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Sweet Home librarian outlines donations, services and introduces naming-rights policy
Summary
The Sweet Home Library received a box donation from the Library of Congress, reported increased program attendance and ebook use, and introduced a draft naming-rights policy that would reserve building naming for gifts above roughly $1 million; no vote was taken and city council review is expected in February.
The Sweet Home Library Board on Thursday heard an extended report from the library’s lead staffer detailing recent donations, program updates and facilities work, and received an informational draft of a naming-rights policy the librarian said would return to the board and then the city council for final approval.
The librarian told the board the library recently "received 6 more boxes of books from senator Wyden in the Library of Congress," including picture books, juvenile fiction and teen fiction; the library will add selected titles to its collection and offer surplus items to Halsey Library, which requested mentorship and materials.
She described facilities work under way: staff-area light fixtures that have been failing will be replaced and upgraded to LED, and estimates are being sought for a smaller front window behind Kira's desk that "kind of leaks air right now" and should be replaced with a more energy-efficient unit. The library is also awaiting delivery of an additional part needed to complete a handicap-access door installation.
The librarian said the library adjusted Saturday hours on Oct. 4 to open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., keeping total weekly hours the same but opening earlier; she noted the earlier hour coincided with Harvest Festival Saturday and "we saw well over 200 kids" during the first hour after the change. She reported that about 60 of an 80-pound donation of candy was given away, and roughly 150 treat bags and prizes were distributed. The library also ran a teen clothing giveaway that drew more than 70 teens and distributed about 80 donated items as well as hygiene products and food.
On programming and partnerships, the librarian said a summer Dungeons & Dragons group now meets monthly, Sunshine Industries will visit monthly for crafts and movies and check out books weekly, and the library will run a kid-sized clothing drive with collections beginning after Thanksgiving and a giveaway planned for January, contingent on volunteer availability.
She described recent grant activity and digital-collection planning: the library is awaiting deposit checks before spending awarded grant funds and plans to obtain STEM kits for checkout aimed at homeschool families; after attending the Association for Rural and Small Libraries conference, the librarian said the library will take a one-year membership in a sustainable library program and is exploring longer-term certification for a future new building. The library also plans to acquire a scanner and 1 terabyte of storage to begin digitizing older family photos and other community materials.
On fundraising, the librarian introduced a draft donor recognition and naming-rights policy adapted from other libraries and said the library had already received a trust gift of "about 800,000." She said she proposed a $1,000,000 threshold for naming the building, but emphasized the amounts are modeled on larger communities and are open to change. "If we do name the building, I would like it to be over that amount," she said. She added that if the board adopts a policy, the city attorney will review it and it would go to city council for final approval, which she did not expect before February.
Board members asked logistical questions about donor agreements and construction planning, and the librarian reiterated conference advice to document donor commitments and to use a general contractor to avoid scope changes mid-construction. She also raised the possibility of a "morality clause" to allow the library or city to remove a name if a namesake later becomes controversial and asked the board whether renaming decisions should rest with the library, the city or both; she said she would draft clearer language for the board to consider.
The item was presented for discussion only; the board did not vote on the draft naming-rights policy during the meeting. The librarian assigned members to review the draft before the next meeting and noted the work session to discuss new-building options would precede next month's board meeting.
