County committee forwards library plan to create full-time youth services position

The Faulkner County Budget and Finance Committee on Monday voted to forward proposed ordinance 2611 to the full court after library officials asked the county to fund a full-time youth services administrative assistant.

Library representatives, led by Mr. McGraw and a staff member introduced as Mary, told the committee the county library system ran roughly 1,200 programs last year, attracting about 33,000 attendees at its seven locations. Mary said the system has trained staff at all branches to support early reading development and is expanding collections of decodable texts to help families and children improve literacy.

"We developed a strategic plan a couple of years ago to really address our childhood literacy rates," Mary said, adding the libraries are not reading specialists but play a vital community support role. Mr. McGraw said the state library is reviewing how it ties state aid to local partnerships and that the county’s request is meant to prepare the system in case new rules become mandatory.

Committee members asked about cost and funding. Officials said converting the part-time post to a full-time position would add roughly $12,000 over the current part-time cost for the library system; the county’s share was described as a small increase to county general. One committee member noted Mount Vernon’s library building is owned by the city and therefore outside the county’s direct repair authority, and county leaders said they are pursuing plans for a county-owned building to replace the inadequate facility.

After discussion, the committee voted to forward 2611 to the full court for consideration.

The full county court will take up the ordinance at a later session; committee members said more detailed budget figures are available in the packet and will be reviewed by the full court.