Public Library

FY 2023-24 Budget

Mission Statement

  • To support the City of Rochester’s Mission, Vision, and Values by enriching the quality of life in Rochester and Monroe County by providing educational, recreational, aesthetic, and informational materials, services, and programs to help people follow their own lines of inquiry and enlightenment.
  • The mission of the Rochester Public Library (the Library) is to engage the community in life-long learning for all through equal access to information, technology, gathering spaces, and expert staff. Its vision is that community members live rich and fulfilling lives through their relationships with the Library. The values that the Library supports are: Community; Learning and Knowledge; Imagination and Innovation; Diversity and Inclusiveness; and Engagement and Collaboration.
  • In all its endeavors, the Library maintains and promotes the principles of intellectual freedom and equality of access.

Organization

The Library consists of the Central Library, which includes Monroe County Library System support services, and Community Library, which includes the branch libraries. In accordance with New York State Education Law, the Library is governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. The Mayor appoints trustees, with the approval of City Council, for five-year terms.

Departmental Highlights

The Library continues to expand and diversify services and resources. The Library collaborates with organizations across the community and has over 30 partners programs at Central and Branch locations. In 2023, the partnership with Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) resulted in 3,600 successful tax returns for participants. In 2023-24 the Library will expand outreach services through a partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Art and Design (RIT) to design and retrofit a van for mobile services based out of the Lyell Branch. These expanded services include additional storytimes at daycare centers, delivery of free library children's materials to community locations, new programs for adult day supervision sites, increased resources to support the school program at the Monroe County Jail, and attendance at community events to increase exposure and awareness of library services. The two positions initially created through Racial and Structural Equity (RASE) funding are now permanently funded in the 2023-24 Library budget.


A significant number of capital projects are either underway or in the planning process. Lincoln Branch renovations conclude in June 2023 and patrons will be able to enjoy the updated and improved facilities throughout 2023-24. Design and expansion planning efforts begin for the Maplewood Branch in response to the high usage of the branch. As part of the Rundel Memorial Library Masonry and Window Restoration project, restorations will begin thus ensuring the continued preservation and upkeep of this historic landmark.

Rochester Public Library

Customers:

  • External: All users of library products, services, facilities; special populations; institutions, agencies, organizations; funding bodies; businesses; other libraries
  • Internal: Neighborhood and Business Development including Neighborhood Service Centers, Department of Recreation and Human Services, and Financial Empowerment Centers

Critical Processes:

  • Our valued and culturally diverse staff provides convenient and reliable services and dynamic collections that anticipate the needs of our community
  • Our attractive and inviting facilities enable us to meet the specific library service needs of neighborhoods
  • We play a leadership role in facilitating independent learning in order to help people lead more productive and fulfilling lives
  • We help bridge the digital divide by loaning MiFi hotspots for internet access at home

Central Library

Critical Processes:

  • Provide personnel, financial management, consulting, public relations, promotions, graphics, and duplicating services
  • Provide support and outreach services to members of the Monroe County Library System
  • Provide internet service to libraries county-wide

Community Library

Critical Processes:

  • Acquire materials and schedule and deploy personnel to branch libraries
  • Maintain and repair branch libraries
  • Provide convenient access to library services through:
    • Loans of printed materials, audio recordings, compact discs, dvds, and electronic materials
    • Collections of popular interest for area residents
    • Reference services with access to the resources of the Monroe County Library System
    • Programs such as story hours, lectures, artistic performances, English language learning, and school tutoring
    • Referral services to community agencies
    • Facilities for meetings and programs sponsored by non-library groups
    • Access to the internet and personal computing needs

Strategic Initiatives

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Appropriation by Major Object - Central Library

Appropriation by Activity - Central Library

Year to Year Comparison - Central Library

PROGRAM and Service Level CHANGES

The 2023-24 budget includes the elimination of library fines, which will allow for more equitable access to learning through libraries. The Library will examine the feasibility of a City and County shared historian service. Additionally, the Library will prioritize upcoming capital projects by adding a temporary Manager of Library Projects position. Library personnel changes reflect the evolution of services libraries provide to the community.

Central Library Personnel Summary: Full Time

central library Personnel Summary: Other than Full Time

Appropriation by Major Object - community library

Appropriation by Activity - Community Library

Year to Year Comparison - Community Library

PROGRAM and Service Level CHANGES

Circulation and library visits continue to bounce back after a sharp drop during the pandemic. The Literacy Aide program continues in Summer 2023 with support from the Summer of Opportunity Program. The Lincoln Branch will re-open to the public in July 2023. Funding for security increases to ensure that libraries continue to be safe places for learning.

Community library Personnel Summary: Full Time

community library Personnel Summary: Other than Full Time