Budget Mtg November – The Reading Public Library

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2025 – 6:30 PM

Zoom only

Call to Order / Roll call
- Call to order at 6:34 PM
- Attended by Tony Pikramenos, Rich Grogan, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker, Libbet Downs, Kristen Hurd
Finalize budget request for next fiscal year
- Tony and Rich found some information about the sharp increase in the price of books
  1. According to Bookriot, a large editorial book site, and ReadersFirst, an organization that advocates for libraries, there was a 22% increase in the cost of children’s books from 2019 through 2023 (difficult to find data on the specific change for children’s books in the short period since 2023). During that same period there was a 7.7% increase in the cost of adult hardcover books (since 2023, there has been an additional 3% rise in that category). According to Gobook Printing, a custom bookprinting service, there has been a nearly 50% increase in the cost of adult trade paperbacks from 2021 through 2025. The outlook for book costs is cloudy. According to Medium, an online publishing platform, the publishing industry faces challenges as new tariffs on Chinese-printed books (which account for approximately 25% to 30% of books sold in the U.S.) and Canadian paper are resulting in even higher production costs and retail prices.
- In considering the cost of books and the overall inflation rate of about 3%, a motion was made by Rich to propose a total budget of $34885.00 for the next fiscal year. Heather seconded. All were in favor.
Adjourn at 6:54 PM