Library trustees approve furniture transfers and preliminary budget requests for Harrison Memorial restoration

The Carmel Public Library Board of Trustees on April 27 approved a series of transfers and budget adjustments to support the Harrison Memorial Library restoration and the library's temporary operations.

At the meeting the board approved a Local Agency Investment Fund transfer and related budget changes to cover office furnishings at the Park Branch technical services area and modifications to the local history room, measures staff said are needed to manage increased materials and workflow during the restoration. Melinda (library staff) told trustees the library had “a remaining balance in the furniture budget of $9,110 with a transfer from LAFE of $39,152.63,” adding, “then we would have a $48,262.63 to take care of these 2 spaces and, finish off the, the vault door.” The motion to authorize the transfer and related adjustments passed unanimously with Trustees Joe DeNucci, Marie Claire Gorham, Donna Jet and Mary Jo Williams voting yes.

Trustees also approved a separate budget adjustment of $120,200 to furniture and equipment accounts, contingent on receipt of funds from the Carmel Public Library Foundation (CPLF). Marcy Moe, speaking for the CPLF, described the foundation’s recent fundraiser as “a tremendous success,” saying it met financial goals and produced strong community programming. The board directed staff to submit a formal request to CPLF for operating increases and one-time restoration expenses.

Staff briefed trustees on a near-term operational change tied to a regional resource-sharing launch with Pacific Grove and Monterey. Katie (local history librarian) explained that the library will lock down its catalog for about two days to enable the resource-sharing switchover; staff will perform offline circulation during that window and load transactions back into the system when the catalog relaunches on May 6. Heather, the library director, said the additional resource-sharing work and programming have helped maintain circulation levels: “We’re definitely keeping pace with last year,” she said.

Board members and staff reviewed the draft 2026–27 request that staff will submit to CPLF and other funders. Melinda and staff outlined three components: a maintenance-level operating request adjusted upward by a 3% cost increase (about $10,980), expanded digital and lending resources, and one-time moving and equipment costs related to the temporary relocation. The figures presented included a current operating baseline of approximately $366,000; one-time moving and equipment costs estimated at $135,500; and a total fiscal-year request of $512,480. Staff noted the estimate for the three-phased physical move is roughly $95,400 and that the Maybach table restoration was budgeted provisionally at $10,000 while quotes are gathered.

Trustees also approved a resolution changing signature authority on the library’s LAFE account to add Heather as a signer (and confirming Donna as treasurer), with staff and the chair as backups. The board approved routine items earlier in the meeting, including minutes and the March check register.

Next steps: staff will finalize vendor quotes where pending, submit the formal funding request to the CPLF, and return a refined budget for board approval — likely at the May 27 meeting after the foundation has met. The meeting adjourned after routine housekeeping items.