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West Burlington library wins federal exhibit grant, warns budget at risk from state levy change
Summary
Library director Britney Jacobs told the city council that the Burlington Public Library secured two federal grants — including a nearly $200,000 Holocaust exhibit — and outlined capital plans and a $1.6 million municipal budget, while warning that a state action referred to as "House 78" could remove about 65% of the library levy funding.
Britney Jacobs presented the Burlington public library's annual report to the West Burlington City Council, highlighting new federal grants, capital projects and a warning about looming budget uncertainty. Jacobs said the library received two federal-level grants this year, including a nearly $200,000 traveling Holocaust exhibit scheduled for August 2026 and a $10,000 "Libraries Transforming Communities" grant to expand collection access.
Jacobs said the Holocaust exhibit selection was competitive: "We were one of 50 libraries chosen nationally," and the exhibit is expected to draw significant visitation. The library is projecting that the exhibit could attract about 50,000 visitors during the six-week run and is coordinating regional marketing and partner programming to maximize community benefit.
The presentation summarized FY24 services and partnerships, noting the system holds roughly 172,000 physical items and serves both the city and surrounding counties through contracts and Open Access. Jacobs described program changes aimed at accessibility and sustainability, including a redesigned entryway to reduce walking for patrons with mobility issues, expanded summer-reading programming for all ages, and a partnership with the Burlington Renewable Energy Commission to plan energy improvements.
On funding and capital plans, the library reported a $1.6 million municipal budget contribution, with approximately 30% identified as operations. Jacobs described a capital plan that includes installing a solar-powered bus shelter with device charging, re-zoning electrical systems for better lighting control on the public floor, technology upgrades for meeting rooms and a year-round bookmobile. "We are looking at solar panels of some capacity for offsetting our electric costs," she said, while noting the library currently pays nearly $100,000 annually for electricity and that Alliant provided a recent energy audit.
Jacobs cautioned that state-level changes could sharply reduce local revenue. She told the council the library is in "a bit of a financial limbo" following a legislative measure she referred to as "House 78," which she said could remove about 65% of the library's levy support; she said staff are monitoring the situation and will report back as details become available.
The council asked for numbers on expected solar savings and other capital-cost projections; Jacobs said staff are running baseline scenarios with Alliant and do not yet have concrete savings estimates.
Looking ahead, the library described capital and program priorities it hopes to pursue regardless of budget outcomes, and Jacobs stressed the role of private partners: the Friends of the Library fund programming and a foundation supports capital investments. "We stretch dollars and multiply them," she said, noting the library's mix of municipal and private funding.
The council did not take action on funding at the meeting; Jacobs will return to the council with additional financial details and any changes to capital planning if state actions affect the library levy.
