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REGINA — A new Prince of Wales Branch opening in May, longer hours at three other branches, community-based art engagement projects and "eBooks" — all while handling more than five million library items over the year. Those are just some of the highlights discussed in the Regina Public Library's 2011 budget, which city council tabled during its meeting on Monday evening. The budget will come back for approval at a later meeting, but Coun. Mike O'Donnell, who, as deputy mayor, chaired the meeting in Mayor Pat Fiacco's absence, said he doesn't expect any changes to what's proposed. "It's one of those things that we get a chance to peruse for a period of time, but what's been happening is the library has been doing a great job," he said after the meeting. "Of course, we have a new branch being developed, so I think people are excited. And they have a plan, so it's good." The budget includes a library mill rate increase of 3.36 per cent over 2010. The net levy request of the city is almost $14.8 million, with about $1 million in grants-in-lieu, both up slightly from last year. The libraries forecast expenditures for 2011 total about $18.3 million, while its forecast revenues total $18.6 million, both also up from last year. Capital spending, at more than $3.7 million, is higher, as well. The library budget is coming forward at its normal time of the year, even though changes this year meant council approved general operating and capital budgets for the city much earlier than in previous years. "In a way, it's a different process, because, of course, we did our own budget much earlier on," O'Donnell said. "So, in a way, it's kind of odd, but it's coming at the normal time." To read more of Joe Couture's article, please go to here.