Library System Board Adopts 2008 Budget

In 2008, the Library System’s Administrative Office is projected to receive $4,772,600 in county and state tax revenue. This is an increase of 1.7%.

Of these funds:

• 61% ($2,904,025) will be distributed directly to member libraries;
• 27% ($1,296,260) will be used to provide library services from the system's administrative Office (for more information on these expenditures, see below);
• 10% ($463,344) will be transferred to the Strategic Development Fund;
• 1.6% ($75,000) will be designated as a Technology Fund for future integrated library system software upgrades;
• Less than 1% (.7% or $33,971) will be transferred to fully fund the system’s 90-Day Contingency Fund.

In addition to the state and county funds listed above ($1,296,260) the administrative office will also receive $184,009 in revenue from federal Library Services and Technology grants, interest revenue and miscellaneous gifts, plus have a carryover balance of $91,661. This brings the total amount of money available for 2008’s administrative office expenditures to $1,572,290.

The adopted 2008 administrative office budget for the library system has six components, totaling $1,523,614 in expenditures:

1. Computer Services — Computer services are largest percentage of the administrative office budget ($510,436 or 31%). These services directly offset member library costs for supporting computers. Costs include staff and computer hardware/software upgrades, maintenance and telecommunications costs for the county’s 300-PC wide area network using Horizon library management software for circulation, cataloging, online public access catalogs, and Internet services.
2. Technical Services — 27% of the budget ($447,671) provides member libraries with 'back-office' support for the purchase, cataloging and processing of library materials. These services directly offset member library costs for staff and bibliographic database support fees. Cataloging services are used by all member libraries.
3. Direct Library Services — 16% of the budget ($262,310) is used to provide direct library services. Costs include health insurance reimbursements for an estimated 29 full-time and 4 part-time staff members, online reference databases, Internet services, library supplies (e.g. library cards, book jackets, labels, audio/DVD cases, etc.), library delivery services, advertising, printing and programming.
4. Administrative and Advocacy Services— 7% of the budget ($117,271) is for administrative and advocacy services. Costs include staff, training, mileage reimbursement and professional services not directly associated with a particular service area. Activities include service planning, coordination and evaluation, bookkeeping, policy development, advocacy and public relations.
5. Staff & Board Training Services — 6% of the budget ($101,835) provides training services for staff and trustees at all member libraries. In 2007, approximately 360 member library staff were trained — most of whom were new employees. Costs include staff, professional collection and training materials, staff development and workshop fees.
6. STAR Outreach Services — 4% of the budget ($69,338) provides STAR Services for about 200 homebound Cumberland County seniors and 55 senior facilities. STAR (Service to Adult Readers) provides free, personalized selection and delivery of large print and audio book library materials. Costs include staff and large print and audio library materials.

For more information on library system finance, including detailed budgets, budget analysis and audits, check out the About Us page on the library system' website..