Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Library topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City Council accepts Holdridge Area Public Library annual report; trustees outline budget and program growth
Summary
The Holdridge Area Public Library presented its annual report and financial overview; the City Council voted to accept the report. Library trustees highlighted increased circulation, program attendance and a fiscal-year budget breakdown.
The City Council voted to accept the Holdridge Area Public Library's annual report after a presentation by the library's board president and director detailing finances, collections and program growth.
Cassie Ehrenberg, president of the board of trustees, and Sierra Burrows, the library director, presented figures for the fiscal year and calendar year reporting periods. Ehrenberg said operating revenue for the fiscal year totaled $552,003, including $391,283 from city funds, $147,093 from county funds and $10,709 from grants, donations and other sources. She outlined spending categories, including $339,401 for staffing and $44,124 for collections.
The presenters said the library held roughly 44,445 physical items at year-end, added 1,536 physical items and withdrew 1,626. The library reported more than 49,000 physical checkouts and about 53,400 digital checkouts, roughly 28,190 visits, 7,037 public-computer sessions and substantial engagement on the library’s online channels. Programming included 698 in-person and self-directed events with total attendance of about 6,700; youth programs drew roughly 3,400 attendees and young adult/adult programming reported a marked increase.
During council questions, staff clarified that phone inquiries are not counted as visits in the library’s public-library survey and explained the library’s donation policy and collection-development practices. Ehrenberg said the board is assessing building issues related to a recurring odor in part of the facility and is exploring options, including moving office functions away from the affected space while investigating the source.
After the presentation, a motion to accept the annual report was moved and seconded; the council approved the motion.
The library asked the council to note staffing needs; the director said the library currently has 11 employees, five of whom are full time, and the board hopes to add at least one additional staff member. The trustees said they continue to seek a county board member to fill a vacant seat and are pursuing several options for facilities and maintenance planning.
