Atlantic City Councilman Dana Halder says when it comes to budget time, more money should be made available for improvements to the Atlantic Public Library. Speaking at Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, Halder, who is the Council’s liaison to the Library Board, said the Board had a meeting Oct. 12th, during which roof repairs and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was discussed.

That brought up the topic of the Library’s budget. Halder said the Library’s 5-year CIP should really be a one-to three-year plan. He says looking back, there’s really been nothing done to the Library in over 20-years. Much of the money gifted to the Library has been placed into Trust and Agency. Those funds he says, have been used for new computers, and roof repair, but Halder says he doubts those who donate large sums of money want it to be used for a roof.

He said the Council will likely see a budget increase request coming from the Library when the Council considers the City’s budget for FY 2016-17, and he hopes they can find room for that increase. He said he feels the Library is “Very underfunded.”

He pointed to the fact it receives more than 650 visits each week, which amounts to 35,000 visits last year. Halder challenged the Council to come up with another City building “That has that much traffic.” On another note, Halder said the Friends of the Library will hold a book sale from 9:30-am to 6-p.m. Oct. 27th through the 29th.