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Crook County library staff propose restricting meeting-room bookings to open hours, raising commercial fee
Summary
Library staff told the Crook County Board of Commissioners they will propose a new meeting-room policy to limit reservations to library open hours, cap reservations at six hours, allow bookings up to three months ahead and raise the commercial-use fee from $20 to $40 per hour; trustees will review a draft policy tomorrow.
Kim, lead librarian, told the Crook County Board of Commissioners that meeting-room use at the county library has become a security and maintenance concern and proposed several rule changes.
Kim said staff have seen after-hours parties, unlocked doors and people staying overnight, and that keys are not always returned. "We're finding that people are drinking alcohol after hours," Kim said, and staff are left to clean up messes and manage security risks. To reduce those problems, Kim proposed allowing reservations only during the librarys open hours, with a half-hour buffer before closing to let staff clear the building.
The proposal sets weekday hours roughly from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Saturdays until about 3:30 p.m., and no bookings on Sundays. Kim said the library will permit reservations up to three months in advance and limit each booking to six hours so groups cannot monopolize the room. "We only allow 3 months in advance to book," Kim said.
Kim also said the library will continue to charge commercial users and has raised the commercial rate. "It was $20 an hour, and now it's gonna be $40 an hour," she said. Staff told commissioners they will continue to allow community groups and noncommercial uses during library hours.
Commissioners asked about liability and oversight if groups remain in the building after hours, and staff said users sign a contract that includes responsibility for damage. One commissioner suggested adding signage to indicate the correct entrance after several members of the public reported encountering locked doors.
The boards staff said a draft policy is being prepared and that the library will present it to the board of trustees at their meeting tomorrow. No formal board action was taken at the Feb. 11 work session; staff said the draft will be placed on the Feb. 18 county agenda for formal adoption if trustees recommend approval.
The library proposal will return to the board after trustees review the draft; commissioners asked staff to include deposit and liability language and said they expect to see a finalized policy and revised fee schedule when the item returns for action.
