Guthrie library director reports website launch, state grant watch after federal executive order

Gracia, identified during the meeting as the library director, told the Guthrie Public Library Advisory Board that the library’s new Google Site website is complete and will be proofread before launch. She said assistant director Andy will check links and perform final quality checks.

The director said she, Jacob and Gwen attended the Oklahoma Library Association conference in Norman and returned with programming ideas. She also reported that local master gardeners have purchased and will install a raised metal planter and will repair/relocate an inoperative spigot near the community garden at the library’s front, improving shade and landscaping around outdoor seating.

Gracia told the board about a White House executive order directing some federal agencies to minimize staffing, and that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was named among affected agencies. She said the Oklahoma Department of Libraries has told local libraries it expects current projects to continue, but the library will monitor the situation because the Museum and Library Services Act — the statutory authority for IMLS grants and state aid — expires at the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30. “No one really knows how much of that aid is going to be in the future,” she said.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timelines and staffing; Gracia said the department and library are watching the grant programs and that no concrete changes to local funding had been announced.

Gracia closed the report by previewing upcoming program ideas inspired by the conference and noting staff work on final website edits.