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Board reviews budget projection, children's-area redesign fundraising and facilities maintenance needs
Summary
Trustees reviewed five‑year budget projections, discussed capital priorities including an estimated $65,000 children’s-area redesign, and heard buildings-and‑grounds recommendations (maintenance contracts, carpet cleaning, HVAC shroud replacement to reduce damaging humidity). The foundation has formed a fundraising committee to support the redesign.
Board members at the June 22 Franklin Public Library meeting reviewed the library’s year‑to‑date finances and a five‑year projection, discussed capital priorities for 2027 and beyond, and heard a buildings-and‑grounds update that included plans to address high humidity that has been damaging collection materials.
A finance summary presented to the board showed Fund 15 revenue near budgeted levels and Fund 16 tracking at roughly 40% of budget; staff flagged that some city-posted utility bills were not included in the packet, which affects near-term accuracy of the utility projections. The board reviewed a spreadsheet that applies assumed percentages for utilities, wages and inflation to prior budgets to create a planning projection for 2027 and 2028. Members noted capital and personnel requests to the city are due at the end of July; larger capital work will be submitted through the city’s budget process once the city provides final numbers.
The board discussed a proposed children’s-area redesign. A ballpark figure of about $65,000 was cited for carpeting, painting and lower shelving; the library’s foundation has formed a fundraising committee and several community donors and volunteers have pledged to help. Board members asked that family input be sought on design plans and discussed having a board representative on the foundation committee.
In facilities updates, the buildings-and‑grounds committee reported looking into a commercial carpet cleaner and recommended broader maintenance contracts for major systems. Staff reported that an air-handler shroud will be replaced; Jennifer Lol, a library staff member, said the change should reduce humidity levels that had caused "our books [to] curl up," and that maintaining humidity in the low 40s is important to preserve materials. The board asked staff to collect multiple quotes for maintenance work and to bring clarifying cost details to future meetings.
Next steps include confirming packet figures for invoice and utility amounts, finalizing fundraising and design work for the children’s area, and returning with contractor quotes for capital/maintenance projects before funds are committed.
