We’re wading into the budgeting waters here at the Library (and at the City as a whole). June 30th, the end of our fiscal year, will be here sooner than I’d like. I don’t anticipate much to change with the library’s budget next year, which is nice. It’s also nice to be in a city with such a well-funded library and community members who value their library so much. Thank you!
Part of my “thank you” is because your behavior and shopping choices are directly responsible for the funding of the libraries (and police departments, fire departments, parks departments, etc.) in your town. That isn’t a common way to pay for libraries in the US. After I entered the Library World, I knew Oklahoma’s funding is different, but it wasn’t until I moved home that I realized how unique Oklahoma’s funding structure is for libraries.
Generally speaking, the 214 public library buildings in Oklahoma fall into two categories – municipal/city libraries and library systems. A library system is a group of library buildings in either a single county or several adjoining counties that are all governed by a single Library Board. Oklahoma has eight library systems, which account for 102 of our public library buildings (8 central libraries and 94 branches). Municipal libraries make up the other 112 libraries. Library Systems are funded through property taxes, which is how the majority of libraries in the US are funded.
Municipal libraries, like your Pryor Library and the other public libraries in Mayes County, are funded as part of the City’s budget. Cities in Oklahoma are funded by sales tax, so municipal libraries in Oklahoma are funded through sales tax. Sales tax revenue can fluctuate dramatically depending on the economy, so libraries have to plan carefully. Again, thank you for shopping local.