Now that you know a lot about what a library budget is, why it is important, and how the library budgeting process goes, it is time for the meat of the article which is to make your own library budget. You will surely come up with an effective and efficient library budget when you follow these five steps: Step 1: Conduct Planning and Analysis You need to start with the basic plan and cost analysis first. Planning is where you finalize what your library wishes to accomplish in a year. And for every service or activity listed, you insert their corresponding costs. And it is through cost analysis that you can identify the right amounts for the different items in your library budget. Also, this is the right time to review your library's sources of funding as they will be part of the library budget's calculations. Step 2: Select a Sample Library Budget Template Rather than starting from a blank document and not knowing where to start, you will be easily guided with a sample template on hand to make the library budget. There are 18+ sample library budget templates in this article so choose a template you like to optimize. You may opt for a school library budget sample, college library marketing budget request sample, public library budget sample, public library materials budget allocation sample, and so much more. The best part is they are premade so you can only focus on editing your work, adding the needed data, and working on the finishing details. Step 3: Use the Appropriate Labels and Figures A library budget is not simply written in a long paragraph form. It only has to mention specific keywords and calculations. And part of what makes your data organized despite not writing in complete and long sentences is through labeling and classifying your library budget. That means you use appropriate labels and figures to organize your information. An example is to add a table with rows mentioning the library staff budget, utility budget, contractual budget, materials budget, supplies budget, furniture budget, program budget, hospitality budget, and program budget. Meanwhile, the columns mark the budget amounts such as the year to date (YTD) budget, current period expenditures, YTD expenditures, budget variance, and % budget remaining. Other visual organizers you can use are graphs and organizational charts. Step 4: Keep the Document Detailed yet Straightforward It is helpful for the library budget to be detailed enough so lesser questions would be asked regarding the library expenses plan. But not to the point where you put so many details that even irrelevant ones were included. Be direct with your message since what matters the most is that whoever reads the library budget document will understand its content easily. So balance the information if it is straightforward and just enough. Step 5: Follow the Library Budget Development Process Your final project is to make sure you followed the entire process of developing the library budget. You were already introduced to the library budgeting process from the budgeting goals and objectives down to the budget approval. Be sure not to miss any step or the outcome might not go according to plan. And that is how you create a stellar library budget.