A library had its windows boarded up and glazing removed to protect it from a nearby bonfire - at a cost of more than £10,000.
The taxpayer-funded precautions were taken last year at Tullycarnet Library in East Belfast in preparation for the Eleventh Night.
Similar measures to protect the building off Kings Road are being carried out again this year, Libraries NI confirmed.
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It comes at a time when the public body is making cutbacks due to funding pressures.
Meanwhile, Belfast City Council confirmed it awarded thousands of pounds of funding to a community group holding "diversionary" events linked to the Tullycarnet bonfire.
A total of £10,030.20 was spent by Libraries NI protecting Tullycarnet Library from potential damage due to a nearby bonfire last year.
The works involved the removal of 98 double-glazed units from the window frames and their storage, according to a Freedom of Information response to Belfast Live.
It also included the temporary infilling of the window frames with plywood panels, packers and timber studwork supports, and then the subsequent removal of the panels and reinstallation of the double glazing.
UUP councillor Jim Rodgers expressed concern at the measures taken to protect the library.
He said: "That shouldn't have happened from my point of view.
"The bonfire builders must adhere to health and safety legislation and they need to look carefully at where they position the bonfire.
"Is it going to be a danger to properties, whether it is residential or business? Because every pound counts now and we all know the pressures on our budgets."
Mr Rodgers added: "I'm not against bonfires be they loyalist or republican, but what I do say is the most important matter is health and safety."
Libraries NI confirmed that "precautions" are again being taken this year ahead of the Eleventh Night.
A spokesman said: "I can confirm that Libraries NI is taking precautions to protect Tullycarnet Library this year by removing a number of glazed units from the window frames and temporary infilling with plywood panels."
It comes as the public body said it is facing a 5% reduction in funding which has led to spending cuts in a bid to limit the impact on frontline services.
"These include reducing service operating hours during the summer, limiting business-related travel and reducing expenditure on the procurement of goods/supplies, marketing, estates maintenance and vehicle fleet operations," it said.
Meanwhile, a community group is advertising events on its Facebook page linked to the Tullycarnet bonfire.
Tullycarnet Action Group (Tagit) promoted a 12-day events programme ending on the Eleventh Night with the "main bonfire being lit" at Granton Park, beside the library.
The events are billed as a "summer diversionary programme" and the Facebook post includes logos for the organisation Charter NI and Belfast City Council.
The Tagit page, which includes a Charter NI email as its contact address, on Monday posted a picture of the bonfire under construction.
It added: "Still working away - let's hope the rain stops soon."
Charter NI and Tagit were approached for comment about the bonfire.
Belfast City Council said it does not provide funding for bonfires, but confirmed funding for "diversionary" events had been allocated to Charter NI.
A council spokeswoman said: "On April 21 2023, elected members agreed to allocate £41,170 of funding to Charter NI through the Summer Community Diversionary Festivals Programme.
"This funding supports youth work and a range of community, cultural, creative and sporting events across a number of areas in Belfast during July."
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