Library trustees review budget, circulation trends and pay-scale gaps as mobile library nears launch

The St. Mary’s County Library Board of Trustees reviewed budget performance, circulation trends and staff pay comparisons at its October meeting, and discussed next steps for a planned mobile library and telehealth booths.

Board President Jim Hanley opened the discussion and Michael Dunn, vice president, presented the budget overview and quarterly statistics. Dunn told trustees that overall circulation was up about 6% year‑to‑date and that digital circulation rose roughly 14% for the quarter. Meeting‑room use was reported as up substantially (Dunn: "meeting room use ... up 66%"), while visitor counts at some branches were down; staff said new door counters and fewer incidental counts at a local market partly explain the change.

The discussion mattered because trustees are preparing for capital projects and personnel cost pressure. Dunn said the county had asked the library to identify projects for capital funding, and that the library had submitted a facilities master plan and a separate study for Lexington Park. Trustees noted an item in the transcript referencing capital funds described as "450,000,0.0 set aside in capital funds to renovate"; the board did not provide a corrected numeric total at the meeting.

Why this matters: trustees said usage increases and facility needs create competing demands for limited operating and capital dollars. Michael Dunn said the mobile library vehicle’s delivery has been delayed by supply‑chain issues but staff expect an opening‑day collection and two full‑time hires to be in place “by month's end” and the van to be ready later this year; the board also said a $50,000 capital grant for the mobile library from Delegate Brian (noted as approved at the state level) is moving through required steps.

On staffing and pay, trustees reviewed a side‑by‑side comparison of library salary grades and county job classifications prepared by staff. Trustees and staff said library starting pay for several entry and lower‑tier positions trails comparable county positions and local employers, contributing to recent turnover. Dunn and staff noted state minimum‑wage increases and a coming January adjustment could narrow or exacerbate those gaps. Board members discussed a possible administrative change from a 35.5‑hour to a 35‑hour full‑time week; staff said the change would not alter annual salaries for exempt employees but could affect nonexempt and part‑time pay calculations and pension/benefit thresholds and therefore requires more analysis.

The board also discussed operational items tied to services: the new telehealth booths at Lexington Park and Charlotte Hall are in use and being tracked; initial usage was modest (staff reported roughly 3–4 uses per month at one library) but the booths double as private study space. Staff said the health department will present on the partnership at an upcoming conference.

Trustees asked staff to continue work on several follow‑ups: (1) obtain firm quotes and insurance details for bonding the treasurer position, (2) finalize staffing for the mobile library and the opening‑day collection, (3) provide a clearer, auditable dollar total for the county capital funds referenced in the meeting, and (4) return with details on the payroll/benefit implications of any move to a 35‑hour full‑time week.

"We need to make sure the audit is in place before Dec. 1," Dunn said, noting audit timing affects the December budget process. The board did not take a formal vote on pay‑scale changes, the treasurer bond or OPEB investments at the meeting; those items remain under staff work and will return for further review.