Skagway library director reports steady programs, flags federal funding risk

Skagway — Rachel Doohan, the Skagway Public Library director, told the Skagway Public Library Board on March 20 that staffing has stabilized and programs remained active through the winter but that federal and state funding could be at risk.

Doohan said the only open position is the seasonal part-time library clerk; the temporary summer posting closed the day before the meeting and the board expects to name the seasonal clerk within one to two weeks. She identified the current seasonal worker as Linnea McGowan Hovmeyer, who has worked since last summer.

The director summarized regular and special programming that continued through the winter, including story time, Windy Valley baby story time, a junior “late night library” program for second- to fourth-graders, book club, and weekly visits to the elementary school for a “planner projectors” program that combines litter pickup and library outreach. Doohan also described recent special events including a virtual author talk and a tea-tasting event.

Doohan said the library is finishing an accessibility grant to build a sensory space in the children’s room and that the library budget includes funds for installation of a partial door or barrier on the children’s room to reduce the risk of children running onto State Street in summer months. "It's not like a totally soundproof full door," she said, but added that a clear barrier would let staff see inside while providing a physical obstruction.

On collection funding, Doohan said she submitted the library’s application for the state Public Library Assistance Grant, noting the award has been a typical annual resource historically around $7,000. She cautioned that prior reductions had been partly restored and that federal funding changes could affect future state support. "Libraries are at at risk," Doohan said, referring to ongoing federal developments.

Doohan briefed the board on a recently circulated executive order and related messages from the Alaska State Library and other libraries describing possible cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). She said potential impacts cited in those communications include reductions to interlibrary loan services, summer reading support, the Alaska Digital Library, and services for rural and blind patrons. Doohan said the library had been invited to a webinar organized by the American Library Association to discuss consequences and advocacy options and that the board should be aware of developments without panicking.

Doohan also gave the board a brief financial update on the library trust fund and its recent earnings: she said the trust fund’s 2024 interest was $3,455.40 and reported a trust fund balance of $68,316.17. She said part of that balance had been used earlier to pay for the library’s digital services subscription (Canopy).

Doohan asked for the board’s input on summer programming timing for story time, noting local childcare schedules have changed and that the board and library are considering moving story time to around 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. during the school year and expanding junior late-night events for second- through fourth-graders while treating teen events as occasional special events.

The board did not take formal action on the funding-risk notices or program scheduling at the March 20 meeting but agreed Doohan should continue to monitor federal and state developments and to share information about the IMLS-related webinar and state library communications with the board in advance of any advocacy steps.