Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Community Public Library Board has some plans for 2026.
The adult services department is finalizing Experience Passes program for 2026, which will give passes to patron to go to museums, zoos, gardens, educational and recreational attractions without any additional costs. The places that they are finalizing for the program are Science Central, the Potawatami Zoo, Studebaker History Museum, Hall of Heroes Museum, Indiana History Museum and many others.
“We’re excited to be able to give this to people at no additional cost, just with their library card,” stated Director Heather Barron.
There will be more information on this given at the library’s next monthly meeting.
Barron told the board that for the Holocaust exhibit coming to the library next summer, they will be hosting Shirley Glade. Glade is a Wabash County native, a long-time North Manchester Public Library librarian, and will be presenting her father-in-law’s experience of the Holocaust.
“We are thrilled to have a local connection like that,” stated Barron.
She also told the board members that the Glade family papers will also be there, that were donated to the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The Friends of the Library raised over $1,000 this last week, and are hosting another sale later in the week. “So if anyone is looking for some bargains on books, tell them to come down,” Robin Fosnaugh, administrative liaison, said.
Barron gave the monthly operations and maintenance report for the head of maintenance, Jim Price. VFP had performed the annual fire system inspection, and found that the dry system needs a new flapper and accelerator. With that, the compressor on the dry sprinkler system needs a new supply hose. New boiler piping has been insulated, and they completed the LED lighting upgrade in the upstairs in the adult and children’s areas.
There are four new youth volunteers with the Youth Services department, along with kudos going to Sara Maseman for a new story for the story walk, “The Littlest Yak.”
The Friends of the Library bought some more black easels for facing books out. This was because every time the library staff would face the easels, they would be empty when they would come back to them.
November spending totaled almost $318,000, with the library still having a little over a million dollars to still spend before the end of the year, “which I doubt will happen,” stated Renee Sweeny. The financial report was approved as presented.
In other news:
• Minutes from the Nov. 17 public hearing were approved as written
• Minutes from the Nov. 17 monthly meeting were approved.
• Minutes from the Nov. 17 executive meeting were approved as written.
• More than 8,000 people walked through the doors of the library, and 2,100 people came to the library to use their internet.
• The 2026 board officers were approved, and will be voted on during the next monthly meeting.
• The Computer Usage & Internet Acceptable Use Policy, 2026 Wage and Salary Table, Vacation Policy and health saving account contribution were approved as written.
• The 2026 executive director’s salary, compensation and vacation time were approved.
The next monthly meeting will be 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12.
