OGDENSBURG — The proposed 2013 budget for Ogdensburg Public Library has its executive director concerned.

The $19.6 million spending plan unveiled last week by City Manager John M. Pinkerton calls for a $605,995 budget for the library. That is not only $60,023 less than the $666,018 that Executive Director Wayne L. Miller asked for, but also a decrease of $2,219 from this year’s $608,214 budget.

The biggest piece of the decrease is the zero capital construction line item. Mr. Miller asked for $52,710 to match a state grant already approved for window replacement and rehabilitation. The city will be asked to borrow that amount through a bond.

The other significant decrease is in money for books. Mr. Miller requested $35,000. The proposed 2013 budget recommends $30,911.

Mr. Miller is hoping for the best at a time when making do with less is standard operating procedure.

“I continue to be worried about our budget,” he said. “The city’s allocation constitutes a majority of our funding, so that is, of course, of great concern.”

And the library’s fiscal worries, Mr. Miller said, extend beyond City Hall.

“I’m also very concerned about the county’s budget, that at the moment has zeroed out all 19 of the county’s public libraries,” he said.

The director had planned on $11,502 in county funds in next year’s budget.

“Previous cuts to both the county and state funds for libraries have already had a marked affect on our services, including how many hours we are open and how many books, magazines and newspapers we can buy,” Mr. Miller said. “At the same time as we are trying to meet growing demands for e-books and other digital services, the demand for traditional services remains strong. Government funding for materials continues to shrink.”

The average cost of a hardcover book, according to Mr. Miller, is more than $20. DVDs cost about $20 each.

Mr. Miller sees nothing getting less expensive.

“The cost of materials continues to rise faster than the overall inflation rate while our materials budget continues to shrink,” Mr. Miller said.

Mr. Miller said he hopes the City Council approves the bond, which may be packaged with $280,000 to $300,000 for a pumper truck for the fire department and $122,000 for the parks and recreation department to buy a Zamboni ice maintenance vehicle for the rink at the Richard G. Lockwood Civic Center.

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