Library staff preview CLC annual report, budget priorities, programs and strategic planning
March 17, 2026 | Appleton City, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
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Library staff used the meeting to brief trustees on organizational priorities including the CLC (City-sized Libraries Collaboration) 2025 annual report, active hiring processes, budget composition and emerging programs.
The presentation outlined that CLC — a 13-member group of mid-sized Wisconsin libraries — is building a 2025–26 data dashboard to visualize per-capita state annual-report data to inform strategic planning. Staff said the CLC group formed in 2021 to address challenges faced by libraries serving 30,000–100,000 people and that two additional libraries joined in 2025.
On staffing, staff reported three ongoing recruitments: an administrative support specialist (replacement for a departed employee), a part-time tech services page/clerk to be filled internally and an assistant supervisor for returns following a resignation. Staff said they received over 90 applicants for one administrative posting and will begin interviews April 1.
On budget and capital projects, staff described the library as part of the city general fund (~$5.2 million city budget; library roughly 7% of that), with personnel representing about 73% of library spending and materials circulation near $600,000. Staff described two capital-improvement projects: network/security upgrades already underway and a proposed solar CIP; the solar work would be funded from sustainability credits produced by recent building work, and staff emphasized it is not expected to require additional property tax dollars.
Programs and partnerships highlighted included expanded children’s and teen spaces, job fairs and career help (101 attendees at a recent job fair), the Fox Cities Reads author event (more than 500 attendees), an artist-in-residence program (photographer Justin Key scheduled for April events), expanded health-literacy programming and a recently installed American Heart Association standing blood-pressure monitor plus loanable cuffs that circulate.
Library staff framed strategic planning as an opportunity to incorporate community voice; staff asked trustees to help publicize engagement opportunities and said the new dashboard will inform planning and help the board and staff align on building uses and services.
Quote: “The public library is a First Amendment institution … your privacy is protected,” a staff presenter said while describing the library’s role in access to information and confidentiality protections under state law.
Next steps: staff will continue recruitment, advance the network and solar CIPs with facilities, publish the annual report and launch the strategic-planning engagement calendar for public input.
The presentation outlined that CLC — a 13-member group of mid-sized Wisconsin libraries — is building a 2025–26 data dashboard to visualize per-capita state annual-report data to inform strategic planning. Staff said the CLC group formed in 2021 to address challenges faced by libraries serving 30,000–100,000 people and that two additional libraries joined in 2025.
On staffing, staff reported three ongoing recruitments: an administrative support specialist (replacement for a departed employee), a part-time tech services page/clerk to be filled internally and an assistant supervisor for returns following a resignation. Staff said they received over 90 applicants for one administrative posting and will begin interviews April 1.
On budget and capital projects, staff described the library as part of the city general fund (~$5.2 million city budget; library roughly 7% of that), with personnel representing about 73% of library spending and materials circulation near $600,000. Staff described two capital-improvement projects: network/security upgrades already underway and a proposed solar CIP; the solar work would be funded from sustainability credits produced by recent building work, and staff emphasized it is not expected to require additional property tax dollars.
Programs and partnerships highlighted included expanded children’s and teen spaces, job fairs and career help (101 attendees at a recent job fair), the Fox Cities Reads author event (more than 500 attendees), an artist-in-residence program (photographer Justin Key scheduled for April events), expanded health-literacy programming and a recently installed American Heart Association standing blood-pressure monitor plus loanable cuffs that circulate.
Library staff framed strategic planning as an opportunity to incorporate community voice; staff asked trustees to help publicize engagement opportunities and said the new dashboard will inform planning and help the board and staff align on building uses and services.
Quote: “The public library is a First Amendment institution … your privacy is protected,” a staff presenter said while describing the library’s role in access to information and confidentiality protections under state law.
Next steps: staff will continue recruitment, advance the network and solar CIPs with facilities, publish the annual report and launch the strategic-planning engagement calendar for public input.
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