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Friends of the Lincoln Public Library report $128,000 authorized for 2026; group urges continued city support
Summary
Gloria Pilott II told the council that the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library reported 2025 circulation and program growth and have authorized $128,000 for 2026 to buy books, expand digital access and refresh children's furnishings, while urging the city to maintain or increase library funding.
Gloria Pilott II, president of the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, presented the organization’s 2025 annual report to the City Council on May 26, telling council members the Friends have contributed more than $500,000 over the past decade to library programs and resources.
Pilott said the group has authorized $128,000 in 2026 to support ongoing programs, expand the library’s physical collection and upgrade children’s furnishings. She cited 2025 figures showing about 278,000 visits to the Lincoln Public Library, roughly 371,000 checkouts and 81,000 uses of digital resources, and said program attendance rose about 28% year over year.
“I appreciate this opportunity to present our 2025 annual report,” Pilott told the council. She described recent spending on the Libby app and other digital services and said the Friends purchased more than 1,800 books for teens and children in recent years.
Mayor Pearl and council members praised the Friends’ volunteer work and fundraising. Council members noted that Friends’ support helps offset lower per-capita city spending—Pilott said Lincoln’s per-capita library spending is about $18, compared with a statewide median near $41—and urged continued city support where feasible.
Pilott said printed copies of the report were available and encouraged residents to review the full report included in the meeting agenda.
Next steps: the council accepted the presentation and the Friends will coordinate further with library staff and council on funding priorities; no formal action was required or taken.
