2025 Budget - Peterborough Public Library

The Library's 2025 budget reflects a continuation of service delivery of library programming, activities, and events. The Library is seeing an increase in technology costs associated with software licenses and product subscription fees. The costs associated with our library book vendors and digital collections have also increased, largely due to publisher agreements and the fluctuating US dollar exchange rate. There has been a notable overall increase in digital collection usage since 2020.

A new library branch was approved as part of the Miskin Law Community Complex at Morrow Park, which opened in late 2024. Funds were included in the 2024 budget to recognize the costs of operating the new branch for the 4th quarter, with the full funding impact for the branch being seen in the 2025 budget year.

In 2024, the Library purchased a fully electric courier van. This fleet vehicle will be used to transport materials to the kiosk locations, between branches, and to programs and events. Staff travel costs will be reduced in the long term as the van is introduced and utilized.

The Library Division has requested a new staff position not included in the budget. This request can be found in Section 4 Staffing Requests not included in the Draft 2025 Budget.

Collections Acquisition (Capital budget)

The library must continuously renew the contents of the collection as items become dated, worn, lost, or simply lose their appeal. Beyond acquiring all the desired formats, the Library must also meet the challenge of providing appropriate and accessible shelving for them.
As new formats are introduced, the Library has broadened its collection to include large print, e-books, downloadable audiobooks, CD-books, and MP3 formats to meet the needs of the Peterborough community. Large Print, DVDs, and audiobooks continue to be high-demand items in the collection.

The Library maintains a zero-growth practice for the physical collection. For every item purchased, an equivalent one is withdrawn. Collection growth and expansion are also managed through the purchase of electronic resources and the downloadable collection. Circulation statistics have shown an increase and demonstrate a growing use of our electronic collection, particularly e-audiobooks and streaming services. Increasing item costs, publisher restrictions, exchange rates, and licensing for digital formats make meeting demands challenging.

Interactive Budget

Explore the City's budget using the interactive OpenBook feature, including expenses by department and division as well as a breakdown of what a typical residential property taxpayer pays per $100,000 of assessment.

• Expenses page - Peterborough Public Library in OpenBook

The full budget information is available in the Draft 2025 Budget book.