Library Board boosts Imagination Library, welcomes member
Among the routine procedures of the Putnam County Library Board Wednesday evening, it welcomed a new board member -- Lisa McCoy.
McCoy is the wife of the new DePauw University Dean of Music Mark McCoy. The couple moved here in July from West Virginia with their three children.
"As a community member and parent, I hope to bring the perspective of a patron of the library on many different levels," McCoy said. "I'm hoping to help maintain the Imagination Library program."
McCoy a former teacher who has since taken up stay-at-home parent status, is looking to get involved with the Greencastle community. She was appointed to the board during last month's County Council meeting.
She will be replacing board member Vicki Timm who has served on the library board for nearly 13 years.
"She's been a great leader to us all," said Becky Phillips of Timm. "She's been a fountain of information. There are a lot of things we would not be aware of without her."
McCoy will begin her term on the board next month.
It's been nearly a year since the Imagination Library program began and like most months, it was again a major concern for the board.
The cost per child is $25 per year. However, the board has seen a major increase in membership and is currently serving 676 children in the program.
Although, the Putnam County Community Foundation just awarded the library a grant of $3,000 for the next three years of the program, that is just a small portion that is needed to run the project.
"So far we're OK," library director Alice Greenburg said. "For the next few months at least."
The program, which provides one book a month for each child (up to the age of five), is open to all families in Putnam County at no cost, regardless of the family income.
It is said the program helps children develop literacy skills, even if they are not quite ready to read yet.
But for the board, it is becoming increasingly important to find a way to see if the program is working. Due to privacy issues, the board is finding that difficult.
As of now, the board is looking for ways to keep the program running. It will soon be applying for new grants as well as looking for support from local businesses.
"It's a major concern," Greenburg said. "It's going to take a community effort to keep this going."
The board also received a $13,000 endowment check presented by Vicki Timm for the Putnam Community Foundation, which will be used for various things throughout the year.
The board also accepted the nominations of officers. Lynn Ramey was elected secretary, taking over for Timm, while Nancy Zennie will remain vice president, Becky Phillips will become treasurer and Wes Wilson will remain president.