Public Library Board February 19

Attendees at this BCPL meeting included 15 residents of Petersburg/Bellevue Bottoms, regarding their ongoing concerns with the Chapin Memorial Library (CML). Also in attendance, in response to contacts from these concerned residents, was Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore and Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster. During the 15-minute comment section of the meeting the residents continued to detail the problems they are continuing to encounter with the unstaffed CML. Still waiting on more current magazines (received 3 hunting magazines for 2024 but nothing else), received coloring materials for children but no crayons, poor communication, problems with signage, etc. During the January meeting the BCPL agreed to staff the CML for one day a week. The residents have requested 3 days and had collected some resumes to provide for the Board’s consideration. 

In response to this ongoing issue, Director Herman gave a Powerpoint staff presentation regarding the history of the CML going back to the 2006 first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the original block development grant. This MOU created the community center which houses the CML and a volunteer fire department. The presentation went over subsequent MOUs which provided for reimbursement to the BCPL although admittedly only one invoice was generated from BCPL. Director Herman reiterated that the population in the Petersburg/Bellevue Bottoms area has declined about 46% with about a 280% decline in visits to CML Consequently, funds were set aside in 2023 and 2024 to start the pilot project of an unmanned CML. The pilot has been in place only 7 months, which the BCPL doesn’t think is enough to judge its success. Admittedly the pilot has not been well received by the CML community. The BCPL has reached out to schools and other organizations, without much success, to support programs (such as adult literacy programs) that patrons from other Boone County library branches enjoy. Director Herman also emphasized that in the future, the reimbursement and reporting requirements outlined in the various MOUs must be complied with.

At this point Judge Moore weighed in, concurring that the pilot project was not being well-received by the community based on his and Webster’s monitoring of the calls and emails they’ve received from the community. Consequently, Judge Moore believes the CML should be re-opened and staffed at least 2 days a week; he actually stated his belief that the CML should be administered as a hybrid – a partially staffed library with locker access, although the lockers aren’t used a lot; the small group that utilizes them are “super users.” Judge Moore indicated his belief that the population in the area will increase as there are numerous tracts of land that would likely interest potential purchasers looking for a plot to build on; he clarified these would be for single residences, not subdivisions or apartments. Board members expressed their agreement with Judge Moore and also agreed that further discussion would be needed to determine hours of staffing, etc. Judge Moore indicated this was not a money issue with regard to hiring two part-time employees to staff the library a total of 16 hours a week, but a people issue. Judge Moore suggested that the county attorney get with the Board’s attorney to obtain all the relevant documents involved.  Moore and Webster also suggested getting input from the community as to days and hours for staffing.  Discussion ensued regarding surveys to the residents. Director Herman indicated they would provide the survey on the BCPL website, and also a printed survey would be available at the CML itself.  Moore and Webster requested that surveys be mailed to the residents based on the library cards the BCPL has on file, regardless of postage costs. The Board requested that these surveys be distributed ASAP so they can move as quickly as possible on re-opening the CML considering they have to interview staff, etc. As a result, a motion to re-open the CML and staff it for 16 hours per week passed unanimously with the Board who indicated there would be further discussion on how to measure success. 

The new Walton library contractors have stated they will be ready to get out by mid-June, so the Walton library may open as early as mid-August.

The loan forgiveness program for the 8 qualified staff members, projected at a cost of approximately $42,000, was passed unanimously by the Board. The Board then passed a motion to discuss the Board of Trustee applications in a closed session. They will be forwarding two trustee applications for each of the two vacant trustee slots (four total) to the Kentucky Library Association. Six applications were received.  Chairwoman Barbara Hill indicated her application was included, as she has apparently re-applied for a Board position.