Douglas County Libraries Board Plans for the Future

The Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees met Thursday, August 20 at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock to discuss the library district's long range plans. The Board promised to hold this meeting after implementing the following series of budget cuts and belt tightening efforts earlier this year:
- The closure of the Cherry Valley Library in June 2009.
- Cut approximately 50% of expenditures at Louviers Library.
- A $275,000 reduction to the 2009 library materials budget.
- A hiring freeze was put into effect - library staffing is being reduced through attrition, reassignment, and administrative efficiency.

Library Director, Jamie LaRue, reported the County Assessor's office is projecting a 3% - 4.7% increase in property tax revenues in 2010. LaRue says, "That will, we hope, enable us to preserve our existing hours of operation. That's good news for Louviers, which has worked so hard to help raise funds for their library. We will revisit hours and facilities at our December budget adoption." Additional money-saving measures for 2010 include installing self-service DVD/CD dispensers at library branches to free up staff while offering more materials to patrons. There are also plans for one more year of modest improvements at library branches. Many of these improvements are completely funded by private donations to the Douglas County Libraries Foundation.

If, in August 2010, it’s confirmed the lackluster revenue projections for 2011 are correct, LaRue recommended the Library Board consider reducing library hours, ceasing all capital improvements, and maintaining the hiring freeze. “However, even these changes may not be sufficient,” said LaRue.

Though Douglas County Libraries may see a modest increase in revenue in 2010 and the library carries no debt, library use and costs are rising fast. Materials checkout has increased by 10.3% in 2009 alone. David Starck, Library Trustee and Long Range Planning Committee Chairperson, said the Library Board would revisit these issues in December of 2009, to make certain the library district's cost-saving measures are on track.

The Board of Douglas County Libraries will meet at the Louviers Library (7865 Louviers Boulevard) on Thursday, September 17 and the public is invited to attend.