By Dot Bergin
At the January, 2014 Trustees’ meeting, library director Richard Callaghan presented the Library’s 2015 budget totaling $1,224, 637 to the Trustees. He explained that the budget is 2 percent over the FinCom guidelines, attributable mainly to needed increases in staff hours. For instance, the request would cover a boost in hours from 20 to 40 for the Young Adult librarian and an increase in hours for staff on the Circulation desk.
Demand for services continues to increase as Bedford residents make heavy use of materials and programs. As Callaghan pointed out, the Library has been running on a “thin margin” for the past six to seven years. Main driver of the modest budget increase is salaries, followed by bigger electric bills. The Trustees gave their approval to the budget.
In his report, Callaghan mentioned that despite cold weather and holidays, December and January have been busy months. The Downton Abbey tea parties were well attended, and one unusual program about “needle felting” was taught by a professional craftsperson and was a great success with patrons. Both of these special programs were made possible by funding from the Friends of the Library.
Looking ahead, Callaghan outlined upcoming programs sure to attract a number of residents: AARP’s volunteer-led tax help program; a Chinese New Year celebration; Parenting in America: A Cross-Cultural View; and a program on The Beatles.
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