PCPL to focus on outreach in 2016

Friday, August 28, 2015

The Putnam County Public Library plans to spend most of 2016 expanding on programs put in place this year.

The Library Board hosted a public hearing on the 2016 budget Wednesday evening to discuss the proposed budget of $1,098,083, which consists of $1,019,964 in the general fund and $78,119 in the rainy day fund.

Business Operations Manager Lisa Barker noted the budget consists of the 2.6 percent growth quotient, but does not include any additional funding requests in comparison to the 2015 budget. A major change in the budget for 2016 includes a steep increase in group healthcare.

The board will vote on the budget at the Sept. 23 board meeting and if approved will be forwarded to the Putnam County Council for review.

Library Director Grier Carson said 2015 saw a focus on staff support and development, department restructuring, filling and creating new positions, network upgrades, patron technology support and increased access to the Internet.

"We are two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year and we are already seeing evidence that our efforts are already paying off. The departmental adjustments have resulted in our staff's skill sets better matching their respective departments and ultimately our patrons' needs," Carson said.

Looking forward into 2016, Carson said the library will be building on the changes and focusing on community outreach, specifically technology instruction and school support.

Carson added the outreach services will continue to build on off-site services throughout the county, improve existing patron spaces such as the Kiwanis Room, improve staff compensation and continue professional development opportunities.

Among the outreach expansion included the appointment of the children's outreach librarian as well as the hiring of a part-time assistant for the technology department.

Jill Hawk said the purchase of the new van allows the delivery outreach options to expand. She is currently delivering to daycares, Greencastle and Cloverdale Head Start locations, six nursing homes, Heritage Lake, Bainbridge and Fillmore schools, some home-schooled families and has expanded the service to include home visits.

She has made 38 stops this month and credits word of mouth with the expanded, individualized services.

Hawk said there have been a few patrons who had reserved books, but later called to say a friend or family member would need to pick up the items. She was able to explain the delivery process to the patron and deliver the items without delay.

"I really enjoy the new van. I can be more flexible with my stops," Hawk told the board.

Outreach children's librarian Lesley Stimpert said she is able to serve patrons both on and off-site. In addition to the story hour at the library, she also visits local daycares and Head Starts to read to the children.

Stimpert said she now has a presence at local events, such as the community baby shower and hosting story time at the Farmers' Market.

She also plans to reach out to school librarians to inform them PCPL can serve as a supplemental library.

Board member Lisa McCoy suggested the board reach out to Tzouanakis Intermediate School to help students gain access to library books through the online OverDrive program.

She noted the students have iPads and want to be able to access the library books.

"We would love to get the library into their resources," McCoy said.

The hire of Chris Clark as part-time in the technology department will help Michael Acsbok with outreach services.

Carson said the technological outreach has been a big hit in the community. For example, less than a week after the Windows 10 classes were advertised 32 people had already signed up. Some of the informational classes offered to help with computers and devices have had to be duplicated to assist everyone in need.

Carson informed the board the history department will be getting a "face lift."

Head of Local History and Genealogy Tony Barger will be moving his office to the archives room in order to provide patrons with a private space to work with delicate materials, scan documents and work with the information privately.

The process will also include moving the department's desk to provide more room and rearrange the tables.

Carson said Barger also wants to put the historical photos on display since digitizing the images. The two have discussed putting one of the flat-screen televisions with WiFi capabilities into the local history department for display.

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