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Library board discusses new staff for youth desk, upstairs coverage and resuming notary service
Summary
Board members discussed adding a half‑time youth-desk position, improving upstairs staffing for safety, and the possibility of resuming limited notary services with scheduled hours.
Board members at the May 21 meeting discussed staffing changes aimed at improving patron safety and service. The board identified a need for a half‑FTE to staff the youth desk consistently during open hours and raised the broader issue of having two staff members available upstairs during busier periods.
A presenter said the half‑FTE for the youth desk is not in the current budget. The board asked staff to prepare a brief position paper for the next meeting outlining the staffing requests and possible ways to offset costs this fiscal year and include them in the next year’s budget. The presenter suggested splitting costs between the remainder of the current year and the next year as a possible approach, pending city approval.
Members also discussed resuming notary services on a limited, scheduled basis. The transcript records that notary activity had increased in the past and that resuming services would require setting specific hours and appointment processes to prevent overuse and to capture staff time in budget planning.
Volunteers were highlighted as a major support: one board member said volunteer hours are equivalent to about eight full‑time employees in aggregate, and that the library would struggle to operate without that volunteer support.
Ending: Staff were asked to prepare a position paper and municipal-funding comparison for the June meeting to support decisions on hiring and service changes.
