Great River Regional Library says digital circulation now its largest ‘branch’; Sherburne County share rises 2.27%

Representatives of Great River Regional Library briefed Sherburne County commissioners on the library system’s 2026 budget and service trends, saying the digital collection is now the system’s largest circulating “branch” and noting Sherburne County’s contribution increase for 2026. Karen Poncek, executive director, and Amy Anderson, associate director of accounting, represented the library at the meeting.

Anderson said the Great River Regional Library board adopted the 2026 budget on July 15 and that Sherburne County’s 2026 contribution will be $1,467,012, an increase of $32,553, or 2.269 percent, from 2025. The regional library’s total 2026 budget is $10,570,000, which the presentation described as a near-flat budget (0.42% increase over 2025) that relies on a reserves-use and recovery plan. Signatory contributions will make up 72.2% of the 2026 revenue budget.

Poncek said the region’s digital library circulation became the system’s largest circulating branch in June and that digital services are the fastest-growing and most expensive part of the budget. She described service shifts since the pandemic, including higher demand for meeting rooms, community space, juvenile materials and wireless printing; the library system has also moved to a fines‑free model, which changed revenue and service patterns.

The library’s 2026 budget includes just under $140,000 in reserves and $350,000 in operating-surplus rollover from 2024; last year those combined sources totaled $623,000. Anderson said the library system is working to reduce reserve usage across budget years, which is one reason signatories are seeing increased contributions. Poncek and Anderson described a three-part county contribution formula based on population, net tax capacity and borrower numbers; Poncek noted that shifts in net tax capacity can change county shares year to year.

Commissioners asked about how changes in tax base — including the Sherco plant closure mentioned during the meeting — could affect the formula and about the ways libraries serve as community hubs beyond lending. Poncek said federal funding to Minnesota libraries is routed through state programs and that if federal funding were reduced further it could pressure regional services. Commissioners and library staff discussed Wi‑Fi hotspot programs, digital collections, and local building ownership arrangements that affect renovations and service footprints.

Speakers from the library who appeared in person included Karen Poncek and Amy Anderson; the county’s representatives on the library board were named in the presentation. No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational as part of the county’s regular updates.