$46M budget proposed for Baton Rouge library

The proposed $46 million 2013 budget for the East Baton Rouge Parish library system includes money for 12 new employees, a tracking system for books and a new building.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/NlnMjX) the proposal was given to the Library Board of Control earlier this week.

The expenditures are about $12 million more than what is budgeted in 2012. Several are one-time expenses to upgrade facilities and technology, library officials said.

The budget includes $1.8 million for a new electronic tagging system for books and other materials, said Mary Stein, the library system's co-director.

The new system would replace the barcodes now affixed to books, Stein said.