Library director announces small state funding, new kits and Applied AI program
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Director John Hong reported $4,457 in state collection-development funding to help cover Hoopla costs, a grant for 14 Penworthy "Staying Sharp" and "STEAM to Go" kits, a plan to buy Microsoft Office licenses at $40 per public computer, new focus groups for programming and an Applied AI series starting Jan. 20.
Library Director John Hong told the Churchill County Library Board that the library received roughly $4,457 in state collection-development funding that will go toward Hoopla, and that a separate grant will buy 14 Penworthy "Staying Sharp" kits for seniors and "STEAM to Go" kits for preschool children.
"The 2026 state collection development funding of about $4,457 will go towards Hoopla," Hong said, adding that the Penworthy kits will support memory and motor-skill programming. The director also proposed purchasing Microsoft Office licenses for the nine public PCs at about $40 per computer to provide patrons with familiar productivity software.
Hong reported a candidate offer for the technical-services librarian role and highlighted recent program successes: "Crafting for Grown Ups" had 29 attendees and a holiday STEAM program drew 48 participants. He announced a monthly "Applied AI" program beginning Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. that will start with background on AI and move toward hands-on sessions in later months.
Hong described internal focus groups for programming, training/professional development and outreach that meet monthly; notes are shared systemwide so staff not on a given group can still review discussions. He also thanked facilities staff for recent security improvements to limit access to non-public areas.
Why it matters: The grants and program investments described affect services offered to seniors, preschoolers and adults and will shape the library's programming and technology access in the coming months.
Direct questions about timelines, staffing and program rollout to the director; no new budget votes were taken beyond routine approvals during this meeting.