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Larkspur staff outline library staffing and hours needs as part of FY26‑27 budget review
Summary
Library and parks staff presented service‑level analyses during the council’s preliminary budget review: the new library is drawing higher use but is operating at ‘‘limited/standard’’ service levels and needs at least one funded staff position and community engagement (surveys/focus groups) to expand hours and programs.
At the regular meeting that followed the special session, Library Director Damon Bell presented an assessment of service levels and staffing needs for the city’s new library facility. Bell said the library is open five days a week (Tuesday–Friday and Saturday) with limited evening hours, and that usage patterns — including AP‑time teens and increased circulation — indicate demand for extended hours and more programs.
Bell and city staff proposed unfreezing and funding one library position (currently frozen) to improve day‑to‑day responsiveness and called for a short program of community surveys and focus groups to identify priorities before hiring additional staff.
"We could get to a standard service level with more people," the director said, noting that moving from five to six open days requires more staff and that other Marin branches operate under varying schedules, sometimes supported by foundations.
Councilmembers and staff discussed pilot tweaks to hours (toward evenings or additional weekend coverage), the potential for foundation support and partnerships, and the merits of testing adjusted schedules before making a permanent budget commitment. The Commons Foundation and other nonprofits signaled interest in philanthropic support for extended hours and programming; staff said formal commitments would be reported during the budget hearings.
Separately, Recreation Director Nick Stone described expanded programming, recent hires (a new recreation coordinator who will staff Saturdays), volunteer engagement and the need for better marketing and data collection to inform programming and rental decisions. Staff recommended a small, targeted investment in capacity (marketing/registration systems, outreach) to grow revenue‑generating rentals and improve program quality.
