By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library trustees voted to continue to pay library employees during the COVID-19 closure.
The library will now remain closed until Monday, May 4.
The staff, 28 full-time and 15 part-time, have been getting “calamity pay” since the library closed for business on March 14.
During that time many have been doing what they can from home so patrons continue to have access to materials and services remotely.
Children’s Librarian Maria Simon launched a “bear hug” program that garnered national attention in the public library community.
Others maintain contact with patrons during this period of social distancing by using social media. Other employees are doing online training.
The library, Library Director Michael Penrod said, is considered non-essential “but we have essential employees.” Some staff members have to come in to make sure the library’s technology keeps working, and that the building and its systems are maintained, and that bills get paid.
Trustee Becky Bhaer said as a fiscal conservative she felt it was worth it to keep paying the staff, and keep the strain off the state’s unemployment system.
If employees were laid off, and then had to be replaced, she said, “there would be a learning curve.”
Trustee John Fawcett said: “Your greatest asset is your people. … I’m a strong advocate of protecting our greatest resource which is our people.”
Trustee Ken Frisch agreed, adding “we may have to revisit this.”
The board, which was meeting virtually using Google MEET and streaming the proceedings to the public, voted unanimously to continue paying the staff.
After the vote Bhaer said: “I think our staff loves the public and can’t wait to come to get back to seeing them again. I think they will reward everyone for this move we’ve made with excellent service going forward and really give all the support to the library and the people we serve.”
Penrod said the administration will be looking for new ways to keeping the staff working remotely.
Penrod reported the library faces an uncertain financial future. The library could start seeing a decrease in its state funding as early as May. State funding for libraries is based on a percentage of revenue coming into the state, so it is affected as soon as there is a change in the revenues. The payment in May will be based on actual revenues in April.
The library got just over $1.5 million last year from the state public library fund. That represents about 60 percent of the library’s budget.
Penrod provided the board with possible ways the library could weather a 20-percent reduction in state funding.
That includes delaying a reorganization that would have resulted in filling three new positions. That could save $105,000.
The library could also put off spending on paving projects, window washing, replacing staff computers, installing interior and exterior security cameras, and cutting back on mailings and advertising. Further cuts could include reduction is programs and author visits, Children’s Place supplies, training and travel, and the purchase of print books.
Penrod said these were just things to consider and not official proposals.
Penrod said that laying employees off would have a lesser impact than might be expected. The library has to reimburse the state for the unemployment if it lays people off. That’s 50 percent of a person’s salary. So, to achieve a $100,000 saving, the library would have to cut $200,000 in payroll through layoffs.
He said the library currently has a seven-month reserve, but that ebbs and flows depending on revenues coming in and bills needing to be paid.
At its March 14 meeting, the trustees approved putting a six year, 0.6 mill levy on the November ballot. The levy is a renewal that generates just over $1 million a year.
