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Denison library reports $200,000 bequest, endowment nearing $1 million; story walk at THF Park destroyed
Summary
Unidentified library staff told the board the estate of Barbara Lucille Maxwell bequeathed $200,000 to the Denison Public Library Endowment Fund with a roughly $50,000 final disbursement expected; staff also reported record attendance, upcoming events, a donated display case and the destruction of a story walk by suspected vehicle vandalism.
Unidentified Speaker, a member of the library staff, said the Denison Public Library received a $200,000 check from the estate of Barbara Lucille Maxwell and that the will divides the estate equally between the library endowment and the deceased woman’s church.
“The good news is that in her will, she said that her estate would be divided equally between the Denison Public Library Endowment Fund and her church,” Unidentified Speaker said, adding that Alvin Bailey, the executor, estimated a final disbursement of about $50,000 once probate finishes.
The library’s presenter said the principal in the endowment account is now “up around a million dollars” for that one account and noted a separate Charles Jones trust remains in a different account. Using a projected annual yield of 4–5 percent, the speaker described how the enlarged corpus could provide additional yearly funding for books and materials. The speaker also said a prior budget action moved one subscription from the endowment to Citi funds this year, freeing approximately $12,000–$14,000 for operations.
Staff emphasized the developments were informational and that no board action was required at the meeting. “We received a check, for $200,000,” the presenter said.
Alongside the financial update, staff reviewed recent and upcoming programming. The presenter reported strong fall activity, including pre-K programs averaging a little over 200 attendees per week, a monster-trail event with more than 300 participants, and record fiscal-year metrics: circulations reported as 67,720 (noting some uncertainty in the transcript handwriting), program attendance of 47,113 and 70,623 in-person visits. The library was also awarded the Munson grama for its "read to win" program.
The speaker described a vandalism incident at THF Park in September that destroyed the story walk installation. “Somebody went in there with a vehicle, evidently, because there was tire tracks, and I mean completely wrecked it, beyond repair,” the presenter said. Staff said they passed replacement options to supervisors but cautioned that new installations can be expensive and that more durable (if less aesthetic) solutions are being considered.
On facilities and donations, staff said the library acquired an enclosed, soundproof meeting booth capable of seating two people; installers are returning to repair a malfunctioning sensor that controls ventilation and lighting. Brian Hander donated a full-size display case to house rotating exhibits about the library’s history; Hander will reportedly change the display every two to three months using material in storage.
Upcoming events listed by staff include a senior craft on Dec. 5, Christmas storytime on Dec. 9, a reindeer visit Dec. 13, a Christmas concert and crafts on Dec. 14, and a Paddington Bear movie event on Jan. 25. Staff also said they met with a vendor and Carrie Uber from ISD to coordinate linked reading challenges between schools and the library so students automatically qualify for the library’s programs.
Unidentified Speaker said installers expect to return next week to address the meeting booth sensor and that the executor expects the final probate disbursement around February. No motions or votes occurred on these items during the meeting; the updates were provided for the board’s information.
