Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw Community Public Library heard updates on “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit during the board meeting on Monday.
Renee Sweeney, business manager at the library, recently celebrated her 41st anniversary with the library. Several of the board members congratulated her and Library Director Heather Barron quipped, “Here’s to 40 more.”
During the financial report, it was reported a gift from the Friends of the Library was received for the Community Reads Program. The library also received gifts from Lake City Bank and the Rotary Club for the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit coming to the library this summer. The library spent 17% of their operating budget in March. As of April, they have an account balance of $1,926,000.
Payments are being made to Paul Davis for the renovation, and the cataloging department is now back to their “home” with new carpet and dry wall after the recent water problem. Barron noted that the seal around the thermal expansion joint, that had caused all of the problems in the first place, has started leaking again but the maintenance department was able to get it under control.
During the director’s report, Barron remarked on the sponsors that are both regional and national that are supporting the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit. While this exhibit is going to be in the summer, Barron wanted a way to combine the Fat/Skinny Tire Festival with the exhibit, which one of the historians at the library was able to find. There will be a large image of the bicyclist, Gino Bartali, that will be on display, along with how he helped several Jews during the war years.
“Gino will make his debut at Fat/Skinny, and then live upstairs … at the main entrance so people can see him,” said Barron.
Monday, April 20 starts National Library Week and the theme this year is “Find Your Joy.” There are “We Love Our Library” signs that have been given to the board members, staff and Friends of the Library. Barron mentioned that they will also be looking at giving them out to patrons.
In other news:
• The Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce filmed a video that will be shown in the next couple of weeks on social media. Barron stated that she could not give much away, but it is “very exciting.”
• The Warsaw Public Arts Commission, Warsaw Community Schools and the library will be working on a Butterfly Project this summer.
Middle school students will be coming up with an art installation that teachers can implement in the fall to teach students about the Holocaust. The library has ordered 700 butterflies that will go to students to paint and the Public Arts Commission will work on placing it as a public installation.
• The Friends of the Library held their first basket auction, making a little over $1,200 with 30 baskets. The book sale raised a little over $1,300. The FOL semi-permant pop-up sale is in the hallway of the library as patrons walk in.
• The board approved the revisions to the volunteer, the meeting room, the printing materials collection fees and the termination of employment policies.
• The board approved the Strategic Plan which will be until 2030.
The next meeting of the Warsaw Community Public Library Board will be at 4 p.m. Monday, May 11.
