Peterborough Library budgets for maintenance and programming; reports new outreach librarian and award-winning renovation

Corrine Chronopoulos, representing the Peterborough Town Library, presented the library's FY26 overview and budget at the Jan. 28 joint meeting, highlighting programming expansions, a recent building refresh and modest budget growth.

Chronopoulos said the library board oversees the director role and budget and that the library recently hired Rebecca Enmen as Program and Outreach Librarian to expand family, teen and adult programming. She noted the Kyes-Sage building received fresh paint and that the campus includes a front bookstore and a biomass system at the rear. Chronopoulos said the library's renovation received a New Hampshire honor award for excellence in architectural design.

The library updated its public catalogue with a new overlay that staff said is more user-friendly. Chronopoulos provided operational statistics: the library is open 48 hours per week, staffs a minimum of three employees at any time, and averages just over 200 visitors per day. She said the annual fee for a nonresident library card is $85 and the library serves about 120 nonresident cardholders.

Chronopoulos said the library's budget rose 2.7%, driven by merit/COLA adjustments, higher maintenance costs (notably elevator upkeep) and a small increase in spending on digital resources. She said the 1833 Society, an affiliated nonprofit, continues to raise funds for the library endowment. When asked for a revenue breakdown, Chronopoulos said the budget summary shows revenue contributed to the town but that she would provide more detailed revenue-stream figures to the committee if they wanted them.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the library appropriation at the meeting; the budget will move forward through the committee process.