Library reports rebound in circulation, warns of staffing pressure; mobile library project underway

The St. Mary's County Library reported substantial increases in service metrics compared with the same period last year, but library leaders warned trustees that staff turnover and wage competition could require changes to entry-level pay.

Director Michael Dunn said circulation (including renewals) was up 114% over last year and original circulations up 68%; digital circulation rose 84% over the quarter a year earlier, and visitor counts increased markedly. "Our overall circulation, including renewals, is up, 114% over last year," Dunn said. He cautioned that those gains remain well below pre-pandemic levels and that the library must maintain collections and programming to encourage long-term return of patron behavior.

Staffing and pay competition: Dunn told trustees he had received a message that some local employers have raised starting pay. "This past Sunday sent out an email, saying here's what Dollar General is now paying entry level employees. They're starting people at $18 per hour. Our entry level positions for library associates are starting at $15 an hour," Dunn said, adding that the library has seen increased turnover. He said staff are participating in a state salary survey and that he will present costed options at a future meeting. Trustees stressed that any change to lower-end pay rates will require analysis because raising base wages can create compression effects across the pay scale.

Mobile library update and payments: trustees reviewed recent expenditures for the mobile library vehicle. During a questions segment about check approvals, Dunn explained the vendor payment schedule: "We are paying, for half that up front and getting a substantial price break for doing so. And that is grant funded. So the money came out of our checkbook, but we immediately, asked for reimbursement and and get that reimbursement pretty quickly. So it's a neutral expense." The vehicle is being built by Tech Ops Specialty Vehicles LLC in Kent County, and Dunn said the board may schedule a site visit as the van is completed. The board previously saw line items for two payments of $76,000 in the accounts-executed list; Dunn said the payments are part of the vendor schedule and grant-supported.

Other operational items: Dunn also noted that RBdigital content has been folded into the library’s OverDrive holdings; he reviewed the monthly budget and said some line items (telephone, contracts, insurance) appear higher early in the fiscal year due to quarterly or catch-up billings. Trustees approved the proposed 2022 holiday schedule, with a caveat to move a trustee meeting that conflicts with the Juneteenth holiday.

Why it matters: rising use suggests patron demand is returning, but trustees and staff flagged the potential need to adjust compensation to retain front-line customer-service staff. The mobile library is a capital investment that will expand outreach, but its staffing and operating costs will depend on decisions still pending with the county commissioners and possible additional FTE support.

Next steps: Dunn will present salary-survey results and costed scenarios to trustees at a future meeting. Staff will continue to monitor circulation trends and the mobile-van construction schedule and report progress in November.