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Library director highlights endowment growth, ‘lucky day’ collection and security staffing change

5947843 · October 14, 2025

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Summary

Library Director Bruce Gay told the finance committee the library has ramped fundraising to build an endowment, added a high-turnover "lucky day" collection to improve patron access, and proposes replacing contracted security with two library security positions (0.75 FTE net change) to improve service and lower net cost.

Bruce Gay, director of the Waukesha Public Library, described the library’s 2025 accomplishments and 2026 plans to the Finance Committee on Oct. 14. Gay said the library has focused on private fundraising in recent years and has begun to build an endowment; the library plans a centennial campaign in 2026 with a fundraising goal that would materially grow the endowment.

Gay described a new "lucky day" collection of high‑demand physical items that patrons may borrow immediately (items that cannot be placed on hold), which staff say has increased circulation of popular titles. He also said the library will replace a contracted security service with two in‑house library security positions (a 10‑hour and a 20‑hour position, presented as a net 0.75 FTE change on the budget page) and that the staffing shift will provide more hours of coverage at lower net cost.

Gay said the library has been reducing duplicate streaming services and redirecting spend into a single, more affordable platform (he cited consolidating away from one streaming provider into expanded access through Libby for e‑books and audiobooks). The library is expanding volunteer coordination and outreach (including GIS‑targeted outreach to increase cardholder coverage in underrepresented areas) and will continue to track performance metrics such as program attendance and cardholder growth.

Ending: Committee members asked about volunteer opportunities and the library’s digital-service changes; Gay said the volunteer program is growing and the library will continue to promote volunteer openings through city channels.