In March, public libraries were once again requested to provide Granite State Libraries with brief descriptions of successful library initiatives or notable budget increases approved at Town Meeting. This year's response rate was quite good and a number of libraries seem to have done well. It appears that Board of Trustees were well prepared and able to convince townspeople and Boards of Selectmen of the need for increased funding if public libraries are to fill their critical role as important information providers.

Bradford - $40,000 was added to the capital reserve fund of the Brown Memorial Library, bringing the fund total to $110,000. The Library's budget includes a 3% salary increase.

Brookline - A warrant article was approved to appropriate $5,000 for technology enhancement. This amount will be added to over $1,000 that has been raised by the Friends of the Library. The library also won approval to be open an additional 5 hours, bringing the total number of hours open per week to 30.

Candia - Voters approved a $50,000 capital reserve fund to be used toward construction of a 3,000 square foot addition to the Smyth Public Library. Ground breaking is scheduled for the spring of 1998.

Chesterfield - Voters approved a bond issue to build a new library. Of the total funds required, $190,700 is to come from fundraising, $128,225 will be from capital reserves, and $54,000 will be raised by taxes this year. Construction will begin as soon as possible.

Claremont - The Fiske Free Library's operating budget was increased by over 10% - from $241,456 to $265,855. Staff salaries were increased by 9%; $4,000 was added to the book budget; a new line item, electronic information, was added in the amount of $4,000; and $20,000 was added to the capital reserve fund for phase three of the library's computer project.

Danville - $50,000 was added to the Colby Memorial Library Capital Reserve Fund to be used for a future addition to the library.

East Lempster - Voters approved to increase the Miner Memorial Library's budget from $6,000 to $7,685.

Goshen - The library budget for the Olive G. Pettis Library was increased by almost 9%. Hampton - Voters approved a warrant article appropriating $45,487 for a reference/Internet librarian's position at the Lane Memorial Library. Also voted was $10,000 for computer upgrades.

Hillsboro - For the third year of a four year project, voters approved the addition of $3,100 to the capital reserve fund to automate the Fuller Public Library. The library received a 5% increase in the salary account. In addition, $10,500 was approved as partial support for Project LIFT, a library literacy program for adults. The Fuller Public Library also had articles to help support Project LIFT on the following town warrants; Antrim ($2,500), Bennington ($450), Deering ($350), Washington ($175), Francestown ($100), Greenfield ($100), and Temple ($100). The amount requested from each town was prorated according to the number of students receiving services from Project LIFT. All the articles were approved.

Hooksett - Voters approved zoning change to allow New Hampshire College to give the town a 25,000 square foot building (formerly Mount St. Mary's Library) for a new library. Renovations will begin this summer.

Hopkinton - Voters approved a 1.6 million dollar new library with 79% of the vote. Of the total amount, $850,000 will be bonded; $190,000 will be raised privately; $280,000 will come from the capital reserve fund; and $180,000 will be from a bequest.

Lancaster - The town passed a $650,000 bond issue for the William D. Weeks Memorial Library Second Century Campaign. This amount, plus $200,000 already raised, will allow the library to break ground later this year on its $1.2 million renovation and expansion project.

Lincoln - The town voted to establish the Library Technology Capital Reserve account which was funded in the amount of $21,718.

Mont Vernon - Voters approved a warrant article appropriating $125,000 for the purchase of land of which a portion may be the site for expansion of the Daland Memorial Library. Also voted was the addition of $10,000 to existing libraries capital reserve fund.

Moultonborough - The Moulton-borugh Public Library budget increased by almost 18% - from $77,866 to $91,880. As a result the number of hours that the library is open will go from 25 to 29.

Newton - The Gale Library budget was increased by $3,958; $3,052 was approved for public Internet access, and $35,000 was set aside for future library expansion.

Northfield/Tilton - In separate warrant articles, the Hall Memorial Library received $50,000 from Tilton and an equal amount from Northfield. The money will be used for library renovations and an addition which will include handicapped accessibility.

Ossipee - The town voted to establish a capital reserve fund in the amount of $1,000 for the purpose of automating the library.

Plainfield - In spite of strong opposition by the Board of Selectmen, the voters approved a $25,000 capital reserve fund for expansion, renovation, or possible replacement of the Philip Read Memorial Library.

Plymouth - Voters approved $10,000 in capital reserve funds for library automation. Combined with the funds appropriated in 1996, the fund now totals $20,000. The library's budget went from $93,172 to $102,965 - a 10.5% increase.

Rye - Voters approved a $700,000 bond issue for expansion and renovation of the Rye Public Library. The project could be completed this time next year.

Thornton - A warrant article for $6,200 was approved to equip the Thornton Public Library with an automated cataloging and circulation system.

Troy - Voters approved a $50,000 capital reserve fund for the future renovation and expansion of the Gay-Kimball Library.

Windham - The Nesmith Library budget was increased by $60,000 to cover the operating costs of the new library building.