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Consultant warns Lincoln library budget lags growth after Sierra College exit; council pledged two-year "bridge" funding
Summary
A consultant assessment presented Tuesday says Sierra College’s planned withdrawal from the joint-use agreement will create a structural budget shortfall for the Lincoln Public Library and that Lincoln spends less per resident on library services than nearly all California libraries.
Catherine Hunt, director of library services, and consultant Stephanie Chase of Constructive Disruption presented Tuesday evening a community- engagement assessment and budget analysis for the Lincoln Public Library, saying Sierra College’s notice that it will withdraw from the library’s joint-use agreement will create a significant funding shortfall.
Chase told the council that Sierra College’s withdrawal equates to roughly a 25% reduction in current library revenue under the present budget structure and that, even with Sierra funding, Lincoln’s per-capita library expenditures rank in the bottom 15% of California public libraries. The report found Lincoln’s overall per-capita operating spending is less than half the statewide median and only about 29% of the statewide average.
“Over the past 17 years the community population increased about 24% while the library budget contracted about 1% per year,” Chase said. Adjusted for inflation and population growth, the report said, the library’s purchasing power has declined roughly 45% since 2008.
Consultants outlined three broad options for the library: accept a reduced service model that would cut staff and hours, maintain current service by making the city’s subsidy permanent, or pursue a new partner to replace Sierra College’s contribution. Chase cautioned that finding a partner at Sierra’s level is unlikely and would itself require staff time and resources that the library currently lacks.
Hunt estimated a significant portion — she described “solidly 30 to 40%” of the nonfiction collection — was added as opening-day materials to support Sierra College course offerings and is underutilized by the current public user base; staff have not had capacity to fully review and deaccession those volumes.
Council members asked for clarification on a two-year bridge funding commitment in the adopted city budget. Hunt and staff said the current adopted budget includes general-fund support to cover the gap for two years while the city and library pursue alternatives and reopen the joint-use memorandum of understanding to clearly apportion funding responsibilities.
Public speakers and the library advisory board urged continued city support. Lynn Snyder, a member of the library advisory board, told the council a public library is “a physical and social essential service” and asked the city to maintain financial support.
Council and staff said they will use the consultant report to guide budget and policy discussions; staff will return with more detailed options and with a revised memorandum of understanding between the city and the school district if necessary.
