Library director presents 2023–24 annual report; council reviews staffing and operating budget for new building

The Cascade Public Library director presented the library’s 2023–24 annual report to the City Council on Feb. 3 and outlined staffing and operating budget changes tied to the new library building.

The annual report covered the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The director said the library’s total collection count on June 30, 2024, was 13,839 items, not including five mobile hotspots, board games, puzzles and STEAM kits that the director noted are available for checkout. The report listed 1,734 DVDs and audiobooks, and the director noted library subscriptions provide downloadable access to 1,210,363 e‑books and 331,244 e‑audiobooks. The library reported 1,234 active library cards and 13,785 visits during the reporting year. The director said patrons saved an estimated $335,954.80 by checking out items instead of buying them.

On programming, the director said the library offered 308 programs with 5,700 participants during the year. The director told council that the library budgeted $6,500 for programming and spent $6,400.91, averaging $0.89 per program participant.

Budget and staffing: as the city prepares to occupy the new library building, staff recommended changing staffing to two full‑time employees and two part‑time employees to ensure coverage for the desk and community room programming. The director said the recommendation responds to the larger facility and the need to have staff available when programs are underway in the community room. Other proposed budget adjustments presented included higher building repair and maintenance (including biannual exterior window cleaning estimated at about $1,600 per year), planned replacement cycles for mobile hotspots (about three years), and modest increases for supplies and program materials.

Why it matters: the new facility expands the library’s capacity for programs and public services; staffing and maintenance choices will affect operating costs and service delivery. Council members asked clarifying questions about program counts, equipment lifespan and cleaning arrangements; the director provided line‑item details and cited vendor subscription models (Libby/Overdrive, Hoopla) for digital materials.

What’s next: staff will incorporate the library’s staffing and operating requests into the ongoing fiscal‑year budget discussion and provide cost estimates for the council’s follow up during the next budget session.