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New Canaan Library asks town for baseline budget reset as usage surges
Summary
Library leadership told the Board of Selectmen the new building drew upward of 1,600 daily visitors and requested a one-time budget realignment (about $222,000) to add custodial and AV support, restore programming and collections funding, and adjust staff compensation.
The New Canaan Library asked the Board of Selectmen Jan. 7 for a one-time adjustment to its town grant to establish a new operational baseline after the first full year of activity in the library istrict—uilding.
Library CEO Allen and Library Director Cheryl presented data showing continued, steep increases in building use after the new facility opened. "We've come to see ourselves as really victims of our own success," Allen told the board, noting daily foot traffic of roughly 1,600 people on many days and 355,000 visitors in the previous 12 months.
Why it matters: Usage far outstrips the library's expectations when the new building opened, and the operating budget set during planning does not fully reflect the higher, sustained demand for custodial services, audio-visual support for frequent programs, and expanded digital content and programming.
Key requests and rationale -…
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