Cathy Farley, director of the White County Library, told the Budget Committee on April 14 that staffing and building maintenance are the library’s top needs as officials prepare the fiscal 2026 budget.

Farley opened with usage statistics: in March 2025 the library was open 26 days, processed 57 new passports and 18 renewals, recorded 9,543 door visits, circulated 7,373 items (an average of 283 per day) and answered 925 reference questions. Last year’s summer reading program had 897 enrollees and the library serves a county population the director said is 28,692 with 23,760 library cardholders.

Farley asked the committee to consider pay adjustments to address recruitment and retention. She proposed a 17% across-the-board pay adjustment for staff to reduce turnover and to recognize long-serving employees; she noted several library employees with 10, 20 and 27 years of service. Farley said the library receives many public-facing requests—including passport processing that generated more than $2,000 in revenue last month—and that competitive county salaries have undercut her ability to keep staff.

She also requested facility work: the library’s carpet is about 19 years old and in need of replacement or an alternative flooring option; Farley said she had a prior estimate and suspects costs have risen. The library expects to migrate circulation software when a vendor releases an update. Farley said the vendor update has been pending for several years and the library will plan a transition and budget for it when the update is available.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the proposed pay percentage and staff counts. The chair and other members noted the request and suggested discussing county-wide pay strategies and longevity pay options during budget work sessions this fall.

Farley closed by inviting committee members to contact her with follow-up questions.