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Library director tells trustees card sign-ups and programs are up, flags state bills affecting libraries
Summary
Beaufort County’s library director reported rising card registrations and program participation, staff changes and planned facility upgrades; she also flagged state bills that could change director qualifications and library reporting requirements and noted one bill was tabled.
Amanda, the library director, told the Beaufort County Library Board of Trustees that the system has issued 4,330 new library cards since July 1, surpassing last year’s total of 4,200 and signaling increased use and population growth. She outlined staffing changes, new positions and a slate of upcoming programs.
The director gave a personnel update saying a library assistant was hired at the Beaufort branch and several internal transitions filled vacancies. She said the system is still recruiting for a deputy director and has been authorized to hire a user-experience librarian and a collections-development librarian to support onboarding and print collection strategy. “We are still searching for a deputy director because I need to find the right fit,” Amanda said.
Amanda described program work and early pilot results: a 30-day reading challenge had 623 participants, and branch “friends” groups sponsored prizes for winners across age categories. The library has begun circulating blood-pressure monitor kits through a partnership with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and the American Bar Association; Amanda said the kits circulated 21 times in February.
She announced a collections win for local researchers: the Palmetto Post held in the Beaufort District Collection will be digitized as part of the South Carolina Digital Newspaper Project, which Amanda called “a big win for researchers.” The director also listed upcoming history and travel programs at branches and said a children’s-area furniture replacement and reading-department renovation at the Hilton Head branch are scheduled for late May–early June.
On communications, Amanda said the library’s new welcome email has reached 370 new cardholders and that the system’s average email open rate is about 45%, above the 35% industry benchmark for education-sector mailings. She also noted the library will be featured in the county’s weekly update to broaden outreach.
Financial and foundation updates accompanied the director’s report. Amanda said operating expenditures are running about 61% of budget with the year 67% complete and that roughly $100,000 was spent on materials during the reporting period. She reported state aid for Beaufort County libraries of $468,728 and impact-fee receipts of about $300,000 in the northern district. The Public Library Foundation reported raising $26,715 for the 2024–25 campaign and listed net assets of $933,575.50 with $627,000 in unrestricted funds; the foundation is funding furniture and reading-program incentives.
Amanda briefed trustees on state legislation she is monitoring: House Bill 4045 (to remove a master’s-degree requirement for county library directors), House Bill 3850 (to require quarterly certification of collections) and Senate Bill 104 (a similar measure). She said HB4045 had been tabled and warned trustees that some budget proposals under consideration could put state aid at risk if libraries declined to serve as polling locations. “I’m just sharing that for your information,” Amanda said, urging trustees to contact their representatives.
Votes at a glance: the board approved an amendment to the minutes to list nominating-committee members (moved by the chair; second noted in the transcript; voice vote; approved; counts not specified). A motion to adjourn carried by voice vote at the end of the meeting.
The board set its next meeting for the 14th at 4:00 p.m. The director’s briefing closed with questions from trustees and recognition of the county liaison’s participation.
