Library leaders defend services as council weighs proposed cuts and new fees

The Public Library director presented the system
s proposed FY2027 budget of $60.8 million and outlined usage statistics—about 3 million annual visits across 30 locations, 39 computer labs and large digital service hours. Staff said physical circulation has declined while digital services have grown and that the proposed staffing model reduces positions tied to physical-material handling in favor of reassigning roles to preserve reference and programming services.

Library trustees and council members pushed back on cuts, asking for detail about which locations and programs would be affected. The presentation included proposed fee changes intended to raise revenue: staff described a $10 charge per lost item and a $20 annual fee for lost library cards, with an estimated additional revenue stream though exact estimates were discussed in the presentation. "La 1º es un aumento en el en una cuota de 10 dólares... una cuota de 20 dólares cada tarjeta que se haya perdido por año," the presenter said when outlining the fee changes. Council members requested a memorandum laying out the district-level impacts, a list of affected locations and the analytic basis for proposed staffing reductions.