By Bruce Rolfe
While the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board has not set a time when it plans to begin the second phase of improvements in the library, a cost estimate for one of the improvements was provided at the July 22 Library Board meeting held at Lawrence Memorial District Library.
Library Director Bill Lewis said Christoff and Sons Floor Covering provided an estimate of $5,630.80 for carpeting in the children’s room. The carpeting will be the same carpeting with squares that is in the main portion of the library and Prairie Historical Society room. If a spill stains a portion of the carpet or a square becomes damaged, the squares can be removed and replaced with new squares the library has on hand.
Lewis and board member Carole Brock-Cook have been reviewing shelving and room layout ideas for the children’s room but nothing has been finalized.
He said there is money in the budget to purchase the carpeting when the board is ready.
The library director adds the board could choose another carpet style when the renovation plan is finalized, but he wanted to give the board an initial cost for carpeting.
The plan is to have the renovations completed by the end of the budget year.
The Library Board completed the first of three phases of improvements at the local library last year, installing new carpeting in the adult fiction and media room and in the Prairie Historical Society Room, installing approximately 28 new shelving units that contain 2851 titles in the adult fiction and media room, new paint on the walls and new LED lights in the adult fiction and media room.
The third renovation phase planned is an upgrade in the adult non-fiction room.
Lewis noted C-S Band Director Karla Reichert expressed interest in having students help move books during the renovation at the library as a fundraiser.
5 Computers Purchased
The Library Board authorized the library director to spend $8,000 for the purchase of five new computers, software upgrade, and installation assistance by a 4-0 vote (Wendell Stoeffler, Jamie Camp and Cindy Speicher absent).
Lewis said the computer purchase is for $7,725 (total includes sales tax which will be removed because the library is tax exempt), however he requested some additional money for installation costs.
Lewis said the computers the library currently have on site are eight years old operating Windows 10 but can’t convert up to Windows 11.
The new computers will have a 512 processor, 16 meg of RAM, Windows 11 Pro Operating System, new keyboards and three years of unlimited support from Dell.
Library Usage Remains Steady, Many Opportunities At Library
Library Director Bill Lewis said there were 105 check outs from Overdrive for the month of June. That total includes 56 audio book checkouts, 21 magazines, and 28 books.
There were 256 library check outs and 176 checkins for a total of 444. Combined with Overdrive there was a total of 546 pieces of material handled in the library for an average of 18.2 pieces per day over a 30 day period.
The library was open 21 days in June.
There were 169 adults, 27 juvenile and 31 children that used the library in June for a total of 227.
There were five story hours and 10 patrons attended. There was one movie in the park night in June with 13 people attending.
There was also a movie in the park event July 12 with 15 people attending. The Rotary fundraiser was cancelled due to the possibility of bad weather.
There were 42 enrolled in the Dolly Parton Reading Program in June and 38 graduated.
Patron savings for the month of June was high at $4,050.29. Lewis said a driving factor for the higher patron savings total was a number of patrons took advantage of checking out tables the library offers for graduation events.
Lewis said the library received a $4,000 grant from the South West Michigan Library Co-op.
Work on the database for books and updates for relabeling continues.
The library hosted a Tie Dye Day event June 11 and 41 people attended.
Lewis said there were 808 patrons, two less then last month, however the library continues to update the patron database.
Lewis will have a meeting with a representative from the Decker Insurance agency August 12 to discuss possible health benefit information for library employees. He will provide an update to the board.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Wendell Stoeffler was not present, however Board President Joel Amos reports there was $151,404.25 in the Library checking account and $85,710.01 in the library savings account.
Library President Joel Amos said approximately 40 policies the library has will need to be reviewed and updated because they were adopted before the library became a district library.
The Library Board Executive Committee will review each policy and will recommend any changes that are needed to the board.
While the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board has not set a time when it plans to begin the second phase of improvements in the library, a cost estimate for one of the improvements was provided at the July 22 Library Board meeting held at Lawrence Memorial District Library.
Library Director Bill Lewis said Christoff and Sons Floor Covering provided an estimate of $5,630.80 for carpeting in the children’s room. The carpeting will be the same carpeting with squares that is in the main portion of the library and Prairie Historical Society room. If a spill stains a portion of the carpet or a square becomes damaged, the squares can be removed and replaced with new squares the library has on hand.
Lewis and board member Carole Brock-Cook have been reviewing shelving and room layout ideas for the children’s room but nothing has been finalized.
He said there is money in the budget to purchase the carpeting when the board is ready.
The library director adds the board could choose another carpet style when the renovation plan is finalized, but he wanted to give the board an initial cost for carpeting.
The plan is to have the renovations completed by the end of the budget year.
The Library Board completed the first of three phases of improvements at the local library last year, installing new carpeting in the adult fiction and media room and in the Prairie Historical Society Room, installing approximately 28 new shelving units that contain 2851 titles in the adult fiction and media room, new paint on the walls and new LED lights in the adult fiction and media room.
The third renovation phase planned is an upgrade in the adult non-fiction room.
Lewis noted C-S Band Director Karla Reichert expressed interest in having students help move books during the renovation at the library as a fundraiser.
5 Computers Purchased
The Library Board authorized the library director to spend $8,000 for the purchase of five new computers, software upgrade, and installation assistance by a 4-0 vote (Wendell Stoeffler, Jamie Camp and Cindy Speicher absent).
Lewis said the computer purchase is for $7,725 (total includes sales tax which will be removed because the library is tax exempt), however he requested some additional money for installation costs.
Lewis said the computers the library currently have on site are eight years old operating Windows 10 but can’t convert up to Windows 11.
The new computers will have a 512 processor, 16 meg of RAM, Windows 11 Pro Operating System, new keyboards and three years of unlimited support from Dell.
Library Usage Remains Steady, Many Opportunities At Library
Library Director Bill Lewis said there were 105 check outs from Overdrive for the month of June. That total includes 56 audio book checkouts, 21 magazines, and 28 books.
There were 256 library check outs and 176 checkins for a total of 444. Combined with Overdrive there was a total of 546 pieces of material handled in the library for an average of 18.2 pieces per day over a 30 day period.
The library was open 21 days in June.
There were 169 adults, 27 juvenile and 31 children that used the library in June for a total of 227.
There were five story hours and 10 patrons attended. There was one movie in the park night in June with 13 people attending.
There was also a movie in the park event July 12 with 15 people attending. The Rotary fundraiser was cancelled due to the possibility of bad weather.
There were 42 enrolled in the Dolly Parton Reading Program in June and 38 graduated.
Patron savings for the month of June was high at $4,050.29. Lewis said a driving factor for the higher patron savings total was a number of patrons took advantage of checking out tables the library offers for graduation events.
Lewis said the library received a $4,000 grant from the South West Michigan Library Co-op.
Work on the database for books and updates for relabeling continues.
The library hosted a Tie Dye Day event June 11 and 41 people attended.
Lewis said there were 808 patrons, two less then last month, however the library continues to update the patron database.
Lewis will have a meeting with a representative from the Decker Insurance agency August 12 to discuss possible health benefit information for library employees. He will provide an update to the board.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Wendell Stoeffler was not present, however Board President Joel Amos reports there was $151,404.25 in the Library checking account and $85,710.01 in the library savings account.
Library President Joel Amos said approximately 40 policies the library has will need to be reviewed and updated because they were adopted before the library became a district library.
The Library Board Executive Committee will review each policy and will recommend any changes that are needed to the board.
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