During his successful campaign to become mayor of New London, Daryl Justin Finizio repeatedly made the point that he would be a leader looking out for the interests of all the citizens of his city, not just those who because of status or financial success had access to the levers of political power.

When he begins the process of putting together his first budget proposal, Mayor Finizio should consider one means of making good on that pledge for a relatively modest outlay - increasing the city's investment in the Public Library of New London. It's been in the business of closing the knowledge gap between the affluent and the city's poor and working class for 130 years.

This fiscal year New London is allocating $615,000 out of its $81.8 million budget to its public library, about 0.7 percent. Among the 13 economically distressed municipalities in Connecticut, only three devote a smaller percentage of their city finances to libraries - East Hartford, Naugatuck and Waterbury. That's not proud company to keep.

Neighboring Waterford devotes 1.5 percent of its budget for library services, while across the Thames River, Groton allocates 1.3 percent of municipal finances. Both communities enjoy much healthier tax bases than New London.

Simply getting New London up to the state average, 1.1 percent of city spending, would boost the allocation to $900,302. While likely not attainable in a single budget year, it is an appropriate goal to strive for.

Library Director Suzanne Maryeski has plenty of good ideas to pursue if given more financial help. The New London library she directs is held in trust by an association, which is responsible for hiring, management and maintenance of the facility built in 1881 and expanded in the 1970s, but depends on city support for operating expenses.

Maryeski arrived in New London two years ago, leaving the position of director of children services at the Farmington Public Library, where she had worked for nine years. It was a bit of homecoming. Maryeski grew up in Waterford.

Though less than an hour drive, Farmington is seemingly a world away when it comes to its ability to invest in library services, said Maryeski. Largely affluent, the town, roughly equal in population to New London, allocates about 2 percent of its $85 million budget to its two libraries, which also benefit from large public donations.

"Yet New London is a place where a library can really make a difference," said Maryeski.

If the Farmington libraries closed their doors tomorrow, Maryeski suspects that the vast majority of parents would still assure their children had access to books and computers. In New London, however, the library may provide the only opportunity outside of school for many kids to develop a love for reading.

Last year nearly 140,000 people visited the city library, about 5.4 times New London's population. This summer the library made a big push for summer reading, developing a closer relationship with the schools in that effort. In July and August, juvenile book circulation hit 5,164, a 53 percent increase from the prior year.

The library has also boosted youth programming as it tries to persuade teens to make the library part of their routines.

Using grant money, the library was able to double computer stations for patrons, now offering 14. Meeting a pent-up demand, use doubled. For example, in April 2010, 2,348 patrons used the computers, a year later, the number hit 4,811.

"Libraries are part of the solution to the digital divide. People without access to computers face a huge disadvantage when it comes to education, job hunting, and developing the necessary skills to get a job," said Maryeski.

Still, there are waiting lines.

"When we open, they're outside the door waiting," said Maritza Vargas, a library assistant.

With only seven full-time employees, 12 part time, and despite roughly 800 hours of volunteer help, there is only so much the staff can do. Given more resources, Maryeski said her top priority would be attracting more pre-school children to the library through an aggressive outreach effort and by increasing programs aimed at that age group. Generating an ability and interest in reading among pre-school children could play a significant role in better preparing them for school. That, in turn, could help urban students bridge the educational gap between them and their suburban counterparts.

Other priorities, if given a budget boost, would include having more staff available to help patrons look for work, including setting up email accounts, preparing resumes, making use of job search engines and career sites and filling out online job applications.

Better preparing children for school and helping people find work would be a good return on investment. So if you haven't done so already, Mayor Finizio, take a break from your new City Hall digs and take the short walk up State Street to meet with Suzanne Maryeski. But be prepared, she makes a heck of a case for her library.

Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.