Education stipends raise Library Board concerns

Monday, November 20, 2006

Education stipends and mileage increases raised questions and concerns from the Putnam County Public Library Board during its meeting Wednesday.

Board members Glen Gill and Ken Heeke presented the rest of the board with a report from the salary committee. Gill said that the committee recommended to increase next year's salaries by 2 percent. As for now, the minimum wage would stay the same at $5.25 at hiring with 10 cent increments at six months to a year.

Gill also said the committee was recommending to continue pay 75 percent of the insurance premium for the basic plan and raise the mileage pay to 40 cents per mile, which is what the state pays its employees.

The library provides any employees the opportunity to further their education by providing education stipends. The committee recommending, by using different variances of gifts funds and endowments, "we would pay 50 percent of the cost of courses for staff that are enrolled in an MLS program, an IVY Tech technical assistant program or online courses leading to state certification," Gill said

Gill also said that the stipend would be for a maximum of two courses per county.

Board member Vicki Timm asked if the recommended stipend was a change from the current policy.

Gill said that in the past, the library has given a maximum of $400 a year for MLS classes and $200 a year for IVY Tech classes. Both of which were paid out of the gift fund.

The change to the amount the library pays is because the cost of courses has increased.

Board President Dorothy Lukenbill questioned increasing the amount for mileage. She said she did not want to go higher than what the county is paying. Library Director Alice Greenburg said she would look into.

The board agreed with the salary increase and the insurance payment proposals, but it will wait to obtain more information on the mileage increase and the education stipends before voting at the December meeting.

Meanwhile, the library staff reminds the public that the library will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 and stay closed until Friday, Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Kwianis Room, and is open to the public.

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