The Newton Free Library asked the Committee of the Whole to approve a proposed FY26 operating budget of $6,806,055, an on‑paper increase the director said covers contractual obligations and rising costs for digital services and materials.

The vote: Committee members recorded a straw vote in favor of the library’s FY26 request.

Why it matters: The library said it remains one of the busiest in the Commonwealth and relies on state and federal programs for interlibrary loan and digital resources. Staff warned that federal funding changes could disrupt statewide platforms that provide ebooks, audiobooks and database access and described steps the library is taking to sustain services.

Director Mercurio (identified in council remarks as the library director) summarized the library’s centennial‑plus milestone and said residents borrowed about 1,700,000 items last year across print, digital and special collections. The director said the FY26 request primarily covers staffing costs—the library has 79 positions including part‑time and full‑time staff—and increases for software and internet service to improve public Wi‑Fi capacity.

Mercurio described a $40,000 increase to the library’s collection budget, the first increase in several years, intended to help keep up with rising prices for print and digital materials. She explained why library ebook/audiobook access is costly for libraries: publishers and platform licensing mean libraries often pay much more than retail consumers for digital copies and titles can expire or be restricted for libraries. “You might be able to get something from Amazon as a private citizen for $10, where a library would pay $80, and it will expire after a period of time,” Mercurio said.

Library staff also described a new exhibit and display policy created with the city law department to govern public exhibit spaces and artist submissions; the policy gives library management clearer authority to select and, if necessary, close exhibits that become disruptive. Michelle Bullio, assistant director, was cited as staff lead on implementation.

Councilors asked about ebook wait times, the difference between print and digital licensing, and whether scholarship assistance is available for program fees and memberships; staff said a financial‑based scholarship program exists and encouraged residents to contact the library for assistance.

The committee recorded a straw vote in favor of the proposed FY26 library budget; final action is subject to the city’s budget adoption process.