Broadwater School and Community Library outlines summer hours, budget and programs; county to contribute $79,995

The Broadwater School and Community Library presented a budget and program update to the Broadwater County commissioners, noting expanded summer hours, the summer reading program and a county contribution of $79,995.

Angela Giono, identified in the record as the library chief/librarian, told commissioners she had emailed the budget in advance and said the library is a joint school and community facility housed at the Broadwater School. She said the library increases hours in the summer to offer more access when school is out; summer hours are Monday–Thursday 1 p.m.–7 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and the library is not open Sundays in the summer. "By law, we have to provide at least 30 hours," Giono said, explaining the legal minimum the library schedules against its population-based requirement.

Giono said the school contributes additional support and that the library maintains a presence on the school website (townsend.ktwelve.mt.us); she has requested a separate tab for easier access and asked the school to post on Facebook. The library offers a summer reading program run by Vicky Harvey; Giono said Harvey reported about 35 children attended the first program and that one child had already completed the program’s reading-hour target. The library loans Kindle readers and runs a book club and other community education activities through local partnerships.

Giono said the library used federation meeting savings (about $387) returned when an in-person meeting did not occur; those funds were added to summer reading prizes.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was received and commissioners had no follow-up questions on the record.