The Windsor Public Library is asking city council for a $137,000 bump to its operating budget.
In 2017, the city spent just over $8.1-million funding the library system.
If approved, the new spending will pay for a temporary financial analyst, a full-time position to expand the library's Tech Hub and a coordinator for the Book Buddy program.
Windsor Public Library CEO Kitty Pope says the system is no longer getting grants to cover the Book Buddy program and hopes council will approve the extra funding to keep it going.
"Oh my gosh," says Pope. "First of all, parents are thrilled when they've got someone helping their kid learn how to read. The children, at first, are usually a little reticent, like, 'Really?' Then, they get to meet their volunteer, they become friends and ultimately it becomes a really nice partnership."
AM800 file photo
Pope says the system needs to keep on a temporary financial analyst as part of a continued integration with city hall.
"As we migrate to a financial platform that's part of the city, we just need some more staff to make that happen. [The city] funded it last year and so [the city will] continue this year — hopefully, by the end of this year we'll be on board with the city," says Pope.
A report to the board shows to avoid an increase to the operating budget would mean one of the system's smaller branches would have to close.
The board also approved a capital budget (2018-2023) of just over $2.3-million-dollars which includes $400,000 in HVAC and boiler system repairs at the Central library branch.
The board's recommended operating and capital budgets now need council approval.