Memorandum 17-081 Operational Cost Reductions at the Library

Memorandum 17-081

TO:                        LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD

THROUGH:        MAYOR ZAK AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM:                 COUNCILMEMBER TOM STROOZAS

DATE:                   MAY 22, 2017

SUBJECT:          OPERATIONAL COST REDUCTIONS AT HOMER PUBLIC LIBRARY

The purpose of this memo is to invite the Library Advisory Board to work collaboratively with Homer City Council in coming up with innovative measures for reducing operating expenses at the Library while maintaining the highest level of operational effectiveness possible.

At the May 8th work session the Library Advisory Board presented to the Homer City Council the results of many months of work on how to increase revenue to the Library from non-city residents, per the direction of Resolution 16-126. This work provided valuable information and useful strategies for sharing the expense of library services more broadly. Nevertheless, as the City of Homer continues to face budget constraints and uncertainty from the State, it is important to have both options to increase revenue and reduce expenses on the table as the Council struggles to find a balance between the level of service and what Homer taxpayers can afford.

The Library Advisory Board is in the best position to advise the Council on potential mechanisms to reduce the operating budget of the Library, including but not limited to a reduction in the hours of operation, the impact those would have, and the prioritization of certain measures over others. The Homer City Council would welcome the LAB’s input on how to achieve a 5-15 percent reduction in the operating budget of the Homer Public Library with the least amount of impact to patrons. The Homer City Council feels it is important to initiate this conversation well in advance of the 2018 budget cycle so the most thoughtful ideas can come forward with input from the public.