Library requests restored line item, cites surge in summer programs and e‑book use

Tanya Garden, who presented the library’s annual overview, told the commissioners the library has seen notable program growth and rising digital usage and asked that the county restore a $2,500 line item to support operations and outreach. “Book Buddies is our most popular event,” Garden said, noting the program pairs adult volunteers with children for 30‑minute reading sessions. She reported 15,292 e‑book checkouts last year and said the library contributes about $3,000 to a regional e‑book consortium to expand the digital collection.

Garden walked the court through line‑item details and proposed adjustments: office supplies ($2,000), library supplies (which includes library card purchases at roughly $0.65 each), and a requested $2,500 to buy young‑adult books after an unsuccessful external grant. She said the friend‑group provides about $3,000 annually for children’s books and asked the court to consider shifting small newspaper/subscription funds into book purchases. “I asked for a $4,000 increase in the hopes that I could get more” young‑adult titles, Garden said, describing a prioritized Ingram list priced at about $2,492 for roughly 192 titles.

Commissioners questioned hours, staffing and whether the library could expand service days. Garden said current public hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., and that Saturday openings previously proved hard to staff. She said volunteers are essential and requested more male volunteers for the Book Buddies program to provide additional role models for boys.

Garden also raised accreditation requirements: she said state rules will soon require a master’s degree–level librarian on staff, a credential she said is costly to obtain. She described the library’s strategy of buying digital content through a consortium to stretch limited dollars and said she would prefer funds be redirected to acquisitions rather than to a Dallas Morning News subscription the county currently underfunds.

The court did not take a vote on the request at the workshop. Commissioners encouraged Garden to work with staff on the final budget document and supported finding additional volunteer capacity where possible. The court scheduled follow‑up items as part of the remaining budget workshops and the public hearing on the proposed budget.