Library FY 2016 Budget Presentation Manchester Public Library

✤ Increase of $71, 478 in annual operating appropriation. ✤ Maintain as unfilled the three ‘frozen’ positions. ✤ Maintain current level of programming activities.

FY 14 –most significant event was the Accessibility Construction project at Whiton, which involved complete closure of the building for a few months

Roles on which the Library is focused ✤ ✤ ✤ Services to Children & Families Provision of Popular Materials likely to be used by residents Reference and Information for Teens and Adults

Services to Children & Families ✤ Despite the branch construction -related closing, sixth in Connecticut for number of children’s books loaned in Fiscal Year 2014 -- behind Greenwich, Fairfield, Stamford, Darien, and West Hartford Public Libraries

Long range trend, number of items borrowed 900000 800000 700000 600000 500000 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 FY 91 FY 96 FY 01 FY 13 FY 14

FY 14 Top Loaning public libraries in CT Town Total Items Loaned Town Population ✤ Greenwich 1, 271, 646 62, 396 ✤ Fairfield 956, 590 60, 855 ✤ Stamford 936, 192 126, 456 ✤ West Hartford 852, 645 63, 371 ✤ Manchester 759, 302 58, 211 ✤ Westport 663, 319 27, 308 ✤ Darien 662, 493 21, 330 ✤

Long-term trend, number of ‘reference questions’ asked annually 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 FY 1993 FY 2000 FY 2013 FY 2014

Preliminary architectural feasibility study underway ✤ ✤ The current Mary Cheney main library building does not begin to fulfill the desire for residents to have tutoring and quiet areas or public/social meeting places, and is not at all a welcoming space with adequate accessibility to the collection of materials or adequate parking. After a professional ‘survey of voters, ’ Library Board members and others have been meeting with an architect over the past few months to determine the feasibility of siting a new municipal library building on the Forest Street parking lot location. The results of that study will be reported to the Board of Directors soon.