Council approves library subscriptions and shared automation invoices totaling about $59,120

Trenton — The City Council on Sept. 2 approved two regular invoices from the library network: a yearly Libby/OverDrive subscription and the library’s shared automation charges. The library director told council the Libby app had more than 70,000 downloads by patrons between July 2024 and June 2025 and recommended paying the annual subscription invoice of $19,440.97, funded from contractual services for library digital media. Council approved the invoice unanimously. The director also presented the shared‑automation (consortium) invoice, which is billed quarterly but presented to council as an annualized total. After clarifying a numerical discrepancy raised by council, the director confirmed the yearly total expected to be $39,679.04; the quarterly invoice line is $9,919.76. The director said the automation service connects over 70 Michigan libraries in the consortium, manages circulation and patron databases, handles catalog linking and delivery between libraries, and assists with advocacy for state and federal funding. Contract communities (Brownstown, Rose Hill and Woodhaven) share part of the bill and are billed quarterly. Council approved payment of the invoices; the director said funds are budgeted for both services.