PCPL rearranging electrical outlets

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Director Grier Carson reported the Putnam County Public Library Board's Wednesday meeting that the library will be installing five more electrical outlets to accommodate a new layout of computer desks and work tables.

"One of the biggest challenges to updating the space has been the idiosyncratic location of our floor outlets," Carson said, "which effectively limit the ways in which we can use the space. Strategic placement of these outlets will ensure greater flexibility with regard to the arrangement of workstations going forward."

The installation will take place before the library opens in the coming weeks. New carpet will follow after completion and new paint "in radically different tones" some time in the future.

"The end result will include a dedicated and fully-staffed technology help desk area," Carson continued, "a new arrangement of patron work tables equipped with power for charging devices and a new arrangement of patron computers and workstations."

In other developments:

-- Carson reported that the library will be hosting an open house on Saturday, Sept. 24. The open house will include department heads and administrators to talk about the programs and services offered at PCPL.

"Among other, we hope to engage some area families who aren't yet regular library users," Carson said, "and to coordinate with schools to establish a library presence at some of the preceding school open house events. If all goes well, we will look to hold an annual library open house going forward."

-- The board approved the following appointments:

-- Dan Richardson, Substitute Staff in Technology Services

-- Kristina Monnett and Crystal Becker, Reference Assistants

-- Michelle Peck, Circulation Assistant

-- The board adopted the new state mileage reimbursement rate, set by the State Board of Accounts, at 38 cents.

In other business:

-- Carson reported that, rather than merely comparing one month to the next, the library statistics will be more broad and include more context. On that note, he said that the trend toward e-circulation rather than print continues and that no bikes have been checked out.

-- Carson said that the library will "probably" close on the property at the corner of Walnut Street and College Avenue "within the next month." If purchased, the library plans to use the space as additional building or parking.

The next PCPL Board meeting is set for Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Kiwanis Conference Room.

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