By TOM GERROW
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library board of trustees continued their efforts to renew the property tax levy by unanimously supporting a motion to ask the county commissioners to place the levy request on the ballot this fall.
Michael Penrod, library director, noted that there have been many changes to election law since the last time the levy was on the ballot, which requires that great care be taken to ensure the right language is used in the levy request.
As the only county district library system requesting a levy renewal this election season, the Wood County library will be the first to navigate the new election law’s requirements. Penrod is coordinating closely with the Ohio Library Council (OLC) to make certain that the board’s resolutions are properly phrased so they comply with the new laws.
Penrod noted that two libraries passed levies last fall, but they were rescinded and will need to go back on the ballot because mistakes were made.
“It’s a complicated process,” Penrod said. “But we have good people in the Prosecutor’s Office, the Auditor’s Office, the County Commissioner’s Office, and the Ohio Library Council to help you get this ballot to the Board of Elections.”
Ken Frisch, president of the board of trustees, thanked Penrod for his efforts to move the process along, while noting that the board would have a lot of additional work to do once the levy makes it onto the ballot.
“We will keep everybody apprised of what’s happening and where we need you,” Frisch said. “Because we are going to need you to help communicate this important part of our funding process.”
As the board of trustees prepares to make their case for voters to approve the levy renewal, Penrod and deputy library director Michelle Raine shared some figures on the return on investment (ROI) for money spent on the library system. Using a formula created by the OLC, Raine calculated ROI for the WCDPL for 2025 and determined that each dollar invested in the library system yielded an economic benefit of $3.81.
This ROI measurement assesses the value of library materials and services provided to library patrons compared to the library’s operating expenditures. Furthermore, when factoring in economic multiplier effects – a measure of secondary economic impacts – the library returned a total economic value of $5.02 for each dollar spent.
Penrod also highlighted WCDPL performance statistics from 2022 to 2025, which showed:
- Number of Items Borrowed: +19 percent
- Count of Visitors to Building: +27 percent
- Summer Reading Participants: +22 percent
- Number of Programs/Events: +53 percent
- Program Attendance: +82 percent
Other topics discussed at the board meeting included:
Novel Night – The Library Foundation is preparing for this year’s Novel Night on Thursday, July 16. “The $130,000 that they raised last year, we folded into the budget this year,” Penrod noted. “All those dollars go to allow us to continue to meet local reading demand.”
Dolly Parton Imagination Library – This national program mails a book a month to enrolled children, who are eligible from birth up to five years old. WCDPL reached their goal of 4,320 book recipients, thanks to increased enrollment and financial support from First Lady Fran DeWine and the foundation she created, which supports childhood literacy, to help cover increased mailing costs.
Adult Summer Reading Program – Due to popular demand, the library is bringing back a summer reading program for adults starting on May 30. There will be a kick-off party on Friday, June 5, at 2 p.m. featuring a selection of mocktails including “Drankenstein,” “The Adventures of Sherbert Holmes,” and “Rip Van Drinkle.”
Summer Reading Program – The reading program for children this summer starts Saturday, May 30. Maria Simon, library youth services coordinator, praised the Children’s Place staff. “They’re working really hard to have a really good summer reading program, and I’m really grateful,” Simon said. “I think it’s unearthed a story, and it’s going to be mostly dinosaurs.” Kids can get ready for a summer that’s all about dinosaurs, archeology, and paleontology.
Elevator Repairs – The library’s elevator is still out of commission, but – pending a needed part and then the necessary inspections – it should it be back and working again soon.
