[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6073713,"mediaKeyId","2990536-87c1d2ab8e7af64a338105a25166838c","parentId",2990536,"title","Belgrade resident warns new library hours could drop city below state minimum; city cites funding and staffing limits","audioSeconds",2079,"startMs",254000,"endMs",2333000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990536-87c1d2ab8e7af64a338105a25166838c&start=254&end=2333","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990536-87c1d2ab8e7af64a338105a25166838c/thumbnail_254000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6073713/Montana/Belgrade-resident-warns-new-library-hours-could-drop-city-below-state-minimum-city-cites-funding-and-staffing-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073713-8cc8699a34decd033159db72e7420837/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507905&Signature=WZpxUdUQa5LboYHweO9pXNZC1F~J1JUv6rpH9X-tlm1bRo1NRsggga4XGX47yUULh9d8t7gluKn~Zv2D2tWs-0XlyejvWSQO7JJmG81pYowj4gR3GGMANgxzGbv0svJRxaqNl-QWdusLEmcqUkmGm161Gz8USFXX3eT0~DLZ5iLUqXi2BWcI5inWv2gnHUy7LVzZycVFN3NIboVHFE-yiQ4L1wgceaek0gzRCHSTua3jQeIvIoBddHXTtl13n8vIjA4~25zmU7kODg0o92eBMjBvwnrVczGR1fia4kykkuB3oWTK3xTLc20qjWSQlXKaqFSOb9J82CTKWrKhFxuAxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MT / City of Belgrade ","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Ben Nielsen, a Belgrade resident and department head of adult programming and outreach at the Bozeman Public Library, told the Belgrade Community Library Advisory Board on a public-comment agenda item that the library’s planned permanent closure on Wednesdays could cause Belgrade to fall below the state’s published minimum operating hours for libraries serving more than 10,000 people.

Nielsen said the reduced hours would be “an embarrassment for the city of Belgrade” and warned it “will cause a loss of state funding for the library.” He urged the board to advise city management to restore Wednesday public hours or add a half-day elsewhere in the week so the library meets the state minimum of 40 hours per week.

The comment came during a public-comment period before advisory-board business. Nielsen identified himself as a frequent library user and said he is “currently the department head of adult programming and outreach at the Bozeman Public Library,” giving his professional perspective on library operations and attendance patterns.

Board members and city officials discussed the concern during the meeting. Greg, Belgrade’s city manager, responded that his understanding was the library does meet the state minimum threshold for funding and that the state funding amount “is literally roughly $7,000” (as discussed during the meeting). He characterized the decision on hours as a response to limited operating funds and staff availability after opening the larger new building.

Kathleen, a library advisory board member, and other board members raised the apparent discrepancy between the city’s stated policy and the planned hours. A board member noted that a city policy (adopted in 2022, according to the discussion) states the library should be open 40 hours a week; meeting speakers acknowledged a difference between that policy language and the hours the city intends to staff the building after the move.

City officials said staff will continue to work in the building on the day it is closed to the public, but the doors would be locked because there would not necessarily be enough staff on hand for public service. Officials said increasing operating hours without additional funding would require hiring or expanded volunteer coverage; council and city staff reported an effort to recruit volunteers to support expanded service.

No formal vote or policy change occurred during the meeting. Board members suggested the topic could be placed on a future agenda for fuller discussion; a staff summary of public comment will be included in the meeting notes. The city manager and board members also discussed longer-term options such as an operational levy or other funding sources but said next steps would depend on upcoming state legislative outcomes and budget decisions.

How this matters: If the city’s operating hours fall below the state minimum and the state chooses to enforce that standard, the library could see a reduction in state grant funds. City officials said the state funds are modest relative to total operating costs and emphasized staffing and budget constraints as the deciding factors for the currently planned schedule.

