Library budget drops $1 million

As it awaits a new Canfield library and major main library renovations, the library system has nearly $24 million in its building and repair fund.

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The board of trustees of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has approved a revised general fund budget of $18,634,200 for 2013 and a preliminary 2014 budget of $17,644,560.

The 2014 figure is nearly $1 million lower than that for 2013 because of a decline of about $500,000 in state funding and one-time spending in 2013 for equipment for self-checkout of library materials, said Susan G. Merriman, library fiscal officer.

The 15-branch library system expects to carry over $3,260,770 from 2013 into 2014 in its general fund, which is its main operating fund, Merriman said.

As it awaits construction of the new Canfield library on the same site as the existing one and major renovations to its 103-year-old main library building, the library system has $23,918,560 accumulated in its building and repair fund, Merriman said after Thursday’s board meeting.

Heidi Daniel, library director, said architect Ronald Cornell Faniro is expected to unveil his drawings for the new Canfield library at a public comment meeting concerning that project in January.

The library system expects to complete its Library 2020 strategic plan next month, Daniel said.

Since the library system began offering instant online streaming and temporary downloading of movies, TV shows, music and audiobooks to cardholders via its Hoopla service on Oct. 1, some 824 users have signed up for this service and 1,902 items have circulated in this program, Daniel told the board.

Since the late October launch of the Zinio digital magazine service through the library’s web site, 644 titles have been checked out, she added.