By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The estate of a retired Bowling Green State university professor of chemistry has made a large donation to the Wood County District Public Library.
Library Director Michael Penrod said he was surprised when he was presented with the check for $227,395.42 from the estate of Paul Endres, who died in 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maureen, in 2013. Endres taught at BGSU from 1969 to 2011.
The use of the gift is unrestricted, Penrod said, and will go to the library’s foundation. “Every single gift is so precious,” he said.
A current member of the BGSU chemistry department Neocles Leontis has also made a gift to the library.
After Penrod spoke to the Kiwanis, Leontis asked about technology the library could use.
Penrod mentioned the Sphero2, a small spherical robotic device that teaches programing. Leontis purchased one for the library’s Children’s Space.
This is one of the new technological devices new to the library.
The board met in new meeting room on the second floor. That room is equipped with an 80-inch high definition screen that can be used by visitors. Michelle Raine, assistant director of adult services, said the screen can be synchronized to project what’s on the screen of a tablet or laptop.
The library has also recently purchased, for about $2,700 each, two Sprout HP work stations. The work stations include a desktop computer, scanner camera, projector and 3D printing capabilities.
“I can’t wait for the community to come in and start playing with it, so we can see what we can do,” Raine said.
Users are encouraged to view the instructional videos on YouTube.
Gone are the days when the librarians were the experts, Penrod said. Now they learn along with the public.
One Sprout HP work station is in the second floor area with public computers, and another is in the Children’s Space. A third will be installed at the Walbridge branch when the expansion there is completed.
Trustee Jane Robb said she’s been asked about whether the Carter House, which sits behind the library on North Church Street, is a drain on the library’s finances.
Penrod said the rentals more than cover the cost of utilities and the extra $150 annually the library pays insurance.
The Library Foundation pays for maintenance projects.
Linda Joseph, the library’s finance officer, said the Carter House is also used for a number of official library functions.
The board also approved a resolution thanking Will Harbauer for his service on the board.
