BY ANDREW BAILEY
BG Independent News Correspondent
The Wood County District Public Library opened discussions on raising wages for entry-level positions at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Library Director Michael Penrod said they are reevaluating current wages to remain competitive with local businesses and restaurants. He cited starting pay at fast-food restaurants and a local dry cleaner that are upwards of $11 per hour as potentially more appealing to job seekers.
Currently, non-public service library pages — who shelve books — are paid $8.80 per hour. Circulation desk employees are paid $11 per hour. Employees in the children’s and reference sections, who are required to have experience relevant to the section, are paid $13 per hour.
Board member John Fawcett said they should ideally keep the wage in between average wages in the area and higher wages in the area. Penrod said they will need to keep the library’s budget in mind as they continue discussions on entry-level wages at later board meetings.
As of Tuesday, the current budget appropriation directs $1,861,652 toward salaries and benefits, 59.76% of the library’s overall budget.
There were also four policy revisions on the agenda:
- Update list of protected classes in nondiscrimination laws to reflect the Supreme Court and Bowling Green ordinances
- Include “domestic partner” in list of family members under the sick leave policy
- Include aunt, uncle, domestic partner, grandparent-in-law, and “any person living in the employee’s household” in the bereavement policy
- Changing the vacation accrual cap for full-time employees to 225 hours
The first three policy revisions were approved, as well as a new draft of their smoking policy. It is now prohibited on all parts of the WCDPL campus.
Aunt, uncle, and grandparent-in-law were added to the sick leave policy to maintain consistency with the bereavement policy. Discussion on the vacation accrual cap was pushed to the next meeting, because some board members raised questions about how it benefitted newer employees compared to long-time employees.
The board also approved changes to West Oak Street, between the library and municipal utilities building. Part of the street will be turned into green space, while the other half will remain street. This will allow the library to potentially rework their entrance and exit, Brian Paskvan, president of the board, said.
