Notes from the Library Director’s FY11 Budget Presentation to the Dover City Council May 5, 2010
THE UPSIDE:
Ø The Library is busiest it’s ever been: set records in circulation, program attendance, public Internet hours, holds filled, and website use.
Ø 76% of Dover resident visited the library in the past year, higher than national benchmark.
Ø 86% of visitors surveyed rated us “Excellent” or ‘Good”.
Ø Library’s FY’11 book budget is proposed to increase by $2,792, 1st increase in 7 years!
Ø $12,500 has been allotted for badly needed interior woodwork and ceiling repairs.
Ø Library is just 1.2% of General Fund budget ($70.55 in taxes per avg household) yet we have over 27,000 cardholders and an average of 627 customers per day. A great bang for the buck!
THE DOWNSIDE:
Ø Library’s proposed FY’11 budget is only $4,600 higher than it was in FY’05.
Ø Staffing has decreased by 146.5 hours weekly since FY’07.
Ø Reduced staffing = loss of 3.66 people over 4 years (-22%)
Ø Saturday hours now reduced from 9-5 to 9-1.
Ø Already lost Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon hours in the current FY’10 budget.
Ø Library previously open 63.5 hrs/wk; FY’11 proposal is 52.5 hrs/wk.
Ø 17% reduction in hours over past two years.
Ø Library budget decreased by $110,000 since FY’07
Ø With 13FTEs, we are, by far, the least-staffed library among NH cities our size.
The gist of our plea to the Dover City Council on May 5 was to restore $30,000 to the library’s FY’11 operating budget. This would allow us to maintain full-day Saturdays and restore 32 hours of part-time staffing weekly.
Members of the City Council would appreciate hearing from any and all Dover citizens about the FY’11 proposed municipal budget. All City Departmental budget presentations are currently running on Channel 22 for further information.
THE UPSIDE:
Ø The Library is busiest it’s ever been: set records in circulation, program attendance, public Internet hours, holds filled, and website use.
Ø 76% of Dover resident visited the library in the past year, higher than national benchmark.
Ø 86% of visitors surveyed rated us “Excellent” or ‘Good”.
Ø Library’s FY’11 book budget is proposed to increase by $2,792, 1st increase in 7 years!
Ø $12,500 has been allotted for badly needed interior woodwork and ceiling repairs.
Ø Library is just 1.2% of General Fund budget ($70.55 in taxes per avg household) yet we have over 27,000 cardholders and an average of 627 customers per day. A great bang for the buck!
THE DOWNSIDE:
Ø Library’s proposed FY’11 budget is only $4,600 higher than it was in FY’05.
Ø Staffing has decreased by 146.5 hours weekly since FY’07.
Ø Reduced staffing = loss of 3.66 people over 4 years (-22%)
Ø Saturday hours now reduced from 9-5 to 9-1.
Ø Already lost Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon hours in the current FY’10 budget.
Ø Library previously open 63.5 hrs/wk; FY’11 proposal is 52.5 hrs/wk.
Ø 17% reduction in hours over past two years.
Ø Library budget decreased by $110,000 since FY’07
Ø With 13FTEs, we are, by far, the least-staffed library among NH cities our size.
The gist of our plea to the Dover City Council on May 5 was to restore $30,000 to the library’s FY’11 operating budget. This would allow us to maintain full-day Saturdays and restore 32 hours of part-time staffing weekly.
Members of the City Council would appreciate hearing from any and all Dover citizens about the FY’11 proposed municipal budget. All City Departmental budget presentations are currently running on Channel 22 for further information.
Posts
I would absolutely love full-day Saturdays, or even just adding in afternoon Sundays. I miss the longer hours; working in Portsmouth until 5, it's nearly impossible to get to the library to pick up books on hold before it closes, and only Mondays and Tuesdays open late is frustrating.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever offered up the idea of splitting the late nights to either Monday Wednesday, Monday Thursday, or Tuesday Thursday? The later in the week that there are late nights, the easier it would be. Don't know how it would be for other patrons, but would likely be beneficial.