A summary of the board’s next steps included: recording the public comment in the meeting notes, the possibility of adding the item to the next agenda for a fuller discussion, and continuing volunteer recruitment as a potential short-term mitigation for limited staffing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Belgrade Library Advisory Board Meeting March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ben Nielsen, a Belgrade resident and department head of adult programming and outreach at the Bozeman Public Library, told the Belgrade Community Library Advisory Board that the planned permanent closure of the new library on Wednesdays could drop Belgrade below the state’s 40-hour minimum for libraries serving more than 10,000 people and risk state funding.","taxTitle","Belgrade, Gallatin County, Montana","taxId",73046,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6073708,"Belgrade library foundation outlines remaining capital pledges, endowment target and grand-opening plans",3866,472000,4338000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990536-87c1d2ab8e7af64a338105a25166838c&start=472&end=4338","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990536-87c1d2ab8e7af64a338105a25166838c/thumbnail_472000.jpg","/articles/6073708/Montana/Belgrade-library-foundation-outlines-remaining-capital-pledges-endowment-target-and-grand-opening-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073708-aa556e6f69e2c4054fb24b612449bb0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507905&Signature=QjMuOjrsPuq2pSNIeA83gjU1AA44BU42-N131y-SkcDTgGtkSbAIY2P~bsZx85qNcO-SOjF6bKgmJu0TZ4Lv0Tj3Z6Z5J-01wsYR6o2mOFXPvh5jc-BpvCMj6zOpHGnPIKGG4OIqy2XCNC8UVfjNTIUenqeqTicrUUJS4J8eYxwxhkwJtizDqJXlz0bmiqRC8OCMSazOs1~-1TvU1xbFmB6NdOSL82vGFgXyrWjWj5q70T6xoT~oCKkHkHhtR99gHzRhZVOEUTgl4jouZKxpq1oqZPXpwitc~bcij0MQH68OV6K3hvR6DFFJvU2--0JovL~~CZnF1oM6bLXtbwg3iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Foundation and library representatives updated the Belgrade Community Library Advisory Board on fundraising, remaining pledges and programming as the new library building prepares to open.

Mark (foundation representative) presented a three-page summary of the foundation’s operating budget, current balances and the history of the capital campaign. He said the foundation’s operating costs were modest ($2,730 listed for operating expenses in the materials he distributed) and that the foundation is transitioning from capital-phase spending to program grants and building an endowment. The board-approved goal for the endowment is $1,000,000 before annual distributions begin; the foundation estimated that once mature it could support roughly $30,000–$40,000 a year in programming at a 3–4% distribution rate.

Mark reported that a D.A. Davidson account held “a little over a quarter of a million” (market-valued, per the discussion) and that outstanding campaign invoices total roughly $770,000, with about $30,000 in smaller pledges remaining. He noted individual contributions mentioned in the meeting materials, including an initial $400,000 gift from the Malesnick family and a multi-year $50,000 Cook Family Foundation commitment being paid in installments (noted in the materials as $10,000 a year for five years).

Foundation representatives said they expect to cover some items the city did not budget for—examples cited included spring-loaded return book bins and other “punch list” items for the new building—and to underwrite some grand-opening expenses such as banners, printing and light catering. The foundation also reported receiving an in-kind donation of a Samick upright piano from Mark and Tracy Helgren; volunteers and a donor who is a piano technician helped move and tune the instrument for community use.

Library staff described programming and outreach while the building has been closed for relocation. Alina, the library director, reported ongoing off-site programs (story times at Head Start, kids’ exercise classes, curbside service) and staff training (naloxone training, fire-safety walkthroughs). Staff completed a physical inventory of the collection after the move—about 36,000 items—and reported missing-item rates similar to past years (staff said the collection’s missing-item rate remains very low).

Alina announced a ribbon-cutting grand opening scheduled for Saturday, April 5, with a 9:30 a.m. gathering and a 10:00 a.m. ribbon cutting, live music, demonstrations and family programming throughout the day. She said U.S. Senate offices had indicated their intent to send representatives to the event. Staff said they will have “all hands on deck” for the opening and expect a busy first week of public use.

The foundation and board discussed short-term operational priorities for the new building (seating, shelving, volunteer-driven service expansion) and longer-term aims (growing the endowment). No formal board vote was recorded on additional foundation disbursements at this meeting; foundation representatives said they will coordinate with city staff and the advisory board on priorities and approvals for expenditures and pledge accounting.

","The Belgrade Library Foundation reported remaining capital campaign pledges, described an endowment goal of $1,000,000 before distributions, and outlined the library’s April grand opening and upcoming programs; the foundation said it will cover some unbudgeted startup items and program expenses.","actionData","errors"]

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Belgrade resident warns new library hours could drop city below state minimum; city cites funding and staffing limits

Belgrade library foundation outlines remaining capital pledges, endowment target and grand-opening plans