Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Community Public Library suffered $15,000 worth of water damage recently due to rain leakage.
Library director Ann Zydek said at the board meeting on Monday the carpet project will have to be postponed until something is done about the water leak. The carpet project includes putting new carpeting on the first floor of the library from the hallway to the technical services area. The carpet project was expected to begin Sept. 18 but will have to wait.
Zydek said the board has three options to consider for fixing the leak problem: adding a pump with a generator backup; modifying the gutter system to handle a larger volume of rainwater; and adding a protective roof over the the ramp and stairs. Zydek said she hasn't received estimates for these options yet, but she will get them as soon as she can.
In other business:
• Board president Mark Morrison shared a letter with the board concerning the library's Spanish collection. The letter suggested getting more resources for the Spanish-speaking community.
Zydek said the library has been working on a collection of new Spanish materials.
"We've been growing a collection, slowly but surely," she said.
Zydek also discussed what the library is already doing in Spanish. The library on three occasions has offered story hours in Spanish. In August an English as a Second Language class visited the library for tours and stories.
• A "Dads: Reach Out and Read" program will take place in November during Children's Book Week. The library will work with Head Start, Kosciusko Literary Services and the Child Abuse Prevention Council to bring in leaders of the community to read to children at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Stories will be read in English and Spanish.
• The book discussion group on the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins held Sept. 25 was a great success, said Zydek. Fifteen people showed up.
"They want to meet again," she said of the members of the group. The group is planning to meet on Halloween to discuss the series further and one member will bring a video about the books.
"I was pleased with the discussion we had," Zydek said.
• The board approved a grant application for $5,000. Zydek said assistant library director Joni Brookins applied to the Library and Services Technology Act for the purpose of adding Internet computers to the youth area of the library.
