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Library board approves bookmobile and social‑media policies; staff outlines service operations and funding concerns
Summary
The Wasco County Library District board approved a new bookmobile policy and a social‑media policy on their second reading. Staff described bookmobile operations, schedule, circulation and dropbox returns, and noted a cut to the Sage interlibrary courier funding; the social‑media policy will be reviewed against Wasco County's longer model policy.
The Wasco County Library District board approved two policies—a newly drafted bookmobile policy and a social‑media policy—during the library district meeting held as part of the county session.
Corliss, representing library staff, said the bookmobile policy is new because the bookmobile itself is new; the social‑media policy was developed after review and public input, with the library following a two‑reading process before final approval.
Staff described operational details for the bookmobile: it offers onboard Wi‑Fi and checkout capability, runs about three to four times per week with a regular schedule posted on the library website and in the monthly newsletter, and patrons may return physical items to permanent book drops such as at the Maupin or Dallas libraries. Staff said the bookmobile performs outreach—story readings and assisted‑living visits—and that March data suggest about a dozen visits per month on average early in the rollout, with flexibility to increase service in summer.
Staff also raised an interlibrary courier system called Sage that links roughly 75 libraries in eastern Oregon. County presenters said federal funding for that courier support has been cut, requiring local arrangements and a short lag period to return items between libraries.
Board members asked about an item in the policy stating that the bookmobile will accept checks only for fee collection; staff explained card processing carries merchant fees and some rural patrons still rely on checks. The board discussed matching local practice to community needs and said the policy can be revisited if needed.
On the social‑media policy, Wasco County Public Information Officer Stephanie Kral offered to share Wasco County’s longer (about 10‑page) model policy, reviewed by legal counsel, as a template for the library. Board members said the district’s shorter draft is a starting point and agreed to periodic review to close potential gaps.
A motion to approve both the bookmobile policy and the social‑media policy was moved, seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote; the chair voted yes. The board also approved library district minutes from Dec. 18, 2024, in the same meeting.
Staff requested that applications to fill a library board vacancy be submitted by May to allow onboarding before the July annual meeting.
