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Residents, library staff urge council to restore branch services coordinators in proposed FY26 budget
Summary
Multiple residents, current and former library employees and community groups told council April 22 that cutting four to five branch services coordinator positions would reduce hours, programs and direct public service; the city manager said staff would be offered transition support and city hours are not expected to be reduced.
At an April 22 public hearing, dozens of residents and library employees urged Virginia Beach City Council to reverse proposed cuts to branch‑level positions in the city library system, saying the reductions would damage services that residents rely on for early literacy, Internet access and community programming.
Speakers described branch services coordinators as senior, public‑facing supervisors who manage day‑to‑day operations, train staff and run outreach programs. "Public libraries are one of the few government institutions that the general public still trusts and appreciates," said Melissa Peck, a District 1 resident and public librarian. "To remove 4 out of the 9 library branch service coordinators will have a negative impact on staff's ability to continue to offer all of the above services and programs to the community at the high level Virginia Beach has come to expect."
Steve Shapiro, who identified himself as a repeat public speaker on library issues, said restoring five targeted positions would cost approximately $590,000 and urged council to find the funds. "This is one hundredth of one percent of your $2,800,000,000 budget," he said, and argued the council could identify the money without cutting services. Shapiro and other speakers also criticized library leadership and said morale among branch staff is low.
Several speakers asked council to prioritize keeping front‑line, public‑facing positions rather than trimming administrative office lines. Bobby Gribble and other Kempsville residents also asked council to fund a family restroom in the Kempsville Area Library, saying the branch is one of the busiest in the city and lacks a family bathroom for caregivers and children.
During a follow‑up question from Vice Mayor Rosemary, City Manager Dehane said employees affected by proposed cuts would be offered participation in the city’s employee transition program and that staff would attempt to match employees to other positions. He added that the city does not project any reduction in library hours or services as a result of the proposed changes.
Why it matters: Speakers told council the library system provides early literacy programs, tech help, meeting space, and targeted outreach to seniors, teens and underserved neighborhoods. Library advocates warned that losing branch supervisors could slow service, reduce programming and weaken community trust in a widely used public resource.
Council did not vote on the budget at the hearing; public comments will be incorporated into ongoing budget deliberations.
