Jennifer Obermeyer, the Clearwater library director, reported at the Nov. 6 advisory board meeting that the city'wide FY2026 budget was adopted and that the library experienced an 8% reduction that led to changes in hours and some position reductions.

"The library did have a reduction, an 8% reduction in our budget," Obermeyer said, noting the budget was adopted after the required two readings and took effect Oct. 1. She said the cuts translated into adjusted hours and personnel changes in the department.

Obermeyer reviewed upcoming and recent programs, including Halloween activities, an expanded Silver Santas partnership that provides holiday assistance to seniors and a Posada planned for Dec. 13 at the East Library. She also described facility projects: a mural for the North Greenwood branch with an artist scheduled to begin work in February and a planned interior furnishing overhaul to provide mobile, flexible seating.

On branch access, Obermeyer said the Beach Library reopened this week as a temporary "pop-up" in the pool office while the permanent Beach Library is being renovated as part of a recreation center project. The pop-up offers reserve pickups, a small popular-reads collection, Wi-Fi and limited Tue-Wed-Thu hours through April; staff are meeting with the architect and designer to select permanent furnishings for the reopening.

Obermeyer also told the board that one of the library's large national vendors, Baker & Taylor, unexpectedly ceased operations in September. "One of our big vendors actually, are no longer in business... it's called Baker and Taylor," she said. The library paused affected orders and re-routed purchases to other vendors; Obermeyer said the disruption caused short delays but that service is improving.

Finally, Obermeyer announced that Clearwater will receive a $10,000 award from the Carnegie Corporation in January 2026 in recognition of the city's historic Carnegie library connections. "They will be issuing this award in January '26," she said; staff plan presentations to mark the gift.

Obermeyer said she will keep the board informed about timelines for mural installation, furniture delivery and the permanent Beach Library reopening, and noted downtown construction (hotel, parking garage and streetscape work) could affect parking and access to the main library during the projects.