Nash County meeting: library director updates; grants overview and a slate of approvals including project center building reuse

The Nash County Board of Commissioners heard an informational presentation from the newly permanent Braswell Memorial Library director and a comprehensive grants briefing, and then approved a series of administrative and capital measures, including a building reuse application for “Project Center,” changes to capital project funding and several budget amendments.

Library update: Melissa Corso, who introduced herself as the permanent director of Braswell Memorial Public Library, told the board she has moved the library to full-time security coverage by Alliance Security and restored three full-time professional librarian positions, which she said lets the library meet state staffing requirements and remain eligible for state library support. “We have secured 3 full time librarian positions… we will continue to get that state library support financially,” Corso said.

Corso described efforts to buy local for technology services, citing a new relationship with Infranet, and plans for branch programming including a senior enrichment pilot at the Whitakers branch on Feb. 14, expanded job fairs that previously drew more than 400 attendees, and a return of a scaled summer reading kickoff. She said she is preparing a library strategic plan with a state grant and hopes the next county budget will include a 3% increase in operating…