Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Libraries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Great River Regional Library outlines new strategic plan, warns of ebook licensing costs
Summary
At the Stearns County Board meeting, Great River Regional Library executive director Brandy Caner described a 2026'2030 strategic plan focused on literacy, access and partnerships, reported 2025 circulation and borrower numbers, and warned that ebook licensing costs and publisher restrictions strain budgets.
Brandy Caner, executive director of Great River Regional Library, updated the Stearns County Board on Tuesday about the system's new 2026'2030 strategic plan and services for county residents. Caner said the library aims to "foster the spirit of exploration, knowledge and connection for all ages and cultures" and will emphasize core literacy programs, easier access to cards and collections, and partnerships with local governments and parks.
The regional system covers 32 locations and, Caner told commissioners, served roughly 164,000 people in Stearns County. She reported nearly 100,000 registered cardholders systemwide, about 2.3 million physical item checkouts in 2025 and more than half a million ebook downloads. Caner said the system relies on a mix of city funding for buildings and county funding for service and staff and that the 2026 operating budget across the six-county system is $10,539,275.
Caner warned commissioners that ebook and digital audiobook licensing is a growing budget pressure. "An ebook that a library licenses can cost three to four times what a consumer might pay," she said, citing popular-title license fees in the $70'$85 range. Libraries often license titles for a limited period or number of uses, she added, and must repurchase high-demand titles when publisher limits expire.
Board members pressed for more fiscal detail. Caner said donations are important and described the library's distribution of gifts: 55% to collections, 20% to communications and 25% to programming. Local 'locally grown' fundraising remains in-branch; examples cited at the meeting included activity stations purchased for Belgrade and new kits for Paynesville.
The presentation also covered local initiatives: Belgrade reported increased outreach to families and schools, and Paynesville shared near-final architectural plans for a new building.
Caner closed by thanking the board for its ongoing support and offering to return with a budget breakdown by county. The board signaled interest in receiving that information before its 2027 budgeting process.
The county board received the report; no formal vote was required. The library will provide follow-up budget detail on county contributions and maintenance-of-effort history, as requested by commissioners.
