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Library director urges restored administrative staff, cites vendor disruption that delayed book orders
Summary
Lawrence Public Library director Janella Brew asked the Budget & Finance Committee to restore assistant-administrative roles and keep collection funding that meets the state municipal appropriation requirement; assistant director Crystal Aras said Baker & Taylor’s bankruptcy delayed orders and the library shifted vendors and will expend the remaining funds by June 30.
Janella Brew, director of the Lawrence Public Library, told the Budget & Finance Committee that the library’s FY27 request restores administrative positions and increases collection and staff-development lines to meet the state municipal appropriation requirement (MAR). Brew said the department met the MAR target and that changes in the union collective bargaining agreement are reflected in personnel costs.
Brew told councillors that the library is “rebuilding what was taken down 15 years ago,” including administrative capacity that previously included an associate director, two assistant directors and an executive assistant. She said restoring that structure is part of succession planning and necessary to preserve the library’s state certification and to manage grants and community engagement tied to the five-year strategic plan.
Assistant Director Crystal Aras described an unexpected procurement disruption after Baker & Taylor—the library’s primary vendor for physical materials—declared bankruptcy midyear. Aras said the library delayed major orders until alternative vendors (Ingram Library Services and Mackin/Macken Book Company) were vetted and that the roughly $11,485 shown as FY26 actuals will be expended by June 30 to meet state certification requirements. “We did not start ordering our materials until January of 2026,” Aras said, adding that the team worked to encumber invoices so certification would not be jeopardized.
Councillors asked about the proposed assistant director role and a program outreach coordinator. Brew and Aras said the outreach position evolved from a previously grant-funded literacy coordinator (the library had a $50,000 grant-supported part-time literacy coordinator) and that the outreach title broadens responsibilities to include partnerships, multilingual communications and measurable KPIs tied to a 5-year plan. Brew said the library attached KPIs (hire communications/outreach staff by Q2 FY26; achieve a 20% increase in community awareness by year-end) to justify the request.
Committee members praised the department’s expanded summer, evening and weekend hours and the new courtyard “Books and Melodies” program. Councillors also raised security-camera inventory and ordinance requirements; Brew said the library has cameras on every floor and had already sought vendor quotes for phased upgrades but noted a general councilwide process will be followed before broader purchases or installations.
The library hearing concluded with Brew emphasizing the link between sustained municipal support for library staffing, outreach and collections and the city’s ability to secure grants and maintain certification. The committee will consider the library’s request as part of the FY27 packet sent to the full council.
