Library Board - May 19, 2026

The City of West Bend Library Board held a regular meeting on May 19, 2026, which included the election of board officers and a detailed presentation from the Monarch Library System executive director. The presentation highlighted Monarch's extensive network serving over 436,000 people across more than 30 public libraries and discussed key services such as bulk purchasing of digital resources, integrated library systems, and a delivery fleet costing approximately $500,000 annually. The system acts as a fiscal agent for cross-county borrowing reimbursements, recently distributing $2.66 million to member libraries. The board also reviewed financial reports, noting a new library foundation fund established with a $47,000 donation to support programming and materials. Concerns were raised about underfunding for materials, as West Bend is the highest circulating library in the system but borrows more than it lends, suggesting a need for increased budget allocations. Additionally, upcoming capital improvements include an HVAC upgrade and a $53,000 design proposal for library space renovations. Overall, the meeting focused on procurement-related topics such as bulk resource purchases, budget management, and capital project planning.