Indie filmmaker balancing composer vs library for budget 5-minute short score

[AlexanderG]

I'm an amateur filmmaker working on a short drama, and I've hit a wall with the soundtrack. I have a temp track using pieces from well-known film scores, but I need original music that captures a specific melancholic yet hopeful tone for the final scene. I'm not sure whether to hire a composer, which might be expensive, or try to license pre-existing tracks from a music library, which often feel generic. For other indie filmmakers, how have you navigated this process on a tight budget? What's a reasonable rate to expect from a composer for a 5-minute score, and are there good platforms to connect with talented musicians who are building their portfolios?