Library adjusts hours as staff turnover continues; city and county roles in seniors program clarified

Library staff told the council the library recently hired a new employee and has adjusted Friday hours to close at 5 p.m. due to low evening usage. Staff said daily patron counts have been robust on some recent days, including a day with 73 visitors.

Why it matters: Staffing and hours affect public access to library services. Separately, staff described a coordination issue between the city and the county over administration of the seniors program after contract and payment responsibilities shifted.

Library details: - One staff member departed for health reasons; a new hire is in training and will cover afternoon and evening shifts on certain days. - Friday hours were reduced from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. because late-evening patronage was rare. - The library participates in a book-exchange cooperative with surrounding libraries (Salina and Richfield) with weekly runs to bring requested materials.

Seniors program and county coordination: - Staff said the six-county Area Agency on Aging (6-County AOG/R6) previously managed the seniors program; the county is now administering the program and receiving the funding from 6-County. - The change created at least one instance of confusion over expenditure authority; staff said they will meet with county representatives to clarify responsibilities and contractual arrangements to avoid future conflicts.

Ending: Library staff will continue training the new employee and monitor patron patterns; city staff will schedule a coordination meeting with county contacts to clarify seniors program administration and spending authority.