Library seeks ARPA funds for mobile service, Lexington Park improvements; discusses digital-content law and RFID rollout

Library staff told trustees in June that they have submitted four ARPA grant requests that together aim to expand mobile and on-site services, improve safety at Lexington Park and add a covered outdoor programming shelter at Charlotte Hall.

Michael Dunn, who presented the report on grants and digital services, said the library requested roughly $370,000 for a mobile library including one full-time equivalent and infrastructure to keep the vehicle powered at its storage site. The library also sought about $50,000–$60,000 to redo the Lexington Park parking lot and add a drive-through, and roughly $40,000 to install a 40-by-24 covered outdoor programming shelter at Charlotte Hall. Dunn said the county supports the projects and that the library expects grant decisions in early July; the ARPA spending window is one year but the state has precedent for granting extensions when construction or procurement backlogs occur.

Dunn also described work with the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA) on technology and digital-content initiatives. SMRLA is funding an RFID rollout for St. Mary's and Calvert counties that will add RFID tags to items while preserving barcodes; the tags will be applied by a contractor so local staff do not have to tag collections. Dunn said SMRLA recently forgave longstanding fines in Charles and Calvert counties as part of a move toward a fine-free approach; SMRLA also allocated additional funds for digital-content platforms, including an extra $26,000 for Hoopla for each county on top of prior allocations and about $100,000 (plus $22,000 previously) for OverDrive.

On the system's app and digital-audio content, Dunn said SimplyE (the library app provider) earlier had costs covered by SMRLA but that SMRLA declined to pay the vendor this year; the trustees were told the library is discussing budgeting for the app next year. Separately, Dunn briefed trustees on recent state legislation concerning digital content: Maryland passed an ebook bill into law without the governor's signature; it will take effect Jan. 1 and requires digital content to be made available to libraries on "reasonable" terms. Dunn said libraries and the American Library Association will work with publishers to define "reasonable," but cautioned they must avoid coordinated price-fixing. He noted that some audiobook content remains exclusive to Audible and that ongoing negotiations with large publishers and platform providers are expected.

Why it matters: A mobile library, if funded, would extend services to outlying neighborhoods, senior centers and day cares and require annual recurring costs estimated by staff at roughly $80,000–$90,000 for maintenance, fuel and one FTE. The Lexington Park improvements aim to increase pedestrian safety and provide a drive-through pickup service; the Charlotte Hall shelter is intended to increase outdoor programming capacity once an adjacent farmers market relocates.

Timing and next steps: Grant decisions from the state were expected in early July; trustees were advised that if partially funded the system could pursue foundation or friends-group fundraising to close gaps. Staff said they have prepared specifications and contractor cost estimates and have begun informal county discussions about ongoing operating support.

Ending note: Trustees and staff described the ARPA requests as competitive—statewide requests exceed available funds—and said they would proceed with contingency planning depending on eventual award levels.