Nashville Public Library seeks staff, security and sustained collection funding in FY26 request
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Summary
Nashville Public Library Director Luke told the Metro Council Budget Committee the library is asking for new branch staff, systemwide security funding and full annual collection funding as part of its FY26 request, citing rising circulation and continued pressure from facility closures and staffing shortages.
Nashville Public Library Director Luke told the Metro Council Budget Committee that NPL is requesting new staff, dedicated funding for branch security and full, recurring funding for the library collection as part of the FY26 budget request.
Luke said the library is projecting a record 7,000,000 checkouts in FY25, a 6% increase over FY24, and that digital circulation is up about 14% to more than 3,700,000 digital checkouts. "NPL is set to reach a record 7,000,000 checkouts by the end of FY 25," Luke said, noting the cost pressures of expanding digital materials.
The request seeks 12 new staff positions phased over three years, beginning with seven positions in FY26 for smaller neighborhood branches including Edgehill, Hadley Park, Looby, North, Old Hickory, Pruitt and Watkins Park. "These investments will bring staffing levels in line with those recommended by the Tennessee standards for public libraries," Luke said, adding that staffing shortages have affected basic operations at small branches.
On safety, Luke said NPL added contracted security at 10 branches and has been using departmental funds for those costs; FY24 security spending totaled $446,000. For FY26 the library is requesting $626,000 to cover expected contract cost increases and growing incident severity.
Luke also urged sustained funding for the collection, saying Metro invested $4,500,000 in the library collection this fiscal year but that it takes roughly $4,000,000 annually "not to grow, but to just maintain that collection." She noted NPL spent about $2,000,000 on materials last year and that digital materials are substantially costlier than print.
Committee members pressed staff on other operational questions during the Q&A. Council member Toombs asked about $3.4 million in grant funds reflected in the budget-at-a-glance; Assistant Director Susan Dry said the library is "anticipating most of those funds coming back." Council members also asked about building maintenance and older facilities; Susan Dry answered that the library is tracking facilities and addressing issues such as mold and air quality as they arise.
The presentation also noted a closure of the main downtown library from August through October for preventive HVAC maintenance and that closure materially lowered several service metrics this year, including programs and Wi-Fi sessions.
The library director closed by asking council to prioritize full, recurring funding for the collection and branch staffing to restore and expand services across Davidson County.
