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Oakland Public Library explains 11.55% statutory levy increase and highlights program growth
Summary
Library director Peter Havel told the council the library's levy is set by a state formula and is projected to rise about 11.55%; he also reported rising usage (about 6,300 registered borrowers, 115,000 circulations in 2025) and described investments in e-resources, a new classroom and community programming.
Peter Havel, speaking for the Oakland Public Library at the borough council's March 17 budget presentation, told council members that the library's tax levy is determined by state statute and that the library's levy for 2026 is set to increase by about 11.55.
Havel, who identified himself as library director and noted the library is managed by the Library Board of Trustees in trust, presented activity metrics showing the library had "over 6,300 registered borrowers," circulated "more than a 115,000 items" in 2025, and hosted roughly 52,000 visitors — all figures he said were increases from the prior year. He described library services that include a significant materials budget (physical materials, DVDs, CDs, audio books, video games), museum passes, and rising e-resource use through services such as Hoopla and Overdrive/Libby.
Havel outlined developments intended to expand access and programming: a recently completed lower-level classroom that the library will use for an "OPL Academy" of educational courses for children and adults; ongoing makerspace and local-history resources; and broad programming and room use available to residents and nonprofit groups. He also detailed efforts to manage building maintenance (an older building with a slate roof and challenging HVAC) and acknowledged that the library's budget can fluctuate with changes in equalized valuation and grants, noting the library board aims to avoid overextending resources.
Havel said some library investments are supplemented by the New Friends of the Oakland Public Library, which supports purchases such as best sellers, museum passes and program furnishing. He also described membership in a regional delivery consortium (which the transcript identified as "Bubbles") that speeds interlibrary loans and a paid faster delivery system adopted after state delivery interruptions during COVID.
On process, staff reiterated the library levy number is formula-driven and therefore largely out of council control; council members asked clarifying questions about services, staffing and the board's oversight. Havel invited residents to attend library-trustee meetings (the second Thursday of each month) and to suggest services the community would like to see.
Next steps: the library budget will receive further review as part of the borough's department-level hearings scheduled for Wednesday. The library director encouraged questions directly to library staff for follow-up.
Sources and attributions: Reporting above is based on Peter Havel's presentation to the Oakland Borough Council and figures he provided in the March 17 meeting.
