Rehoboth public library releases 2025-26 budget plan

The Rehoboth Beach Public Library has released its annual budget plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Due to the library’s nonprofit status, the new budget includes about $543,100 in both funds and expenses. The majority of the library's annual funding is received from Sussex County, the State of Delaware and the City of Rehoboth Beach. Additional funds for the library’s programs and collections are provided through the generous support of the Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library.

Most of the library’s funding, about $386,940, is reserved for employing its team of professional librarians and staff members. Another $78,820 has been dedicated toward building expenses not covered by the upcoming renovation plans. Expenses for library operations, which include fees for accessing databases, permits, staff development programs, advertising and supplies, are expected to total around $37,540 for the fiscal year. The library anticipates spending around $39,800 on books, resources and programs for all ages.

The Rehoboth Beach Public Library has welcomed an increasing number of patrons since the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from under 46,000 to over 60,000 annual visitors in just three years. The number of adult and youth programs offered by the library has also increased year after year, as has the amount of library materials in circulation. The increased usage of the library’s services, study spaces and programs has empowered its staff to tailor the collection and calendar of events to better support the needs of the Rehoboth Beach community.