[baisl] Re: budgeting clarification problems

  • From: "Lemon, Katy" <klemon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: baisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2015 07:25:17 -0700

My budgeting process is the same as Ann's, and I provide a per item
break-down for the category with the largest expense.  Just as Ann's said,
any one-time large expense is considered a capital expense and has to be
justified and approved separately.  My budget is submitted in March.

On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 6:35 PM, Daina Dickman <daina.dickman@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Thank you for your input!  These are giving me ideas for helping create a
> clearer process. I don't submit a yearly budget, I receive my budget amount
> 1-2 months into the school year and then plan from there. I was able to
> advocate for a substantial budget increase from last year, even though the
> library isn't as included in the conversation as I would like.
>
> Daina
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 17, 2015, at 4:48 PM, Ann Lane <annlane@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>


-- 
Katy Lemon

Librarian
klemon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Presentation High School
2281 Plummer Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
408-264-1664 ex. 2433

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