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Library directors tell selectmen digital subscriptions and copier overages drive costs
Summary
Library Director Liz Lauren told the Board of Selectmen the library’s operating assessment (Bibliomation membership) and digital subscriptions — including Hoopla and Libby — are a substantial share of the materials budget, and that color copier overages created unexpectedly high costs last year.
The Bolton Library presented its budget to the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 5, with Director Liz Lauren outlining staffing, vendor contracts and rising operating costs tied to digital materials and copier overages.
Lauren, introduced herself as the library director, said the library has one full‑time staff member (the director), four part‑time union employees at 25 hours a week, two student pages sharing 13 hours a week and three substitute staff. Training funds are modest because the Connecticut State Library provides many continuing‑education opportunities for free, but the library budgets roughly $500 for additional conference attendance when required.
The largest single operating contract is Bibliomation, the regional library vendor that handles circulation, cataloging and patron records. Lauren said the library’s operating assessment for the coming fiscal year is listed as $21,322. She also described copier-contract overages — color copies in particular — that at times produced quarterly bills near $900 in prior periods; the library charges patrons 10¢ for black‑and‑white copies and 50¢ for color, but overage costs remain the library’s responsibility.
On digital content, Lauren said the library recorded 11,958 electronic circulations in the past fiscal year and stressed that downloadable content costs the town money. She told the board the library pays roughly $1,200 a month for Hoopla and about $1,600 a year for Libby and that those subscriptions account for a meaningful portion of the materials budget. Lauren and selectmen said the library has begun publishing download‑cost information in its newsletter to encourage responsible use.
Members suggested using state printing (CCM) for large projects to reduce costs, and Lauren said the library would pursue that option for substantial print runs but not for daily flyers or program brochures. She also said the library is adding outdoor seating and hopes to add an awning to expand programming on the patio.
The board did not vote on any library items and asked staff to follow up if any contract or billing concerns require further action.
