Board Approves GRRL Budget for 2010
The Great River Regional Library (GRRL) Board of Trustees passed a 2010 budget at its July meeting that preserves major library services but includes a decrease of approximately $200,700 from 2009. The 2010 operating budget of $8,395,100 is 2.3 percent less than the 2009 operating budget. The 2010 capital budget will remain unchanged.
Approximately 70 percent of GRRL’s funding is provided by the six counties in which the library provides services: Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright. The contribution provided by the counties will remain at the 2009 level for 2010. The most significant drop in funding will be in Regional Library Basic System Support provided by the State of Minnesota, which will decrease by $292,100.
Several cost saving measures have been introduced for 2010 to meet the budget target, and patrons will see reductions in some core library services. Cost saving measures include:
- Four branches will be open fewer hours per week next year due to an overall decrease in patron use and demand: Albany (four hours), Eagle Bend and Kimball (five hours each), and Melrose (three hours)
- All staff will be required to take off two unpaid work days during 2010
- The Services and Contracts category of the budget will be reduced $119,200. Five databases will be eliminated based on cost and usage patterns (RefUSA, LearningExpress Library, MN Grantmakers Online, NoveList K-8, and Opposing Views) and fees for performances and programs with contracted vendors are being reduced
- The Library Materials category used to purchase, books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs will be reduced by $15,000. It is anticipated that private contributions can help make up for this deficit
