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Perry Carnegie Library reports increased usage and adopts programming, book-signing and volunteer policies
Summary
The Perry Carnegie Library presented its 2023–24 annual stats and the board approved formal programming, book-signing and volunteer policies intended to document existing practice and give staff guidance and discretionary authority.
Pam Rigg, head librarian at the Perry Carnegie Library, presented the library’s 2023–24 annual usage report at the Oct. 21 library board meeting and the board approved a set of written policies for programming, book signings and volunteers.
Rigg told trustees the Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ new reporting software generated the first printed annual report for the library. She reported the library was open more than 2,000 hours during the year, that nearly 27,100 residents hold library cards and almost 15,000 people walked through the building. The physical collection totals just over 20,000 items (about 17,600 print materials and 1,700 videos); e-materials were borrowed 8,938 times with a total circulation of 28,811. The library reported 214 programs with 3,873 attendees and 370 public-computer uses; Wi‑Fi use was available but not counted in the report.
Trustees discussed a draft programming policy and a book-signing policy that gives priority to Noble County authors and local-interest books but explicitly reserves the library director’s right to make exceptions in special circumstances. Board members and public commenters pressed for clearer wording on selection criteria and noted the director’s override clause could accommodate national authors in exceptional cases.
The volunteer policy was described by Rigg as documentation of current practice to protect staff, volunteers and the public if the director becomes unavailable. Trustees revised language to specify volunteers may be allowed only in “approved areas” rather than the draft phrase “public areas,” so the policy would permit staff to restrict volunteer access behind service counters and in workrooms. The amended volunteer policy passed after a motion and second.
The board approved the consent agenda and the three policies by roll call vote. Rigg said written policies will make it easier for staff to onboard volunteers and to manage programming requests while preserving the director’s discretion for unusual or high-profile events.
The library board adjourned after completing its agenda items; those matters will be reflected in the library’s minutes and the annual report placed on file.
