Director outlines grant plan, volunteer contributions and school agreement

Library Director Steve told the board the library is preparing a grant application with a mid-July deadline that could fund an expansion of the library’s WiFi and help with reconfiguration work if awarded.

Steve said the grant’s mid-July submission date is July 11 and that staff expect a WiFi cost estimate the following week. He described the grant materials as helping the library prioritize projects even if the application is not successful.

Board members highlighted library usage statistics: the library ranks in the top 10% for circulation and in the bottom 20% for per-capita municipal support. The director reported a 2023 per-capita support figure of $28.38 and a ranking of about 350 of 382 libraries, while monthly traffic cited later in the meeting was roughly 14,000 visits. Board members praised staff performance and noted volunteer hours totaled 229 for the month — the equivalent of roughly five full-time staff positions.

Staff reported updates on a revised teacher/school agreement that will formalize teacher card resources and school outreach; board members requested that the new agreement be added to next month’s agenda for further review. The board also discussed ongoing work to recount and return school materials that have ended up at the library.

Steve said he and staff are taking QPR (suicide prevention) facilitator training to support community programs and that the grant work is guiding prioritization of reconfiguration items if funds are not obtained. The board noted staffing additions proposed for future years will be considered in next year’s budget cycle rather than added mid-year.

Board members asked staff to produce a monthly summary to communicate the library’s results and usage statistics to the city and public; the director agreed that regular reporting and storytelling via social channels can help link library outcomes to future funding requests.