Library Service Reductions
At a glance
- What: A new library staffing model in the FY 2027 budget that reduces circulation desk positions and eliminates analytics software, plus a higher non-resident library card fee.
- Where it stands: The budget passed September 17, 2026 with the reductions; staff said no employee would lose a job.
- Next: Council members asked that filled Library positions be restored where possible.
Discussion
- Kinnison said a comprehensive budget review found a 40 percent decrease in shelving and a 62 percent decrease in visitors to the circulation desk; an employee survey informed the new model. Jones said she heard different feedback from employees.
- Castillo said self-checkout kiosks were taking jobs from librarians; Donnellan said the system costs $200,000 a year in maintenance and also counts door traffic. Eliminating the customer analytics software saves $0.05 million a year (Goswami: it is used for patron outreach).
- A speaker on September 16 opposed library reductions. Reducing library hours was on the fallback cut list ($3.3 million a year).
Sources
- City Council Public Comment Session 2026-09-16 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{A40A2F2E-5B10-4C76-A34C-ACD2C526C978}/{A40A2F2E-5B10-4C76-A34C-ACD2C526C978}.pdf
- City Council Budget Work Session 2026-09-16 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{ADC76655-2C96-49F2-B36E-3EDA50521C98}/{ADC76655-2C96-49F2-B36E-3EDA50521C98}.pdf
- City Council Budget Work Session 2026-09-15 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{F5DB6B9A-A1F0-499D-BC94-5D89065D015E}/{F5DB6B9A-A1F0-499D-BC94-5D89065D015E}.pdf
Log
2026-09-16 - City Council Public Comment Session
A speaker opposed library reductions.
2026-09-16 - City Council Budget Work Session
Members asked to restore filled Library and Metro Health positions.
2026-09-15 - City Council Budget Work Session
Review findings and the new staffing model explained.