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Library director outlines services, trust-fund plan and FY2027 ask of about $4.6 million
Summary
Carnegie-Stout Public Library Director Nick Rossman presented FY25 usage figures, described digital and maker-space growth and said the library seeks roughly $4.6 million in property-tax support for FY2027 while planning a phase-one renovation funded largely from library trust balances.
Nick Rossman, director of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, told the Dubuque City Council April 13 that the library recorded more than 225,000 visitors in fiscal 2025, serves about 45,000 active cardholders after state-mandated clean-up of old records, and logged roughly 850,000 total resource accesses when circulation, program attendance, database and technology usage are combined.
Rossman highlighted growth in digital services — adults have recently borrowed digital materials at higher rates than physical collections — and said maker-space use rose 20% year over year with more than 8,600 visits. He described new equipment and community-facing offerings including a direct-to-garment apparel printer, a 15-thread embroidery machine purchased with Friends of the Library support, and a laptop/iPad checkout kiosk the library built in-house.
Rossman said the library’s FY2027 request seeks property-tax support “just north of $4.6 million,” adding the library also manages more than $1.1 million in gift and trust balances. He said the board of trustees is considering using unrestricted trust funds in a phased renovation that would not expand building footprint but would enlarge and reconfigure the maker space, add study and tutoring rooms, and redesign the teen zone.
Rossman described the Bright Beginnings book-box program, in which the library used grant funding from its foundation and a local racing association to deliver curated book collections to area preschools after recent state legislation changed how school districts contract with area education agencies.
"Your family has an opportunity to save some money by using library services," Rossman said, summarizing a staff calculation that combined checkout and program values into an $8.7 million estimated annual community value when compared with retail and subscription costs.
Council members thanked staff, asked about maker-space demand and capital prioritization, and discussed how library requests fit within the city’s five-year capital-improvement planning. Rossman said many CIP requests were not funded for FY2027 but that the library will continue to pursue grants and gifts and advance a phased work plan with trustee support.
Next steps: The library’s FY2027 request remains part of the council’s public budget hearings. Councilmembers asked follow-up questions about specific capital requests and staff levels during the meeting.
