The Port Washington Public Library Board of Trustees hereby presents its proposed 2023 fiscal budget to the public with a 0% tax levy increase.

We wish to express our appreciation to all constituents, whose collective contributions have enabled us to deliver on our mission through this unique and unprecedented time in history.

The library trustees believe this budget reflects the importance of life-long learning and enjoyment for the Port Washington community, while also demonstrating fiscal responsibility and recognizing the challenges that many in our community have faced over the previous year.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteers, and to the dedication of our peerless staff, the library has adapted and evolved in new and transformative ways to meet today’s needs.

Here are just a few of the significant highlights from this past year:
• Introduction of the “Library of Games and Gadgets,” offering loanable Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, musical instruments, lawn games, GoPro cameras, and so much more to take home.
• Lifelong enrichment continued, both in-person and virtually, with English classes, Children’s Story Time, Books for Dessert (our reading program for adults with intellectual disabilities), world-class lectures, book discussions, and more.
• Expansion of the outdoor musical performance calendar, particularly our “SoundSwap” concert series.
• Continuation of popular services, such as crafts-to-go, contactless VHS to DVD conversion, virtual one-on-one tech help, and notaries.
• Home delivery of materials grew to now include a mailing option to ensure our most vulnerable community members could continue to access Library items.
• Additional digital resources were made available, and we witnessed tremendous usage of Tutor.com’s live homework help, LinkedIn Learning’s online video training courses for career development, Libby’s eBooks & audiobooks, and our Kanopy streaming movie service.
• PWPL was “On the Go,” visiting dozens of local community events to share Library services and to answer questions about the Library’s offerings.

We sincerely appreciate your patronage and engagement. As we look to the future, we will strive to enhance the lives of our families, friends, and the Port Washington community. Please come to the Library to vote on Tuesday, April 12th between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Patricia Bridges
President, PWPL Board of Trustees