Committee reviews library and community services requests; children's library automation and community events funding highlighted

Community Services and Library staff told the finance committee on May 6 that operating levels for most library and community services will be maintained in the FY2026 proposed budget while several capital and one‑time items are scheduled or under way.

Libraries Library Director Gayatri Khan said the library system was restoring hours and programming to pre‑pandemic levels and highlighted capital and one‑time needs. She said the children’s library automated materials handling (AMH) system is under installation now and funded from library impact fees. Staff described the AMH installation as an immediate project with an approximately $300,000 reappropriation remaining to complete the system at the children’s library; staff said the equipment and installation are underway and the library expects to open the children’s library in summer. Khan also described a program to replace older furniture across all libraries (an estimated $80,000 in the plan this year) and a small program of “Day 2” garage repairs at a downtown parking facility (staff flagged up to about $1,000,000 in several repairs across projects in the CIP presentation, with follow‑ups requested).

The library also said federal funding changes may reduce certain state‑level library grants in future years and that staff will prioritize digital and essential subscriptions. Khan said the library is placing a renewed emphasis on teen and youth programs, mental‑health‑related programming and community‑wellness activities, and is planning community author events in partnership with Community Services.

Community Services Community Services Director Kristen O’Kane described a budget that largely maintains current programs while adding modest staff where program revenue covers the personnel cost (for example, added art‑center rental staff supported by rental revenues). She described an expanded summer camp lineup (for which program fees cover payroll) and a request to raise a therapeutic recreation coordinator position from 0.75 FTE to 1.0 FTE with additional materials funding to support inclusion programming.

Staff also walked through an early version of the Nonprofit Partnership Work Plan (see separate article) and asked the committee whether to fund a new $50,000 community events grant program that would provide $5,000 or smaller micro‑grants for neighborhood and community events. Staff noted that some nonprofit funding lines from FY2025 were being clarified and rolled forward into the FY2026 materials; the committee asked staff to separate ongoing multi‑year commitments from the new competitive pool (see nonprofit story).

OWL warming center and other operations On the OWL emergency warming center pilot, staff said the program operated about 19 nights during the winter and was generally at full capacity on several nights; staff said nightly attendance averaged roughly 10–12 people and that the operating pilot was able to meet demand during the winter weather events. Community Services said it would continue partnerships to expand outreach and services for unhoused residents.

Committee request and next steps The committee asked staff for additional details on which library and community services projects could be deferred without reducing core services and asked for the nonprofit clarifications noted above. Staff said they will return with the requested details and that the children’s AMH work is in active installation and funded by dedicated impact fees.

Ending Library and community services staff said they will complete the children’s AMH installation this spring, continue to prioritize teen programming and community wellness events, and return with clarified nonprofit funding plans and any recommended project deferrals.