Library Looks To Improve Technology

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer-

With the new library complete, the Warsaw Community Public Library board is now honing its focus on technology upgrades.

The board authorized a grant application Tuesday for $15,400 to the Indiana State Library. A majority of the proceeds of the grant, if approved, will be used to upgrade the library's computers to bring them into 2000 compliance.

According to assistant director Joni Brookins, a portion of the grant will also be used to upgrade the networking and distance-learning capabilities.

"We'll be replacing some of the older computer work stations and working to improving our teleconferencing capabilities," Brookins said.

The board also approved a staff reorganization plan where Brookins will serve as system administrator. Under the staff restructuring, a librarian position will be eliminated and a circulation supervisor position created, as well as more more hours given to circulation clerks.

"With the restructuring, Joni will be able to devote more time to the duties of the system administrator," said director Ann Zydek.

In other business, Zydek said the library continues to set records in terms of circulation and registered library patrons.

"October was a wonderful month in terms of usage," Zydek said. "We could break 400,000 items checked out this year. That would be a true accomplishment for the library and the staff."

She said total circulation for 1998 through October, was 346,667 items checked out. The total number of registered borrowers is now 15,710.

"The 15,109 resident borrowers means 65 percent of township residents eligible to have library cards have them," Zydek said. "That is a very high participation rate for our library."

Zydek also reported that following the hearing with the state tax examiner, the library's 1999 tax rate will be $0.3635 per $100 of assessed value. This was 8 cents less than the advertised rate of $0.441.

"Since the assessed value ($321,026,225) was greater than the estimate we were using, it was good news for our 1999 budget and our tax rate," she said. [[In-content Ad]]

With the new library complete, the Warsaw Community Public Library board is now honing its focus on technology upgrades.

The board authorized a grant application Tuesday for $15,400 to the Indiana State Library. A majority of the proceeds of the grant, if approved, will be used to upgrade the library's computers to bring them into 2000 compliance.

According to assistant director Joni Brookins, a portion of the grant will also be used to upgrade the networking and distance-learning capabilities.

"We'll be replacing some of the older computer work stations and working to improving our teleconferencing capabilities," Brookins said.

The board also approved a staff reorganization plan where Brookins will serve as system administrator. Under the staff restructuring, a librarian position will be eliminated and a circulation supervisor position created, as well as more more hours given to circulation clerks.

"With the restructuring, Joni will be able to devote more time to the duties of the system administrator," said director Ann Zydek.

In other business, Zydek said the library continues to set records in terms of circulation and registered library patrons.

"October was a wonderful month in terms of usage," Zydek said. "We could break 400,000 items checked out this year. That would be a true accomplishment for the library and the staff."

She said total circulation for 1998 through October, was 346,667 items checked out. The total number of registered borrowers is now 15,710.

"The 15,109 resident borrowers means 65 percent of township residents eligible to have library cards have them," Zydek said. "That is a very high participation rate for our library."

Zydek also reported that following the hearing with the state tax examiner, the library's 1999 tax rate will be $0.3635 per $100 of assessed value. This was 8 cents less than the advertised rate of $0.441.

"Since the assessed value ($321,026,225) was greater than the estimate we were using, it was good news for our 1999 budget and our tax rate," she said. [[In-content Ad]]

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