By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library will take a significantly smaller hit to its state funding.
Library Director Michael Penrod informed the Board of Trustees Monday that funding will decrease 7.7 percent from what was projected earlier this year, instead of the 20 percent cut that had been expected.
The library had been told before the pandemic to expect $1,589,414 from the state for the calendar year. Now it is being told to expect $1,466,501, or $122,913 less.
Penrod said that’s better than he expected.
State funding for libraries is based on the formula of 1.7 percent of general state revenues. That’s the number in the current state budget. Unless action is taken it will drop to 1.66 percent the permanent figure at the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2021.
Penrod reported that the paperwork to put the library’s levy on the November ballot is headed to the Board of Elections. It must then be sent to the state to have the wording approved and then back to the county Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot.
That levy, which is a simple renewal, generates $1 million a year.
Penrod said that if some rural landowners succeed in having parcels of property moved from the Bowling Green school district to other school districts in the special election in August, they will still be paying on the levy while the townships and school districts that they would transfer to work out the details, Penrod said. No one knows how all that would transpire since it’s never been done before.
Penrod also said that having the library open for four days a week is working out well overall.
The biggest challenge is providing technical help to those using the computers. Staff cannot lean over patrons’ shoulders and take control of the mouse.
Instead they can control the screen remotely. But that can involve loud exchanges between the reference desk to the computer station.
Penrod said the staff has had a few issues with people not wanting to keep their masks securely in place, people trying to peer around the plexiglass shields so staff members can hear them better, or kids trying to sneak in without adults.
“For the most part, people are respectful,” Penrod said. “What we noticed is that everyone is stressed. Nerves are frayed. People are just frustrated at the times.”
Board President Brian Paskvan said they will remain flexible in how they respond to changing levels of infection. They want to avoid the “yo-yo” effect by closing, then opening again.
In other business, the trustees approved a change in policy that allows workers who have unused sick leave from another employer to transfer up to 12 weeks when they are hired by the library. Previously they could only transfer two weeks.
This has come up in some hiring discussions, and the new policy will help with recruiting quality candidates to the library, Penrod said.
Also, Mike Sibbersen, retired county auditor, was sworn in as the newest trustee. He takes the seat formerly held by Chet Marcin, whose seven-year term expired and who was not interested in another term.
