New library director outlines recovery of funds, hiring and service priorities

Emerson Demeester Lane, who became director of the Tompkins County Public Library in January, briefed the Government Operations Committee on work completed in his first quarter and on priorities heading into budget season.

Lane said he has taken a conservative approach to hiring while filling a business‑office vacancy in June, resolved arrears with the Finger Lakes Library System (about $337,000 in purchases), and recovered nearly $92,000 from the City of Ithaca for prior years and Sunday‑hours reimbursements. "We have retained our status as a central library of the Finger Lakes Library System," he said, and added roughly 12,000 items to the collection this year.

Lane described ongoing union negotiations, work to strengthen donor relationships through the library foundation and plans for façade repairs in coordination with county facilities. Members asked for clearer budget breakdowns on restricted and earmarked funds and urged the director to present detailed spending plans during budget hearings.

He also said he wants better measures of usage (beyond cardholder counts) and plans to explore exterior book drop locations and improved parking and accessibility for patrons. The committee praised recent operational improvements and encouraged the library to come prepared with detailed budget lines in the next round of deliberations.