Kevin Sheehan

Kevin Sheehan of Everett Public Libraries presented the department’s budget and operations overview at the Everett City Council Budget Hearing on Small Departments on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. He opened by thanking the council and described the libraries as providing “a wide range of collections, services, and spaces,” including help with job applications, printing, copying, scanning, faxing, emailing legal documents, and access to community history and future-oriented learning.

Sheehan corrected one statistic he had previously cited, saying a colleague pointed out that he had run the report incorrectly. He said the number should be 3,067, “tenfold higher than the 300 some odd that I included.” He also clarified staffing and finance details, stating, “We have no vacancies,” and explaining that the department’s expected return to the general fund this year would come from unused contractual tuition reimbursement. He said there is staff interest in using tuition reimbursement and estimated, “the total unused going back I expect to go back is $27,650.”

He told the council that in 2027 the libraries will need to increase Saturday hours to comply with state regulations. He said they had to hire new part-timers and that the department is already supplementing the city’s part-time budget with state aid money. He added that the libraries do not ask for the full amount they pay part-timers because of budget constraints. He also said the library staff contract was “just to renegotiate” and that “there’s no room for pay.” Sheehan noted that 12% of the budget must go to library materials such as books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and video games, concluding that “there really is no fat to trim.”

Sheehan described staffing assignments between the Parlin and Shute branches, explaining that staff are supposed to work at both locations, with some exceptions for the branch librarian and technical services office. He outlined current hours at Parlin and Shute and said Saturday hours would need to expand from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to a longer schedule. He also reported an uptick in children’s usage and said the addition of children’s librarians at Shute has increased visitors and activity there.

Vote: Sheehan voted yes on the motion to accept the budget.