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Albany Public Library seeks 5% budget increase; highlights attendance, digital use and program growth
Summary
Albany Public Library Director Andrea Nicolay told the City School District of Albany Board of Education the library will seek a 5% budget increase in the May vote, citing rising costs, a drop in pilot payments and growth in early-literacy and digital programs.
Albany Public Library Executive Director Andrea Nicolay told the City School District of Albany Board of Education that the library will ask voters to approve a 5% increase in its 2025–26 budget, citing contractual obligations, higher retirement and health-insurance costs and a sharp drop in pilot payments.
Nicolay summarized the library’s 2024 performance and said the request is within the library tax cap. She gave attendance and program statistics, described new partnerships and explained how the budget increase would translate to property taxes for homeowners.
The library’s community report for 2024 showed program attendance and digital use rose. Nicolay said early-literacy programs were relaunched across all seven branches and attendance for that series rose by 15%. The library offered just over 500 early-literacy programs that drew about 10,587 children and caregivers. Overall program attendance rose by 24%, and digital-content use increased by about 20%.
Nicolay described other 2024 figures: approximately 515,000 visitors systemwide; about 2,000 visits by school groups and day cares; makerspace attendance doubled (with 153 STEAM programs serving about 2,000 people); about 10,000 study-room bookings and roughly 872 meeting-room bookings. She said the library expanded its museum-pass program, adding passes for EGG Presents and the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
On finances, Nicolay said the library’s request reflects several cost drivers: contractual staff raises, an approximately $200,000 drop in anticipated pilot payments, an estimated 16% increase in the New York State Retirement System contribution and a roughly 10% rise in health-insurance costs. She said the 5% request remains under the statutory tax cap for library budgets. If approved by voters, she said, a home assessed at $250,000 would pay an extra $12.75 in library taxes next year.
Nicolay also described governance and community engagement items: two full trustee terms are open and nominating packets are available at all seven branches; the trustee election and budget vote are scheduled for May 20, and the library will hold a candidate forum and budget information session on May 6 (to be livestreamed and posted on YouTube). Nicolay said the library will begin a new three‑year strategic planning process and invited community input.
Board members responded with thanks and personal anecdotes about using the library and its programs. The board’s president asked for and received no formal motion or vote on the library presentation; the presentation concluded and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items.
Nicolay encouraged residents to consult the library’s website for detailed impact sheets and budget materials and to contact her with questions.
