Hastings Memorial Library faces funding questions as city, board weigh future options

BY BECKY UEHLING

GRANT TRIBUNE Correspondent

The City of Grant and the Hastings Memorial Library are currently working to determine the best path forward for funding the library, with differing perspectives emerging on how to sustain services while staying within the city’s financial limits. 

At the center of the discussion is how the library is funded and whether that model is sustainable moving forward. 

The library’s primary source of funding comes from the city’s electric franchise fee — a 10% charge on local electric bills that is distributed among certain city departments.

That funding has increased over time, with the library receiving more than $139,000 in franchise fees in the most recent budget year, compared to about $66,000 in earlier years. 

However, Library Director Robin Quinn said those numbers can be misleading without additional context. 

“When you look at our budget, it looks big,” she said. “But a portion of that is grant funding we budget for but don’t always receive. When you take that out, what we’re actually spending is much less.” 

In addition to city funding, the library receives approximately $8,000 annually from Perkins County to help support services provided to residents outside city limits, along with smaller amounts from state aid, fees and donations. 

Even with those revenue sources, Quinn said rising costs have made it increasingly difficult to maintain operations. 

Over the past decade, expenses unrelated to direct library expenses, such as health insurance, building insurance and professional services such as the city’s attorney, have increased significantly, while many discretionary areas of the budget have already been reduced.

“We’ve cut what we can,” Quinn said. “Books, programming, supplies — anything that can be reduced has been reduced. However, increasing costs across the board have also made that difficult. A hardcover book is on average $4 more per book than it was five years ago. Copy paper, glue sticks, book tape, etc., all are higher.” 

Library staff say those cuts are already affecting what the library can offer. 

“We’re just trying to maintain what we have,” Assistant Librarian Val Foster said. “At the rate we’re going, we may not even be able to maintain current hours and services, much less add anything new.” 

Staffing has also become a key part of the discussion. The library currently operates with a small staff of one full-time and two part-time employees, with Quinn and Foster saying any reduction in hours or positions would have a direct impact on services. 

“If we cut staff time, that means less programming and fewer services,” Quinn said. 

Foster added that while volunteers play an important role, they cannot replace staff. 

“You still need staff here to run programs, help patrons and keep things operating,” she said. “Volunteers are wonderful, but they can’t take on everything.” 

From the city’s perspective, officials say the challenge is balancing the library’s needs with other essential services. 

City Superintendent Derek Brueggeman said the library is viewed as an important community resource that provides education, access to information and programming for residents of all ages. At the same time, he noted that the library is funded alongside other priorities such as streets, utilities and parks within the city’s overall budget. 

“The City Council must balance many essential services,” Brueggeman said. 

City officials have also pointed to comparisons with similarly sized communities, noting that Grant’s library receives more funding per capita than many others. According to information provided by the city, current library funding is approximately $116 per capita, compared to about $84 in comparable communities. 

However, Quinn pointed out that what the library provides to the community isn’t just based on what the library’s budget is. 

“Our circulation, programming, and total usage numbers are among the highest of libraries our size across the state,” Quinn said. “For example, our annual circulation numbers are around 28,000. The next library on the list has around 18,000. Our budget might be higher than other libraries, but our services are also higher quality.” 

Seeking Alternative

 Funding Options 

Another point raised by the city is that franchise fees are not a dedicated funding source and can be adjusted annually as part of the overall budget process. Because of that, city officials have encouraged the library board to explore alternative funding options. 

One possibility discussed has been a dedicated sales tax for the library, similar to the sales tax previously approved by voters to fund the community pool. City officials say a sales tax would allow voters to decide whether to support additional funding for the library while avoiding an increase in property taxes. 

However, questions remain from the library staff about how effective that approach would be in a community with limited retail activity. City officials acknowledged that no detailed analysis has been completed on how much revenue such a tax would generate locally. 

Another option discussed has been implementing fees for non-residents who use the library, though staff expressed concerns about that approach as well. 

“If people can get a free card somewhere else, they might just go there instead,” Quinn said, noting that could also shift shopping and other spending out of the community. 

The possibility of using a dedicated property tax levy for library funding — an option allowed under Nebraska law — has also been part of the discussion. 

According to the city, such a levy could generate an estimated $99,000 annually, which is less than the amount currently requested through franchise fee funding. 

City officials emphasized that no specific reduction target has been set for the library budget and that operational decisions, including staffing levels and hours, remain the responsibility of the library board within the funding provided. At the same time, conversations have focused on ensuring the library’s budget is sustainable over time. 

For library staff, the issue goes beyond numbers. 

Quinn said the library plays an important role in the community, offering not only books and materials, but also programs, technology access and a gathering space for residents of all ages. 

“When people think about where they want to live, they look at things like schools, hospitals and libraries,” she said. 

Foster echoed that sentiment, saying that the library provides services that often go unseen. 

“It’s not just checking out books,” she said. “It’s everything from helping people use computers to putting on programs and maintaining the building.” 

Both city officials and library staff said they hope continued communication will help bridge the gap between differing viewpoints. 

“The City values the work of the library board and staff,” Brueggeman said, adding that ongoing communication is key to ensuring expectations and financial realities are understood by all parties. 

Quinn said she hopes those conversations will lead to a collaborative solution. 

“I think the library is something that helps make people want to live here,” she said. “It’s not just about dollars and cents — it’s about what kind of community we want to be.”