Carnegie Library, recently in crisis mode, reports surplus, passes fundraising goal; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 3/31/15

Tony Raap, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; Carnegie Library, recently in crisis mode, reports surplus, passes fundraising goal:

"The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh had a $151,000 budget surplus in 2014 and exceeded its fundraising goal by $800,000, board members said Tuesday at their annual public meeting in Squirrel Hill...

The 19-branch library system had an operating budget of $30.59 million in 2014. Its expenses totaled $30.44 million, leaving a six-figure surplus.

“That really shows the library staff does an excellent job of managing the funds that are given to them to fund the library system,” said Greg Zovko, chair of the library's finance committee...

The state contributes about $3.3 million, but that funding has been flat the past four years, said Mary Frances Cooper, the library system's president and director.

The system's biggest expense is salaries and benefits, which total $18.39 million, or about 59 percent of its budget."