More money projects for PCPL in 2021

With school boards and councils seeing where they might stand budget-wise in 2021, the PCPL Board of Trustees is no exception. However, the library is set to see an increase in its budget.

The budget was covered briefly by Treasurer Lisa Barker during the Library Board’s virtual regular meeting held Wednesday evening.

As to the taxpayer’s notice, the budget has two items. The library’s general fund would stand at $1,103,680, while its rainy day fund would be at $65,000. The tax levy stands at $624,503.

Compared to the 2020 budget, the rainy day fund is projected to remain the same amount. However, the general fund is projected to be a little more than $47,105 higher this year. This means the library has more to work with.

Barker said putting in furniture and equipment is being used as a “placeholder” for this extra money at this point.

Barker noted that the requested rainy day fund projection can be spent without having to go to the Putnam County Council for approval.

With this in mind, the treasurer stated that she and Director Matt McClelland were “comfortable in being very cautious” with where money is spent. This ensures the library’s expenditures won’t go into a binding review from the council.

McClelland has previously signaled that more dollars should be shifted to digital resources, which have become especially crucial during the COVID-19 spread.

Barker provided that the deadline to have a budget squared away is by the end of October. Rather, it was a good thing to have it approved before then.

The board approved a resolution declaring the Putnam County Council as the fiscal body which will review the budget.

The 2021 budget is set to be adopted during the board’s next regular meeting.

In other business:

• Local attorney Kristin McClellan was introduced as the board’s newest member. Appointed by the Putnam County Commissioners, she is replacing David Taylor.

• The library was recently awarded a grant through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The grant totals to about $3,900 to purchase Lego WeDo 2.0 sets, in which tablets are used to program coding into a Lego robot.

• Barker said the WiFi signal in the parking lot will be stronger than it has been. This upgrade stems from patrons using the signal without going into the library to access a computer.

• Barker said that money could be shifted over from DVD purchases to PCPL’s OverDrive service, which provides e-books, audiobooks and e-magazines.

McClelland did not attend the meeting, as he is on vacation until Aug. 31. Board member Jamie Nees was also not in attendance.

The next regular meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23.