Everett Public Library reports 12% budget cut in 2025; board adopts strategic plan to seek restored funding

Abigail (Abby) Cooley, director of the Everett Public Library, and Joshua Glasgow, board president, presented the library's 2025 annual update at the Jan. 14 council meeting and outlined a draft 2026–2028 strategic plan.

Cooley told the council the library experienced "an approximately 12% budget reduction" in 2025, reduced service hours from 96 to 72 per week, and cut the materials budget by about $230,000. The presentation described staffing declines (more than six full‑time positions reduced from 2024 to 2025 and over 19 FTEs since 2018), curtailed services such as hot spot lending, and impacts on programming and evening/weekend access.

The library highlighted its partnerships and community programs, noting it served roughly a quarter million visitors in 2025, ran nearly 500 programs (drawing over 13,000 attendees), and for every $1 budgeted the director estimated a $2.13 community return. Cooley and trustees urged the council to consider restored funding and said the board's goal is to return library services to full funding by 2027; the board is scheduled to vote on the final strategic plan on Jan. 21.

Councilmembers thanked library staff and requested updated cost estimates to reopen branches full time as the council considers budget options.