Pleasanton library outlines reduced collections budget, trims digital subscriptions

Library staff presented the commission with a revised collection-development plan for fiscal 2025-26 that reflects significant cuts adopted in the city's two-year budget. The commission reviewed the plan as information; no policy vote was taken. Leah said the city's adopted budget reduced library collection funding by roughly half for the two-year cycle; staff proposed a total allocation of about $135,000 for collections in FY2025-26. Staff provided line-item allocations (subject to final invoicing and finance close): adult English-language materials about $24,500; international-language materials about $3,000; adult periodicals approximately $6,000; and $3,000 earmarked for the library-of-things collection. Staff noted that physical-material ordering and invoicing can straddle fiscal years and exact final totals will be reported once finance closes the books in October. For digital resources, staff said they phased out some products (notably a larger Hoopla streaming package) and retained or reduced others. Staff kept Libby (ebooks and audiobooks) selections and negotiated a reduced rate for Brainfuse (a tutoring resource previously grant-funded). Friends of the Pleasanton Library committed to fund certain items, including Ancestry and museum passes, which staff said helps offset collection reductions for specific services. Staff told commissioners they will re-evaluate collection allocations at the midterm budget review and will continue to market digital resources to increase usage. The commission had questions about specific subscriptions and usage statistics; staff noted some vendors provide coarse usage reports and that staff intends to improve cross-platform metrics.