From a Pierce County Library System press release:

At its August meeting the Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees will discuss a national budget award, plans for the 2013 budget, Skype at Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library, and other issues. The Board of Trustees will meet at the Library’s Processing and Administrative Center, 3005 112th St. E., in Tacoma, on Wednesday, Aug. 8, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

National budget award: The Government Finance Officers Association presented Pierce County Library System with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2012 budget. The prestigious and highly coveted award goes to state and local government organizations that prepare budget documents of the very highest quality. The Government Finance Officers Association used a variety of criteria to determine the merits of local governments’ budgets including the overall structure of the budget document, descriptions and accounting for how an organization plans to spend its money, as well as recordings of how an organization spent its money. Pierce County Library earned the highest rating of “outstanding” in many categories including strategic goals and strategies, descriptions of funding plans, and goal setting.  The award gives a strong recognition of the sound financial practices and planning of the Library’s managers, Finance & Business Director Clifford Jo and Board of Trustees.

Skype at Parkland/Spanaway Library: This summer the Library System started offering Skype at the Parkland/Spanaway Library. People can reserve time on a dedicated computer with Skype in a private conference room. Skype allows people to video chat in real time with other people anywhere in the world. It is ideal for deployed soldiers who can talk with their family and loved ones here at home—at the library. If the Skype computer is not in use, people can use it on a walk-in basis as well.

2013 Budget: Library managers will share recommendations to address an anticipated $2.6-$3 million shortfall as it plans for the 2013 budget. At the September Board of Trustees meeting, managers are expected to share additional proposals to address the budget shortfall. In November the Board will conduct its first public hearing on the budget, with the second and final public hearing scheduled for the December Board meeting. The shortfall is approximately 10 percent of the Library’s $26,869,885 2012 operating budget.