Library Budget Focuses on E-Content, IT

The New Canaan Library's 2010-2011 budget proposal is brought to you by the letter "E". The library hopes to add about 4 percent to the collections line in 2010-2011 with the aim of offering more electronic content, and to more than double the IT line to upgrade much-used technology resources. 

"Today when we buy a book, we buy it in regular print, we buy a book on CD, we might have it in e-audio and in this upcoming year we'll probably be focusing on growing downloadable e-books," said Alice Knapp, Executive Director of the library.

The library board is coming up with a plan to expand the collection of e-books the circulated for devices like the Kindle. Knapp hopes to start making these resources available by the end of March, 2010.

The library wants to spend 69.41 percent more on information technology in the upcoming fiscal year, about $16,100 of that for the purchase of  two new file servers for the circulation system and catalog that had been been on hold, to buy software to convert an existing computer to a self-checkout station, and to install a SMARTboard in the Plaut Room. Knapp says use of library computers by patrons has jumped nearly 20 percent since 2005, and she's also planning to use the balance of the IT funds to return those PC's and other technology used by the public to a regular upgrade schedule.

Knapp says use of the library overall has grown dramatically in recent years, with circulation up 25 percent and program attendance up 31 percent. The library serves about 1,200 patrons a day, and that's  put a strain on the aging building and stretched the staff thin.

"Since the number of people walking through the doors has increased, the number of people using the restrooms has increased and the number of people sitting in our chairs has increased," Knapp said. "And so, (there is) wear and tear on the building. And this is an aging building." 

The big facelift proposed for the upcoming fiscal year: replacing the carpet in the Lapham Wing, some of which has not been replaced since that addition was built in 1979.

As they roll out the new carpet, the library wants to roll out more service. The library's budget proposal includes the addition of more part-time help—the equivalent of 1.7 full-time staff.

"Our job is, when somebody walks in that door and they want either a book or a piece of information, we have it for them at that moment. They are working so hard to provide great service but at the same time there is only so much they can do because the volume has increased dramatically," Knapp said.

The library is requesting that the town contribute 78 percent of the $2,373,965 bottom line, which would represent a nearly 11 percent increase in the municipal portion compared  to the current fiscal year. The rest would be covered by a $350,000 annual appeal, Friends of the Library donations, grants, library fines, and other revenues.