REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
March 9, 2021
The report that follows outlines current administrative matters and ongoing activities which have occurred during the report period.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
Information presented in the current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending February 28, 2021. Operational expenses for the bi-monthly period totaled $10,112.31, and a year-to-date total of $52,588.86, representing a 22.7% decrease over the same period for operating expenditures for FY 2019-20. The current report reflects the removal of Coalition4Kids (C4K) funds previously reported in the library’s operating budget. Such funds ($17,481) have been placed with the Mathews Community Foundation, thus eliminating the need to process a “carry-forward” request annually.
Salaries and Related Expenses
The amount budgeted for salaries and related benefits for FY 2020-2021 is $284,025, or $23,668.75 per month. A report reflecting current status is not yet available.
FY21/22 Budget Request
The following update is found on the County website. It indicates that work is continuing on the budget for the next fiscal year. At the Board of Supervisors February 3rd, 2021 Work Session - Budget Goals, the Board of Supervisors decided to cancel the scheduled March 9th, 2021 Work Session - Budget Options. The cancelled Work Session will be combined with the March 25th, 2021 Work Session - Tax Rates. The March 25th, 2021 Work Session will discuss both Budget Options and Tax Rates.
High-Speed Broadband Strategic Plan
As indicated in the January 12th report to the Board of Trustees, the library is designated to play a key role in the implementation of providing increased broadband access to citizens of Mathews. We are doing so through the circulation of 25 “Hotspot” devices with high speed Internet service. The library negotiated with Verizon to purchase such devices for a 12-month period. Currently, all devices are checked out and requests are pending.
The current funding for this element of the broadband project is $15,696.75, provided to the library in a Cares Act grant via the Broadband Advisory Board. We do not anticipate additional costs through December 31, 2021, unless there is a replacement cost related to damaged equipment. Such costs are intended to be covered by the patron. If service is to continue into next year, Verizon data service on the 25 units is estimated to be $12,000 based on the current year costs. The Broadband Advisory Board has indicated they will assist in identifying funding sources to cover the cost of continuing the service.
Patrons
The number of active patrons now stands at 10,050. Patron visits average 19.4 a day. The library continues to limit traffic to 10 patrons, not including student study groups which are limited to 5 per study room. The total numbers of visits recorded during the report period was 1,146. In addition to circulation of materials (3,377), use of computers and printing devices brought many to the library.
On February 25, 2021, the Virginia Department of Health released “Interim Recommendations for the Safe Operation of Libraries (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/182/2021/02/VDH-Guidelines-for-Libraries.pdf A review of the considerations reveals that the Mathews Memorial Library is well within the recommendations given for safe operations in libraries.
Staff Activities
The staff was distressed to learn of the unfortunate accident that occurred January 8th involving part-time staff member, Rachel Musick, who was hit while crossing the street near Liberty Square. Rachel was seriously injured and remains unable to work. Her duties, which include weekend desk service, are being temporarily covered by staff members, Carol Owens and Maude Donovan. Pending further developments relative to Rachel’s recovery, a decision will be made regarding ongoing coverage.
Managing Change - The Mathews Memorial Library, like public libraries across the country, has experienced significant fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic - services interrupted and programs suspended. A less obvious effect is the impact it has had on the ability to plan for what is viewed as an uncertain future. To combat this problem, the library staff is engaged in an exercise that is hoped will encourage us to look out for new opportunities, to be stronger and to be cleverer about how we engage with our community, particularly in utilizing online opportunities. Together, we are creating a “guidebook for the future” which we hope to share with you in the near future. Your input will be requested as a follow-up to this initiative.