East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON-The new Columbia County Rural Library District Interim Director Ellen Brigham has announced her intention to move specific books to different areas of library; and library dissolution petition sponsor updates the board on its status.

In Director Brigham's first weekly newsletter, ahead of the monthly July 17 Board of Trustees meeting, announced she is moving Young Adult non-fiction books upstairs among other adult non-fiction books. She explained, "This will make it so adults, young or old, won't need to look in two different places for things such as college prep material and will hopefully give parents with young children who browse the lower level more peace of mind."

Sponsor of the Library dissolution petition Jessica Ruffcorn, stated the auditor still must certify signatures before the library board can act upon it.

"At this point in time, the status of the petition is in the hands of the Auditor who still has to certify the signatures, and then the board who has to accept the results and respond to the Auditor," said Ruffcorn. "[This] means, if the Auditor certifies that our petition has a sufficient number of signatures, it will go on the November Ballot."

She went on to say that there is hope that with appropriate action, that things can resolve themselves, but there is still a lot of mistrust in the board and administrative action to implement a compromise. "It [sic] does not mean all hope is lost though," Ruffcorn continued. "I have brought up the question to many of the community who [sic] were involved in the petition process, to see where they stand. And although this entire issue started with inappropriate books in the children's section, the lack of action by the previous director and the board of directors leaves us with a feeling of distrust, a lot of questions, and a lot more issues that still need to be addressed."

She listed other criteria that could potentially promote county residents to vote no on the ballot measure. The first is to provide a list of all the books being moved; second is for the library board to draft a new policy for collection development to assure the books would not move back or that new books would be added after the election that would raise the same concerns; third is to change the book challenge policy; and fourth, to break away from the Washington and American Library Associations.

Ruffcorn also called for the resignation of Board Chair Jay Ball who gave a presentation at the Washington Library Association Conference with former director Todd Vandenbark where the Dayton community was reflected in an unfavorable light. The presentation, nor the cost associated with it were pre-approved by rest of the Board.

The last request is to work to reduce the budget substantially of over $700,000 annually. She said that the unwillingness of the Board to come to the table and meet about the concerns is what has pushed for the petition to dissolve the library.

Tanya Patton, who is recognized for her work in establishing the Rural Library District, provided a brief presentation about the library history.

"Under the direction of Elizabeth Forrest-Day, fundraising efforts began in 1919 to purchase the lot the library sits on today. The Great Depression slowed efforts to establish a library but in 1937 the library opened and from that time forward until 2006, the library operated out of the City General Fund, three trusts and direct donations. By 1942, the library was fully deeded to the City of Dayton. Fundraising began for a community meeting space and in 1962 Henry and Alice Delany bequeathed $90k and by 1970 HUD funding provided the rest to finish the Delany Building.

In 2002, the library funding was cut by 20% and Friends of the Library formed to raise funds to fill the gap. City Councilman Craig George, who would become Mayor suggested forming a county rural library district. Patton pursued the idea and in 2005 put forth a ballot measure to the unincorporated county residents and it passed with 59% approval. By forming the taxing district, it would provide increased stable funding.

Later, in 2009 the City was annexed into the district with a vote of 74% approval by city voters. Since that time, the library has been able to increase the hours of operation, programs and services offered, as well as staff employed including the hiring of a professional director.

Patton appealed to the community to continue to support the library.

Brigham gave the director's report and said they are offering Toddler Storytime in lieu of Discovery Kids and they will be holding off on Family Storytime until the Summer Reading Program is over.

In other business, Brigham, assisted by Board Treasurer Sharon Mendel, proceeded with the financial report. At the time of the report, reimbursement for the Washington Library Association Conference made by Vandenbark and Ball, had not been received. An inquiry by Board Trustee Kevin Rust on how many books are purchased each month, which Brigham stated an average of 120. Rust proposed to suspend book purchases until the ballot measure is resolved. Ball countered saying the library should continue as usual. It is deferred and will appear as an agenda item for next meeting.

After several months of review two policies were approved – one for the Laptop and Computer Lending and another for Employee Substance Abuse.

Board Trustee Chuck Beleny said the carpet companies recommended they clean and repair the carpets for both the Delany Room and the Children's Library rather than replace them. He suggested that use some of the savings budgeted for carpet replacement to repair the wheelchair ramp and the skids on the stairs going to the lower level. Ball agreed that both could be investigated.