Chromebooks available to check out at library

DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees heard from Director Todd Vandenbark that Chromebooks are available for check out, numbers were down for Discovery Kids program, but a good crowd attended the Humanities Washington presentation at the meeting on December 19. They were also informed of a new paid holiday for employees, and reviewed possible changes to the existing policy for use of cannabis during working hours.

Vandenbark reported to the Board a successful turn-out of attendees for the Humanities Washington presentation held December 15 on "Diamonds in the Rough: The Gentrification of Rural Washington." He also indicated that numbers have been down for families attending the Discovery Kids weekly program. He said he hopes to see attendance increase after the holidays. When asked what the highest participation has been, he responded about eleven where recently it has been half of that number.

A new grant-funded program will be offered for adult patrons to check out one of five Chromebooks for a three-week period. The user must have a Gmail account, or the library staff can help them create one. The Chromebook will come with its own hotspot. Vandenbark told the Board that there have been no requests to appeal his decisions about the materials that he reviewed because of patrons' requests for reconsideration. He also announced the library would have a new website up and running on January 1.

The financial report was also presented which reflected the library is currently on budget for the year despite not receiving the budgeted payment from Columbia Pulp.

New business items included establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for employees and discussion about the employee substance abuse policy. Vandenbark said the policy did not reflect changes since the legalization of cannabis.

The Board discussed allowing for medical use with a doctor's note so long as it does not impede work performance, and that no substances should be sold on the library premises at any time. The Board decided to table approving the policy changes to have time to add policy addressing coming to work impaired.

Comment was heard affirming the good work the Director and the Board are doing from Carol Anderson.

Another comment was made by Kraig Horlacher who claimed that after learning there was "pornography" in the library, he spoke with Vandenbark who suggested a book for him to read. Horlacher said that he found the book "gross" and "offensive." He expressed concern about this moral issue in the community is facing and quoted Mark Twain, "It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare."

Paul Hendrickson then spoke against Vandenbark, referencing the opposition to the library content as "unwarranted criticisms" and he defended being able to freely express opinions and viewpoints. Vandenbark apologized for including those words in his remarks.

Vandenbark said the next library meeting will be announced since it is currently scheduled for January 16, which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.