Fairhope, Alabama. (fairhopetimes@att.net)
BULB CHANGING PROBLEM
At its April meeting, Director Tamara Dean told the Library Board she has been having to rent a 'spider lift' every time a bulb needs replacing in the lobby chandeliers -- because they are too high to reach with ladders.
She said the library has always paid for the bulbs out of its yearly budget; but the city is requiring that they take on more maintenance now.
No other city department has a lift suitable that could be borrowed either; that has always been problematic anyway since the library's operation is technically separate from the the rest of the city; they don't usually share equipment.
Dean said she has been changing bulbs one chandelier at a time using longer lasting LED bulbs -- but those are much more costly and are sometimes defective themselves (burn out early).
She said she spent $1,000 last month on bulbs alone.
WINDOWS CLEANED, CARPETS DELAYED
Dean said the 'Friends of the Library' organization agreed to pay for cleaning the windows and carpets from money received from donations, fundraisers, and by used book sales.
The windows have already been completed, but they will wait until after the summer children's reading program to do the carpets, probably in August.
LIBRARY ASKED TO DO MORE
Dean said she has been informed the city expects the Library Board to fund more of the routine maintenance itself next year; the city will only be doing "big things" related to the building itself (mechanical, exterior, etc.).
The city owns the building but the Board is responsible for library operations; some members thought the city had a separate maintenance budget for the library, but were not sure.
Board members decided to request from the mayor "in writing" a clearer delineation of maintenance responsibilities of the city vs. the Board, for future budget planning purposes.
Specifically, "what is covered by the city; what is not?"
Dean said there are a number of items needing replacement now, like door stops, ceiling tile, etc.
ROOF STILL LEAKING
Even though repairs were made a couple of month ago, the roof is still leaking in heavy rains like those recently, Dean said.
The ceiling in the computer lab, fiction section, and along then north wall show recent water damage.
Dean said she was told by Building Department personnel other city buildings are having problems as well.
(Leaking roofs seems to be a chronic problem with many large, newly constructed buildings in the county, such as county schools.)
MORE SPACE AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS?
After the meeting, Board members toured the upstairs space now being leased to Faulkner College's nursing department: that lease expires later this year -- and conflicting, unofficial reports have been received about whether the college will seek to renew the lease.
The original plan was to lease it to the college only until their new John Borom classroom building was completed.
Director Dean said she would like to move teen services upstairs -- depending upon how much space becomes available.
The city council will have to approve any new lease-arrangement by majority vote -- or choose not to lease any or all of the second floor.
OTHER MATTERS
* It was announced the 'Friends of the Library's' annual 'Champagnge and Chocalate' fundraiser raised about $20,000 this year.
* The Board elected new officers:
Martin Lanaux as Chairman
Cecil Christenberry as Vice Chairman
Freda Ward as Secretary
BULB CHANGING PROBLEM
 |
| Fairhope library |
At its April meeting, Director Tamara Dean told the Library Board she has been having to rent a 'spider lift' every time a bulb needs replacing in the lobby chandeliers -- because they are too high to reach with ladders.
She said the library has always paid for the bulbs out of its yearly budget; but the city is requiring that they take on more maintenance now.
No other city department has a lift suitable that could be borrowed either; that has always been problematic anyway since the library's operation is technically separate from the the rest of the city; they don't usually share equipment.
Dean said she has been changing bulbs one chandelier at a time using longer lasting LED bulbs -- but those are much more costly and are sometimes defective themselves (burn out early).
She said she spent $1,000 last month on bulbs alone.
WINDOWS CLEANED, CARPETS DELAYED
Dean said the 'Friends of the Library' organization agreed to pay for cleaning the windows and carpets from money received from donations, fundraisers, and by used book sales.
The windows have already been completed, but they will wait until after the summer children's reading program to do the carpets, probably in August.
LIBRARY ASKED TO DO MORE
Dean said she has been informed the city expects the Library Board to fund more of the routine maintenance itself next year; the city will only be doing "big things" related to the building itself (mechanical, exterior, etc.).
The city owns the building but the Board is responsible for library operations; some members thought the city had a separate maintenance budget for the library, but were not sure.
Board members decided to request from the mayor "in writing" a clearer delineation of maintenance responsibilities of the city vs. the Board, for future budget planning purposes.
Specifically, "what is covered by the city; what is not?"
Dean said there are a number of items needing replacement now, like door stops, ceiling tile, etc.
ROOF STILL LEAKING
Even though repairs were made a couple of month ago, the roof is still leaking in heavy rains like those recently, Dean said.
The ceiling in the computer lab, fiction section, and along then north wall show recent water damage.
Dean said she was told by Building Department personnel other city buildings are having problems as well.
(Leaking roofs seems to be a chronic problem with many large, newly constructed buildings in the county, such as county schools.)
MORE SPACE AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS?
 |
| upstairs classroom |
The original plan was to lease it to the college only until their new John Borom classroom building was completed.
Director Dean said she would like to move teen services upstairs -- depending upon how much space becomes available.
The city council will have to approve any new lease-arrangement by majority vote -- or choose not to lease any or all of the second floor.
OTHER MATTERS
* It was announced the 'Friends of the Library's' annual 'Champagnge and Chocalate' fundraiser raised about $20,000 this year.
* The Board elected new officers:
Martin Lanaux as Chairman
Cecil Christenberry as Vice Chairman
Freda Ward as Secretary
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