Spring programs and other activities at the Dayton Memorial Library

DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees (CCRLD) heard a report from Charlie Oribio who spoke on the Washington Library Association Conference; were updated on upcoming programs; and other regular business at the abbreviated meeting on March 18. Following the public meeting, the Board would go into executive session to review Ellen Brigham's time as interim director.

Charlie Oribio reported about the Washington Library Association Conference that he attended early in the month. He spoke about attending a workshop where they learned about evaluating resources on their credibility. He also told them they are working to secure grant funding to continue the hotspot program. The current funding will be expended by September and will no longer be available. He also said the first boxes of the archived Dayton Chronicle were sent off for digitization. In reviewing the financial statement for February, the expense of the library databases was noted, and it was suggested they offer public training on using the library resource so that it is better used.

Vice Chair Karin Spann gave the Director's Report which Brigham provided. Family Storytime in February and March had attendance in the teens including for the guest presenter Jeff Burnside on local pioneer Cashup Davis. Another lecture was offered with only a few attendees on Digital Literacy, but it was suggested to partner with the school district or community groups in the future to gain more traction. The Toddler Storytime has had a consistent number of several participants each week. The library began a "hands-on" gardening program where participants choose seeds from the seed catalog offered and plant and care for the starters in the downstairs greenhouse.

Public comment began with information from Theresa Eier who presented to the Board a flyer of data she collected as a rebuttal to the proposal to place on the ballot the withdrawal of the city from the county library district. She urged them that if the Dayton City Council voted to approve it for the ballot that they use the information she provided to dissuade the constituency to vote against it. Her concern was the negative effect it could have on lower-income residents who would then have to purchase a library card to use the library.

Several other comments were heard with some positive feedback on the recent Civility Café sponsored by Friends of the Library dealing with questions related to which books should be in the school and public libraries.

Thomas Utt pointed out that though it was a positive experience, but it did not examine ways to move forward.

Chairman Jay Ball responded that he was looking forward to hearing a report on the event and the Board agreed to send a formal note of appreciation to the Friends of the Library for planning it.

Chairman Ball attended the meeting by Zoom, along with several others. Director Ellen Brigham was absent and library colleague Charlie Oribio filled in for her. Vice Chair Karin Spann ran the meeting.