As Flagler County prepares to open the long-awaited Nexus Center—a new south side library in Bunnell—it will come at a cost to the Palm Coast branch: operating hours will be slashed by 23%, staffing reduced, and services shifted in what county officials call a necessary “operational efficiency adjustment.”

The decision, finalized by the Flagler County Commission during its budget discussion Tuesday, brings bittersweet news. On one hand, it marks the realization of a decades-long vision for expanded library services in southern Flagler County. On the other, it diminishes service levels for the county’s largest and busiest library in Palm Coast, raising concerns about long-term impacts on access and equity.

📚 Palm Coast Branch Hours and Staffing Cut

The Palm Coast Library—currently open 52 hours a week across six days—will soon drop to 40 hours and be open only five days per week. Under the new schedule:

Monday hours are eliminated (the library was already closed Sundays)
New hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In tandem, five staffers from Palm Coast will be reassigned to the Nexus Center, reducing the workforce there to 10 full-time employees and one part-timer. The Nexus Center will open with 11 full-time equivalent positions, including two workers transitioning from the temporary Bunnell branch.

🏛️ The Nexus Center: A Long-Awaited Vision Realized

Located in Bunnell, the Nexus Center represents a major step forward for the county’s library system. Years in the making, the project was championed by the Library Board of Trustees and approved by previous commissions, fulfilling the county’s promise to bring expanded resources to underserved areas.

The facility will offer staggered hours with the Palm Coast branch to ensure seven-day library access countywide. However, due to conditions tied to the grant that helped fund the Nexus Center, the new facility is required to maintain 11 full-time staff, locking the county into certain operational commitments—whether or not they align with local budget priorities.

“This is a pure example of why grants aren’t free,” said Commissioner Kim Carney. “We had to commit to 11 employees to get that grant... I want to see a very successful Nexus center. I want to see a very successful Palm Coast library, and I know we can get it done.”

💰 Library Budget Compromise

The decision came after commissioners were presented with three library staffing options:

Add six new positions for a fully staffed two-branch system — rejected.
Add three new positions, keeping Palm Coast modestly staffed while meeting the Nexus grant terms — approved.
Add no new positions, cut Palm Coast hours more severely (to 37), and run both branches with minimal staff — rejected.

The chosen plan represents a middle-ground compromise. It adds three net new positions, including returning former library director Holly Albanese (now Assistant County Administrator) to library operations. The move brings total staffing to 21 full-timers and one part-timer, up from the current 18.

This option adds $178,000 to the county’s costs, which County Administrator Heidi Petito suggested could be offset using passport processing revenue from the library, which generated $170,000 in 2024.

“I’ve reduced administration’s budget to ensure that the Nexus Center has adequate staffing,” Petito said, “which does include moving Holly’s position back to the library.”

Still, Commission Chair Andy Dance voiced reservations about relying on passport fees for staffing. “I’d rather not use that money for personnel right now,” he said.

🔍 What It Means for Residents

The new model shifts the county’s focus toward regional access rather than full service at individual branches. Though each branch will now be closed two days per week, the staggered schedule ensures at least one branch is open every day.

But some see the reduction in Palm Coast's hours and staffing—despite being the county’s most utilized branch—as a sign that libraries aren’t receiving the same priority as other departments.

“It’s hard to imagine us doing this if we were opening a new sheriff’s substation or firehouse,” said one observer familiar with the debate. “But libraries always seem to be where the county looks to save money.”

🔧 Broader Budget Cuts and Implications

The library restructuring is part of a broader $1.4 million reduction in Flagler County’s proposed 2026 budget, including:

$300,000 cut from firefighter overtime
$246,000 saved by eliminating three fleet-management positions
$113,000 in administrative overhead reductions
$106,000 slashed from the county’s contribution to Flagler Beach lifeguards

The total reduction in new library staffing—from the proposed six positions down to three—accounts for $179,000 in savings.

“We’ve made some operational efficiency adjustments to ensure that our resources are aligned with community’s highest priorities,” Petito said. “These changes should really not come as a surprise.”

🚪 What Comes Next?

The Nexus Center is scheduled to open later this year, though no exact date has been released. Meanwhile, residents of Palm Coast will need to adjust to reduced hours and staffing levels, even as the city’s population continues to grow.

Some community members worry that reduced access will disproportionately impact students, seniors, and low-income families who rely on the library for internet access, job searching, or quiet study space.

Despite the concerns, officials insist the dual-library system—though leaner than hoped—still represents progress.

“This is not the outcome everyone wanted, but it’s the one we could afford,” said one county staffer. “We’ll make it work.”

Palm Coast Library Faces 23% Cut in Hours, Staff Reallocated as County Prepares to Open Nexus Center in Bunnell

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