I submit a budget broken down into books and DVD's, periodicals, online databases, professional (dues and conferences,) supplies, and service (the security gates.) I need to justify any large increases. Additionally, any one time furniture, supplies, etc. costing more than $3,000 are considered a capital expense and need to be listed and justified separately. I have to submit my budget by mid-January, so it requires planning ahead! On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 2:35 PM, Cathy Rettberg <crettberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I receive an annual budget with spending items broken down by type: > books/DVDs (durable goods, which sometimes means a new book cart or shelf), > online resources, periodical subscriptions, supplies, memberships & dues, > speaker fees, continuing education. The amounts are based on previous > spending (previous year + a percentage increase) and while they aren't > eager to make large increases they are always open to the discussion if > something comes up. The budget is broken out by type of purchase, but all > that really matters is the bottom line, so if I spend supply money on books > that is my own decision. > > Cathy > > --------- > Cathy Rettberg, Head Librarian > Menlo School > Atherton, CA > http://library.menloschool.org > > What I'm reading: > *Grasshopper Jungle*/Smith > > On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 1:02 PM, Daina Dickman <daina.dickman@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote: > >> I am in my second year as the librarian at my school, so this is the >> first time I have had to handle our ILS renewal. Last year I checked with >> both the head of lower school (my supervisor last year) and the technology >> director and was told the ILS came from the technology budget. That was >> how I planned my budget for this year. Today I was told that the money >> needs to come from the library budget. It is a pretty substantial amount, >> almost 8% of my annual budget that I had planned to spend on books (I am >> doing a massive updating of our very aged non-fiction books). An >> unpleasant surprise, especially so late in the school year. >> >> I have tried multiple times to get clarification from my administration >> on what the "library budget" covers. I purchased a large storytime carpet >> last year, but it did not come out of my budget, but then when I tried to >> get a display shelving unit I was told it needed to come from the library >> budget. I just want a straight answer so things can be planned out! The >> answers I get tend to change later on. Our entire business office has >> turned over since I began and we have a new technology director this year. >> >> Can I ask what direction other librarians receive with regards to >> budgeting? Do you have suggestions on what sort of questions I should be >> asking to get clear answers? My prior budgeting experience was in public >> and academic libraries and I am at a loss for how to handle this situation. >> >> Thank you as always for your help BAISL! >> >> Daina >> > > -- Ann Lane Librarian, Saint Francis High School