Fletcher Free Library says security and outreach investments helped but staff reductions shift duties to other city teams

Library director Mary Danko told the Board of Finance the Fletcher Free Library will proceed with two part-time position eliminations in FY26 and expects to absorb some functions via central city services while continuing safety and outreach partnerships.

Danko said the library’s part-time financial assistant and part-time computer assistant positions were eliminated in recent reductions. She said many financial functions will be taken up through modern gov and the new Department of Finance & Administration, while technical help may be handled by other staff at peak times or via appointments when a technology librarian is not on duty.

Why it matters: The downtown library serves as a public hub and one of few downtown public restrooms; changes to on-site staffing intersect with rising demands for outreach and public-safety work and with the downtown community’s reliance on library services.

Security, outreach and volunteers Danko said an earlier investment to move security from contract staff to city employees made a noticeable difference because in-house security personnel have IDs, keys and more integration with staff. The library also continues to host a Howard Center outreach worker embedded Tuesday through Saturday, paid through prior funding that the library hopes to sustain via grants or philanthropic support.

The Friends of the Fletcher Free Library, a 501(c)(3), supports programming, professional development and some operating costs. The library reported roughly 90 volunteers contributed about 6,900 hours in the prior fiscal year.

Building preservation and other projects Danko said the library has an active preservation project on the main 1904 building (masonry and terracotta work with window rehabilitation), with some components expected to proceed in the near term. The project has a significant construction scope and matching requirements tied to grants.

Service continuity and concerns Councilors asked whether North Avenue branch hours would change; Danko said she did not anticipate decreased hours and that the department would seek to expand hours when possible. Danko and councilors discussed the difficulty of predicting philanthropic or federal grant flows in the current national environment but said they would maintain close communication with Friends and pursue grant options.

Ending note Danko said the library will continue to note threats — housing instability, federal funding uncertainty — while maintaining core services and working with partners on outreach and safety. Councilors requested more detail about security costs and Friends contributions for future follow-up.