On July 1, a new era began at the Kennebunk Free Library: One in which Arundel residents, for the first time in a decade, were charged fees to become members.

The new fees have their genesis in Arundel’s Town Meeting on June 13, where townsfolk elected not to provide the library with funding of $5,100, half of the $10,200 that had been approved the previous year.

Many citizens of Arundel have since come out in protest of the majority decision to deny funding, claiming that only a small percentage of residents were able to show up and vote, thereby skewing the results. Resident Dan Keller was outspoken during a public forum at a June 25 board of selectmen meeting, saying he was “irate” over the results, and claiming it wasn’t truly representative of the wishes of the town. Another resident, Pamela Wuerthner, volunteered to initiate fundraising efforts if there was no other recourse over the next fiscal year.

While the issue of library funding remains a controversy in Arundel, Jill LeMay, director of the KFL, must simply focus on running a library.

Which isn’t to say she’s been deaf to library patrons’ concerns.

“There have been many comments on the fees,” said LeMay. “People are not happy with the townsfolk for shooting down the library funding.”

Now, residents from Arundel are asked to pay a $35 annual fee to make use of the libraries amenities, which include guest speakers, educational programs for children and family events, in addition to the many books and other items available for borrowing. That fee is the same one charged to any out-of-town resident wishing to become a patron of the library.

Velma Jones Hayes, chairwoman of Arundel’s board of selectmen, pointed out that a fee would have been charged to Arundel residents anyway. While the fee would have been less ”“ $25 for an annual membership, instead of $35 ”“ the KFL decided to levee a fee on Arundel residents after a budget was proposed that was half that of the previous year’s appropriation.

Hayes was neutral on the subject of citizens spearheading efforts to fundraise, but suggested the money should be in a general library fund rather than one that’s KFL-specific.

“They were going to charge a fee anyway,” said Hayes. “If people in town are going to get together and raise money ”¦ then those funds should be available to people who want to go to any library in the area.”

LeMay said it’s too soon to estimate how the lack of direct funding from Arundel will impact the library. Next week, she said, the KFL’s finance committee will convene to try to figure out how best to balance the budget. That may or may not include a reduction in line items, the library collection or programming, she said.

“The board of trustees is adamant that we won’t reduce the hours we’re open, or the staffing,” said LeMay.

Arundel had provided funding for the KFL for 10 consecutive years prior to the June vote. LeMay had been told, she said, that a lack of funding from the town was always a possibility, “but we were always funded. And they’ve never reduced       the amount.

“We’re very sad that this is our new reality.”

The KFL receives funding from the Town of Kennebunk. This year, Kennebunk will be providing $494,984, representing a 3 percent increase over last year.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.