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Library budget increases; director says new deputy role, tripled winter foot traffic and AV repairs justify funding
Summary
Library staff sought a net increase that funds a new deputy director position, additional programming coordination and building repairs. Director Turcotte said January door counts nearly tripled compared with the previous year and that added staffing improved safety and customer service.
Library Director Turcotte and staff presented the library budget and defended a new Deputy Library Director role and other line items. Director Turcotte said the deputy post is intended as a management-track position to retain talent and to provide an administrative point of contact when the director is absent. "I want at least people to have the vision of, you know, I can start here, I can plot a career," the director said.
The presentation noted a $74,347 overall increase for library operations and a reduction in the Lending Services payroll offset by the deputy hire. Director Turcotte said prerecorded statistics show large usage increases: "In January of this year we had over 9,000 people, come in and out of the library. In January of 2024 that door count was 3,600 something. So we almost tripled the foot traffic." Councilors asked for the underlying data and the director said she would provide annual and multi-year reports used for state reporting.
Councillors raised several building needs: repairs to the Callahan Hall floor, the AV system and a list of contracted maintenance items the director itemized for council. The director said money for AV repairs exists within repairs-to-equipment lines and that vendor problems had delayed a fix; she said the library would pursue competent audio engineers if the installer could not complete the work. The director also explained the planned mechanical and HVAC repairs and a list of smaller contracted services in the building-repair line.
On safety and public-use issues that were debated last year, the director said changes last year — contracted security and an additional building monitor — appeared to reduce problematic incidents while foot traffic and programming increased. "Because of the support that you've given us, we're able to navigate those issues," she said. Councilors requested follow-up data on attendance, usage and programing trends for upcoming budget work sessions.
