With a budget that falls $10,000 short, the Coplay Public Library Board members agree every penny counts – at least in theory.

In actual practice, however, which pennies count turned out to be a topic for debate at the Oct. 10 meeting.

"We've got a lot of work to do because we've got to find a way to bring in more revenue. That's it, plain and simple," said library board President Janet Eisenhauer.

"Everybody has to be vigilant in what we're doing," said board member Charles Sodl. "You're not going to pick up $10,000 in one swoop."

"I'd like to reintroduce snacks into the library," said board member Joan Witco during the last 15 minutes of the approximately 90-minute meeting.

"Funny you should bring that up," said Eisenhauer, after a brief moment of silence from the board.

Earlier in the meeting, she had reported the finance committee is working on a budget for 2014.

"When we were talking about the budget ... one of the things we brought up is that we do need to develop ideas for ... bringing in more revenue," she said. "This committee would be responsible for coming up with a list of fundraising ideas for 2014, sort of like a marketing plan."

Board member Jane Gillespie said the operations committee, of which she is a part, decided to discontinue selling food, although the library earned a $370 profit from snack sales last year.

"The main reason was Whitehall [library] does not sell food or drinks and neither does Northampton," Gillespie said.

Both Whitehall Township Public Library Director Patty Vahey and Northampton Area Public Library Director Melissa Hawk confirmed they do not currently sell food.

Whitehall does not permit food inside the library but may sell snacks in the future. Patrons would be permitted to eat outside on benches, said Vahey.

Northampton currently sells Gertrude Hawk candy bars in conjunction with its library friends group and is considering a coffee/snack bar for the future, Hawk said.

For Gillespie, however, money is the issue. She said the Coplay library has thrown out expired snacks, including 12 packs of cookies, 17 packs of popcorn and 10 drink pouches. Other items tossed include soda, fruit snacks, crackers and coffee.

"We're buying stuff and it doesn't sell. We're throwing it away," Gillespie said.

Asking to address the issue, Interim Director Maryrose Farquhar said the library makes a profit as soon as it earns back the money spent. For example, if a 12-pack of soda costs the library $2, the expenditure is recouped by the sale of only two sodas at $1 each.

"After you've sold your third one, you've already made a profit," said Farquhar. "Like you said ... 'Every penny counts.' We were pretty proud of that $370 because when you're talking about dollar snacks, that's a lot of snacks."

Board member Karen Shields asked the cost to replace books destroyed by patrons with snacks.

"I don't know of any books that were destroyed by snacks," said Co-director Sharon Dougherty. "I've seen books destroyed, brought back by people who probably spilled coffee all over them."

Farquhar said patrons reacted positively to the availability of snacks and have asked why the library no longer offers them.

"We've had people come sit on the computer and spend $4 or $5 a day just buying snacks," Farquhar said.

Gillespie said some of the profit from snack sales came from coffee and water, which the library will continue to offer. This leaves a $200 profit from food, which amounts to just a few dollars a month.

"But, $200 a year, you could pay one of these bills," said Witco, pointing to the latest library financial report.

Gillespie asked the board to consider a scenario where the library buys 20 bags of chips to sell for $1 apiece.

"We sell 15, but we have to throw five away. That's $5 we lost. I don't think we made $10. That's still $5 that we lost," Gillespie said.

Witco said food banks are now taking expired food because an expired date doesn't necessarily mean the food is not safe for consumption.

"We stopped selling Giant gift cards," Gillespie said. "Our profit was over $1,300. Why did we stop that? We're arguing over $200. Why don't we start doing the gift cards again?"

"This group's going to look at that," said Eisenhauer.

"We figured out what we made on Giant gift cards," said Farquhar, "and it's actually not even close to [$1,300]." The reason is state law requires libraries to spend 12 percent of their budgets on materials, such as books and DVDs, she said.

Dougherty said she purchased the Giant gift cards every week but many patrons and community members did not.

"In the interests of time, this is why we want a committee," said Sodl. "This is what a committee would do – brainstorm this stuff out, bring it back and then the board can decide what can go in and what can't go in."

Sodl said he is not sure time employees spend selling snacks is worthwhile because it takes away from other tasks.

"Now if we can make income with that, good income, then we'll look at it," he said.

Before the meeting adjourned, resident Keri Kromer asked to weigh in.

She said she is a mother and enjoys living in Coplay because her kids can walk to the library and playgrounds. Having snacks available at the library enhances the community.

"No, it's not a big profit but it makes my kids want to stay there a little bit longer," Kromer said.

She acknowledged it's important to look at numbers and be responsible.

However, she said, "It can't just be numbers. That's what's going to draw families in."

"And it has been," said Witco. "It's been drawing the kids in."