After at least an hour's debate, the Coplay Public Library Board voted unanimously not to ask the Whitehall-Coplay School Board for any funding.

In 2011, the school board passed a resolution declaring its intention to cease funding the two libraries located within the district. In response to an undated handwritten memo from Coplay Borough Council, the school board allocated $48,000 as "one-time, wind-down funding" for the 2012-13 school year.

The board had $24,000 earmarked for the Coplay library in its preliminary budget but removed the amount before passing the final budget at a special meeting June 24. The budget includes nothing for the Coplay library.

At the library board's June 13 meeting, Secretary Jane Gillespie said she wanted to hear opinions on whether to attend the June 24 school board meeting and request money.

"I personally think it would be nice to go and ask for something," said bookkeeper Teri Halderman. "I wouldn't hesitate to show them the financial [reports] I created."

Voters May 21 passed a referendum agreeing to a dedicated tax of 0.38 mills to fund the library. That money will not be available to the library until 2014. The school district already made its final payment for the 2012-13 school year, leaving the library with a shortfall for the second half of 2013.

To get even a little extra "would be a beautiful thing," Halderman said.

Board member Faye Schreiner disagreed.

"My opinion is no. I think council should handle it," she said.

Her husband, former school board member John Schreiner, "has friends on the board and they are fed up. They are tired of hearing about Coplay," she said.

"I don't think we should go to the board at this time and ask for more money," said board member Neil Mumma. "I think we should be very cautious about asking for money, period."

Because the referendum just passed, Mumma said, he believes people won't want to see the library asking for additional funds.

"I agree," said board member Janet Eisenhauer. "They're going to say, 'Why didn't you put the taxes higher?'"

Eisenhauer suggested finding out if the school district would be willing to provide some kind of nonmonetary support, such as a donation of tables, bookshelves or services.

The school district owns the building in which the Whitehall Township Public Library is located and, as a result, assists the Whitehall library with building maintenance expenses.

The Coplay board would need to brainstorm ideas for what to request and would not be ready in time, said Eisenhauer.

Co-director Maryrose Farquhar pointed out that the approximately $12,000 the library receives in state aid is based on the local contribution, which refers to means money raised by the referendum and funding received from the borough or school district.

"More money will have to come in to bring us to our local financial level," she said. "A big chunk of money like that is hard to replace. [Going to the school board] is not the worst idea."

She said Allentown and Parkland school districts give money to their libraries even though both have a library tax in place.

"There's a lot of precedent for that and I don't think any of those school districts are any more able than Whitehall," she said.

"I'm torn to some degree," said Co-director Sharon Dougherty. "Honestly I think you could almost flip a coin."

She said she believes a presentation to the entire school board might have been more effective than addressing only the school board's finance committee. But it's too late now.

Gillespie said she does not want to go to the school district.

Last year, the library board believed it would get nothing from the school district and received $48,000, she said.

"I still feel that somehow or another, we're going to get something," Gillespie said.

"They know how important our library is. I can't see them turning their backs on us," she said, adding, "There's a fine line between being persistent and being annoying."

Gillespie then addressed Farquhar.

"We all said, 'no,' and I'm sorry that's not what you wanted," she said.

Board President Michele Gruber then chastised Farquhar for not attending a dinner in May celebrating the passing of the referendum.

The problem, Gruber said, was that Farquhar had attended a school board meeting earlier that evening.

Farquhar acknoledged she attended the school board meeting. Then she was notified of a family issue and emailed the board members to say she would not be able to attend the dinner.

"You have to look how that's coming across," said Gruber.

"We don't need to go after council," added Gillespie.

"I never did," said Farquhar.

"Did I say your name?" Gillespie asked.

"It comes across that way." Farquhar said. "I need to defend myself and I will always do so.

"I need to give my side."