SAUGUS — The Library Board of Trustees discussed the FY26 State Aid to Public Libraries during its meeting on Thursday evening.

“As you remember, as we do just about this time every year, I come up with a certain amount of money that we earmark out of the budget for (what’s) considered kind of operational funds,” Director Alan Thibeault said.

He continued, saying that it was mostly for materials, programs, some supplies, and some professional development.

“We have a balance right now in the state aid account of about $220,000. Just a little bit over that. Our operational budget this year is $889,937. We try to keep $120,000 of state aid money in a prudent reserve, if you will,” he said.

That is money which is left untouched operationally, and is kept available as a financial resource in case there is a catastrophic financial situation.

“That $120,000 isn’t going to necessarily fund us for a year. There’s no way it’s going to do that, but it will buy us some weeks anyway. We still have more money sitting on top of that,” Thibeault said.

He recommended an earmark that would put $2,500 towards additional material funds, which includes books and DVDs. He recommended $20,000 going toward programs and program supplies. Lastly, he recommended that $5,000 go toward supplies and $2,500 go toward professional development.

“That will pay for training expenses we do with our quarterly training and a trip by one of our librarians to one of the professional conferences as well,” Thibeault said in regard to the professional development.

The total earmark adds up to $30,000.

“And of course any funds remaining above that… can only be used on an instance-by-instance basis with a positive vote from the Board of Library Trustees,” he said.

Board Chair Michael Sullivan said that it was money well spent.

“We do a lot of programming, and it’s good to have a prudent reserve because you never know what might happen. So, I think this is fine,” he said.

A motion to approve the earmark passed unanimously.