Library's collection policy completed

DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees heard reports from Interim Director Ellen Brigham and finished working through Chapter Three of the Collection Development Policy during the December 21 meeting. To review the bids for the digitization of the Dayton Chronicle archives, as well as the applications for a permanent library director, a special meeting was scheduled for December 28 at 7 p.m.

The Board completed the review of Chapter Three of the Collection Development Policy which dealt with the specific collections such as DVDs, eReaders, and genealogy, as well as age ranges for reading materials from infancy through adulthood. General descriptions for each category are included and the Board worked to clarify the definitions. Of the chapters currently in the Collection Development Policy, this is the only one that deals with age related criteria for materials. To date, no additions were made establishing parameters for content and location other than adding the recently created Parenting Section and that young adult non-fiction is now located with the adult non-fiction. Also, the young adult age range changed from 12-18 to 14-22.

Interim Director Ellen Brigham said that because the projected year-end balance is indicative that they operated well under budget, and the decision to move ahead with the digitization of the Dayton Chronicle archives, she sought approval from Trustees Jay Ball, Karin Spann, and Sharon Mendel to proceed with obtaining bids for the process. One bid had previously been made in late October and another was just received. Though a motion was made at Brigham's recommendation to approve the higher bid by Spann and seconded by Mendel, Trustees Kevin Rust and Chuck Beleny voiced they wanted to learn more about how the services compare and suggested the Board approve the lowest bid.

The decision concerning the bids was held over until more information of what is included and the cost to ship the documents could be obtained. Brigham agreed she would get them the information requested.

At the time of the meeting, four applications were received for a permanent library director. The Board decided to hold a special meeting on December 28 to review them, as well as any additional information concerning the bids for the digitization of the newspaper. During the special meeting following discussion, the Board approved moving forward with the lowest bidder. They then went into executive session to discuss the applications after which they approved extending Brigham's contract past January 22 on a month-to-month basis up to three months. Another special meeting is anticipated to conduct interviews within executive session. The next regular meeting will be January 22, the fourth Monday of the month because the third Monday falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Public comment: Jude Strode, formerly on the Committee for Proposition 2 to dissolve the library district read a public comment to the Board about a recent report she made to the Sheriff's office of being harassed multiple times by "vile and threatening" phone calls because of her position of "non-support of the questionable children's collection policy." The ID of the caller is known, and have confessed to making the calls. The county is currently pursuing the matter because it is a federal gross misdemeanor. Strode said she is hoping people realize that holding a different opinion is not a crime, but harassing people can be.