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Greenburgh library proposes security staff and a possible third night as e‑book costs surge
Summary
Library director Christina Linder told the Town Board the library is adding security coverage to protect staff and maintain programming, proposed roughly $200,000 in staffing increases (including security), and highlighted rising e-book licensing costs that are driving circulation expenses.
Christina Linder, director of the Greenburgh Public Library, told the Town Board the library's proposed budget includes increased staffing and contracted security to free librarians from safety‑related duties and support expanded programming.
Linder said allied security has been hired for all open hours (56 hours per week) and the library is exploring part‑time off‑duty officers as an alternative. "We have a security guard now every hour the library is open," she said, and added the change has already freed staff to focus on service and programming.
The director said the largest budget pressure is personnel: "We're talking about security and adding security...the biggest increase is in the salary line," she said, estimating roughly $200,000 in increased personnel costs when accounting for new positions and COLA adjustments. Linder explained a $20,000 increase in the part‑time line could help pilot a third night of evening service but cautioned that union contracts and potential need for additional full‑time staff complicate any immediate change.
Board members asked about the library's fund balance and capital needs. Linder said the library's end‑of‑year fund balance was about $2,122,000 before recent draws for security cameras and a building canopy; she said those balances are intended for capital and maintenance needs such as the roof rather than ongoing programming.
Linder also described steep e‑book licensing costs that affect operating expenses. She said publishers set different pricing for libraries — for example, a title a consumer buys for $14.99 can cost the library substantially more to license for circulation, sometimes with time‑limited licenses. "Our e‑book circulation is 97,000 checkouts already this year," she said, noting the cost burden is significant and an ongoing issue for libraries nationwide.
No formal action was taken at the work session; Linder said the library board will finalize its internal decisions on fund‑balance draws and staffing lines before the town adopts a budget.
