reopening to the public, they are seeing more people coming to use services, but are struggling financially to keep up with the extra demand for supplies to keep patrons and staff safe.

Carbon County currently gives the six libraries $1,200 each annually, but the directors are asking if that figure could increase to meet the growing needs for the services libraries provide.

Marlene Basiago of the Panther Valley Public Library in Lansford said that times are tougher than normal since the pandemic has caused the cancellation of the library’s major fundraisers. The Panther Valley Public Library does not receive state funding like its counterparts.

“We’ve lost a lot of our funding basically through donations because of the pandemic, we haven’t been able to have our fundraisers, so the amount of money we have right now is very limited,” Basiago said.

Christine DeSousa, director of the Palmerton Area Library, said that libraries are the place where people come when they need computer access, help with school and more.

“We would love to facilitate our communities in that aspect even more and with extra funding that would be possible,” DeSousa said.

The commissioners agreed with the directors’ thoughts on the importance of libraries in the community and asked if the directors could submit their request in writing so when the 2021 budget is being crafted, the commissioners could take the increase into consideration.

“We can’t lose our libraries,” Commissioner Rocky Ahner said, noting he has used the microfilm services to research history before.

“It’s helping the people now and it’s preserving our history, so I think whatever we can do, I think we should.”