AUBURN – Opening a new $7 million library was just the start, according to library backers.
Director Rosemary Waltos said the newly renovated Auburn Public Library needs to devote some money to new books, magazines and audio-video supplies.
“Beginning in about 2002, we started to chip away at our budget for new library materials,” Waltos said. They reduced that budget from $115,000 to $73,000 and have increased it little since then.
“This year, we’re hoping to increase that by $6,000,” she told city councilors.
The library reopened last week in its refurbished 30,000 -square-foot space.
The proposed library budget calls for $1.03 million in spending, a $69,259 increase to the budget councilors approved for the library a year ago.
Backers are also aiming to increase donations, fines and other revenue for the library by 71.5 percent. Waltos said the goal is to bring in $144,639 in other revenues.
That would trim the city’s share of the budget to $885,623, a $47,666 increase compared to last year.
The new budget includes $22,000 in more spending for salaries and $38,000 in new spending for maintenance and repair at the Spring Street library.
The city hopes to save about $21,000 by not having to rent space in the Auburn Mall, Waltos said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.