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Pines and Plains Library District reports rising reserves, Elizabeth renovation plans; trustees appointed amid public questions on challenged books
Summary
Library director Susan Byrne told Elbert County commissioners the district ended 2024 with about $2.75 million in reserves and is planning renovations in Kiowa and Elizabeth; commissioners approved two trustee appointments while residents raised concerns about challenged books and parental controls.
Susan Byrne, director of the Pines and Plains Library District, told the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 12, 2025 that the district ended 2024 with increased reserves and plans for facility renovations, particularly at the Elizabeth branch.
Byrne said the district's mill levy is 2.516 and that 2024 revenues exceeded budgeted amounts: the district budgeted $1,588,431 in property tax revenue and actually received $1,659,646; total budgeted revenue was roughly $1.74 million while actual revenues were $1,893,999. Byrne said the district closed 2024 with about $2,751,681 in reserves, money the board is holding for planned renovations.
Byrne outlined current projects: a restroom remodel at the Kiowa library and planning for a larger renovation at the Elizabeth library. She said the Elizabeth branch received a community‑led refresh (donated labor and materials), a mural is being painted in the children's area, and new furniture and carpeting are planned. Internally, the district has modernized technology for public computers and migrated staff email to Microsoft 365.
Byrne cited program metrics: in 2023 the district hosted 514 programs with 4,815 attendees; in 2024 it hosted 591 programs with 6,225 attendees. She said the library board approved a strategic plan that will guide work through 2025 and that the board planned a study session later the same day to discuss financing options for the Elizabeth renovation.
Commissioner Schroeder asked about the district's listing of banned or challenged books on the library's site and how materials are selected and reviewed. Byrne explained the district reports challenges in its annual state library statistics and those data are aggregated nationally; the American Library Association receives challenge reports from state libraries. Byrne described the district's materials selection policy and a formal challenge process that begins with a conversation and can escalate to a written form and review procedure. "We have policies in place that tell us how to purchase materials for the library," Byrne said.
Members of the public spoke during the county's citizen comment period. Sunny Mills of Kiowa said she was shocked that titles such as The Diary of Anne Frank appear on national challenge lists and urged local decision‑making consistent with community norms. Jan Fitzgerald raised concerns about alleged actions by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office and sought compensation tied to what she described at the podium as an eminent‑domain incident; she asked to meet with Commissioner McDaniel about reimbursement.
The board approved the library board recommendations — the reappointment of Morale Hegemeier (to complete an unexpired term) and the appointment of Lisa Hurst — by unanimous voice vote.
Byrne invited commissioners to tour library facilities and offered to provide follow‑up documents on finances and renovation plans. Commissioners indicated they would review the strategic plan and may consider parental‑control or guidance options separately from the public library's selection policy, which Byrne said differs from schools because public libraries are not "in loco parentis."
