Duncan Friends Member Alert: Send an Email in Support of Library Funding in the FY26 Alexandria City Budget
Friends of Duncan Library,
As you may be aware it's budget season here in Alexandria. The City Manager has released his proposed FY26 budget (available for review at this link) which our council members will spend the next six weeks reviewing and gathering feedback before adopting the final budget at the end of April. We have the opportunity to contribute to this process by sending emails to the City Council in support of the library funding in the proposed budget!
In a tight budget year with constrained resources, City library leaders are generally pleased with the treatment of libraries in the City Manager's proposed budget. The library system receives a 2.6% increase, which includes a 1% COLA increase for library staff plus step increases. The library budget is around $10m, up from $6.4m two years ago. As such, our advocacy this year will focus on expressing support for the proposed budget and reinforcing with Council the important role that libraries play in our community. Positive and proactive advocacy like this still makes a difference, as we're building their familiarity with us should there ever be a future point that we need to push for a specific ask or funding request.
To send an email supporting library funding, click here and then select from the drop downs "All Members" and "Budget Request" and click "Yes" on the question "is this related to an upcoming hearing". We'd ideally like you to send your email before Monday March 17th, but please send one no later than March 30th.
You can use the following template for your email:
Mayor Gaskins, Vice Mayor Bagley, and Members of Council,
I am a member of Friends of Duncan Library, and I am writing to ask you to prioritize funding for Alexandria's libraries in the FY 2026 budget and maintain, at a minimum, the funding recommendation in the City Manager's proposed budget.
[Share a talking point about Duncan Library].
Our libraries matter to me because [anecdote about what you love about Duncan Library or public libraries in Alexandria more generally].
I'm grateful for your continued investment in our libraries, which will allow them to serve city residents of all ages and backgrounds and deliver programming that makes a positive impact on their lives.
Feel free to use any of the following talking points about Duncan Library:
In 2024 Duncan Library welcomed more than 144,000 visitors
Last year 308,000 books were borrowed from Duncan Library
The Friends of Duncan Library (FODL) has approximately 350 members
Last year we supported over 800 programs at the library including youth book clubs, an authors’ consortium, after-school activities, Lego competitions, and Dungeons and Dragons for teens
25,000 infants, youth and teens took advantage of programs in 2024
Increasingly, people from outside the Duncan Library service area are coming to our popular programs
FODL supports the purchasing of additional copies of high demand books, which reduces hold times across the library system
For more information about the city's budget process, you can review the resources and information shared on the city website.
Thanks for your time and consideration, and for your ongoing support of Duncan Library!
Jesse O'Connell
Chair, FODL Advocacy Committee