Bradford Area Public Library trustees approved a $348,198 budget and appointed new officers at a meeting Tuesday.
The spending plan is $10,413 more than this year’s, which includes the hiring of a full-time adult programming and marketing coordinator. Broken down, the budget contains $42,170 for material costs; $69,317, administrative salaries and wages; $107,577, operating salaries and wages; $18,820, contract labor; $50,423, building and grounds expenses; technology expenses; $15,815; $29,681, general and administrative expenses; and $14,395, library program expenses. Included in the budget is bringing on a full-time adult programming and marketing coordinator.
“As for big projects next year, we’d like to continue to develop community partnerships with organizations like Pitt Bradford and the Bradford Area School District, as well as many of the other non-profits in the Bradford area,” Library Executive Director Lacey Love told The Era after the meeting. “Offering new programming for different demographics is another goal for us, including more programs for children ages 7 to 12, and adults. Our last goal for 2017 is to develop a new strategic plan.”
Also at the meeting, trustees approved Tina Martin as the chairwoman on the board, succeeding Chris Minich. Bob Esch will continue to be the co-chairman.
Lorna Smith was approved to a three-year term and will be the secretary and Amy Fox will be on the trustees for one year as treasurer.
In her report at the meeting, Minich expressed appreciation of the library board’s efforts in meeting the goals set for 2016.
“During the past three years, each year had its challenges and successes. It is this year that has been most beneficial,” she said. “In the year of 2016, we clearly were able to bring significant value to our community. The completion of the capital campaign and the expanded services of the library will continue to resonate in value through the years.”
Minich said she is looking forward to the new year and to the new leadership of the trustees to carry on the importance of governance and support of Love and her initiatives.
Also at the meeting, Love said she recently met with librarians at the Bradford Area School District, and indicated there is good news for area children in 2017.
“We’re all so enthusiastic about our work, and it really shows in how many potential projects we’ve already come up with that we could work on together,” she said in her report.
Possible projects could be giving library cards to kindergarten students, holding a Pennsylvania One Book program at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School for the pre-kindergarten students and working together on a makerspace event with the middle school.
“Another important way we can work together is to have open communication about the yearly school curriculum and how our collections reflect that,” Love said. “Being more purposeful in our children’s collection development is an easy way to help the school libraries. If they don’t have any books left on a certain subject, they can be confident in directing their students and patrons to the public library. I’m looking forward to what the five of us can accomplish together over the next year.”
