The following is an official press release from the Delaware County District Library.
Photo from delawarelibrary.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY DONATE $51,000 TO DELAWARE LIBRARY
Trustees Approve Supplemental Budget, Accept McCoy Resignation
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Contact: Nicole Fowles – Communications Coordinator
740-362-3861 (Office)
[email protected]
Delaware, OH: -- The Delaware County District Library (DCDL) Board of Trustees officially accepted a $51,000 gift from the Friends of the Delaware County District Library (FOL) at their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15, and were formally presented with the check at the May 20 regular meeting.
Present were President Scott Tiede, Secretary Connie Skinner, and Trustees Reginald Ike, Lori Kipfer, Nickolas K. McCoy, and Holly Quaine.
The funds, presented by FOL President Nichole Klatte, will cover expenses of the 2025 Summer Reading Club, which includes all youth prize books and read-on incentives, teen and adult gift baskets, adult prizes, and programming for all ages.
This year, the Friends of the Library’s $20,000 gift was supplemented with additional gifts from the Delaware County Foundation, including a $25,000 gift from the Polaris Community Fund for youth programming and a $6,000 gift from the Robert Weiler Family Fund for youth reading prizes.
“This is the largest single gift and the first time in the Delaware County District Library’s history that our entire Summer Reading Club has been funded by our Friends of the Library,” said DCDL Youth Services and Programming Coordinator Kelly Cochran. “Everything from the children’s motivational halfway prizes to their final prize books and the educational presenters will be covered thanks to our Friends.”
Also during the meeting, a new supplemental appropriation budget adjustment was passed. This will allocate $750,000 for additional staff and benefits, $100,000 toward a Facilities Master Plan, and $244,100 for increased utilities, cleaning, maintenance, and increases to circulation materials such as databases and electronic materials.
Approval of the supplemental budget will allow the Library to move forward with fulfilling its first levy promise – extending operating hours. With a goal to increase operating hours by Fall 2025, the Library requested the immediate addition of 7 full-time and 19 part-time staff. Funds will be taken from current reserve funds until the new levy is collected upon in 2026.
“Passing this supplemental budget is a critical first step in making good on our first, and most requested, levy promise from our patrons, which is to increase our operating hours at all library locations,” said Library Director Bryan Howard. “We are working swiftly to make sure that patrons see that the Delaware County District Library is committed to fulfilling our promises and making their library system the best it can be.”
The Library Human Resources Department will begin the process of recruitment for the 26 new staff members as approved in the supplemental budget. Job fairs will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Delaware Branch Library on June 11, Orange Branch Library on June 13, and Liberty Branch Library on June 16. Positions being considered will be branch associate, circulation associate, youth services specialist, and adult services specialist.
Finally, DCDL Board Member Nick McCoy announced that this would be his last meeting, as he has accepted a position as Delaware County Probate Court Magistrate. McCoy had recently been reappointed to the Board of Trustees to begin his second seven-year term. McCoy’s unfulfilled term will be filled by the Delaware County Judges, ending December 31, 2031.
In addition, the Delaware County Commissioners are currently seeking applications for the unexpired term of the late Trustee Brad Allen. Allen passed on March 4. A memorial proclamation was accepted into the record during the April 15 regular meeting. The Delaware County Commissioners will soon appoint a new trustee to fulfill the remainder of the seven-year term, ending December 31, 2030.
After a brief executive session to discuss, prepare for, conduct, or review collective bargaining issues and to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, the Board voted to pass a resolution, retroactive to December 28, 2024 to increase the pay of the Library Director to $152,533.
Meetings of the Board of Trustees rotate locations every third Tuesday of the month, beginning at 5:00 p.m. unless stated otherwise in advance of the meeting. Any agendas, location changes, updates to the schedule, special meeting additions, or other updates will be added to the Delaware County District Library website at www.delawarelibrary.org/about.
The Delaware County District Library currently has 104,000 cardholders and serves the greater population of Delaware County, including those living in the Delaware City, Buckeye Valley, and Olentangy Local school districts.
Delaware Library Mission Statement: We open doors to imagination, knowledge, connection, and discovery.