Library director reports FEMA assistance, new programs, staffing progress and digital expansions

Amanda, the Beaufort County Library director, told the board the Saint Helena branch hosted a FEMA disaster recovery team last week that assisted 78 residents registering for storm-related recovery aid. She framed the visit as an example of libraries’ expanded public-service role beyond lending books.

Amanda said the library employs 81 people (82 including a newly hired paid intern at the Bluffton branch) and is actively recruiting for several vacancies, including a deputy director and a senior librarian/branch manager role. She said more than 20 applications had been reviewed for the deputy director position and interviews are being scheduled. Amanda also said the county approved a new Collection Development Librarian position requiring a master’s degree in library science; the position will be posted soon.

On staff development, Amanda reported that library staff have completed about 1,000 hours of continuing education by midyear, compared with 480 hours for all of last year. She said Beaufort County Human Resources provides access to online training (NeoGov) and that some training costs are covered by the county budget line for professional development.

Amanda highlighted recent and upcoming public programs: holiday cheer events, a Beaufort Railroaders model-train display, Noon Year’s Eve children’s events at Bluffton and Saint Helena branches, and the locker pickup launch at Burton Wells Recreation Center intended to improve user access. She invited board members and the public to winter-reading (Jan. 15–Feb. 15), a drive that asks participants to log at least six hours of reading for a chance to win bookstore gift cards provided by Friends groups.

On collections and digital offerings, Amanda described Hoopla as the system’s primary digital provider and said two recent additions aim to expand value without added cost: Creativebug (a seven-day “binge pass” for craft content) and a Hoopla season pass that allows a borrower to access an entire TV season for a single monthly borrow. She said the library’s borrowing allotment remains eight borrows per cardholder per month.

Amanda also announced an in-kind donation that will place 93 Wonderbooks at the Saint Helena library. She described Wonderbooks as print books with an integrated audio player and guided questions to support early readers. The director noted that new printing capability at public terminals (enabled with county IT and vendor support) provides additional convenience for patrons.

The report closed with a reminder that VITA and AARP tax-assistance programs will return in February and that the libraries are collaborating with county departments on stormwater, composting and recycling educational sessions.