By PAULENE POPARAD

Westchester Public Library Board members agreed Thursday with their library director’s recommendations that they not be in any hurry to replace staff who leave, and that they watch their expenses closely in the coming months.

Director Phil Baugher said that while WPL is in sound financial condition with $4.2 million in cash and investments on hand, 2008 property tax revenue isn’t anticipated to start arriving until late summer at the earliest. In 2009 operating income will begin to fall as Indiana’s tax caps go into effect and by 2010 Baugher said WPL is estimated to lose $34,000.

Board member Vern Odom said for this year, as anyone who’s recently been to the grocery store or gas station knows, “Our operating expenses are bound to go through the roof, too.” WPL employees received a 3 percent across-the-board pay raise this year. Board members asked Baugher to prepare for their May 29 budget meeting by listing different scenarios for possible 2009 employee raises, if any.

Odom said WPL’s most valuable asset seems to be its employees. Board member Sharon Robbins noted that if vacant staff positions aren’t filled, that will place more burden on the remaining employees.

President Rick Hokanson asked if the board gives raises next year, would that mean fewer library books and materials would be purchased? Baugher said it might come to that but WPL has a cash reserve that could be tapped in 2009 to preserve the status quo. However, he also said it’s better to ease into cost-cutting rather than “bringing out the knives and start slashing” later.

Observed board member Karen Nash, “We’re being guarded right now. Everybody is because of the economy.”

Baugher explained that as far as planned 2008 maintenance and upgrades, those funds are already earmarked for the work to be done so it will be. Bids will be considered June 11 for a new air conditioning system for Thomas’ first floor replacing the original 1975 unit. Following that the Thomas reroof will be bid as well as a new HVAC system for Hageman. After discussing it for two months, the board agreed not to update the Thomas lighting fixtures with energy-efficient units.

Floor tiles are being replaced at Thomas and with the approval of Duneland School Corp., from which WPL leases space for its Westchester Township Historical Museum, tiles in the museum basement will be replaced so that space can be used for additional programming space.

On another matter, the board shared Baugher’s lack of enthusiasm for optional participation in a new Indiana State Library initiative aimed at having all Hoosier public libraries use the same automation system. Evergreen is ISL’s choice; WPL uses Polaris.

Baugher said in his opinion, Evergreen “would be a great leap backwards” for WPL and larger libraries.

Board member John Corso said Evergreen would be helpful for small libraries but lacking the serials control and acquisition modules WPL now uses, Evergreen wouldn’t enhance WPL’s system. According to Nash, “It’s going to dumb it down.” Agreed board president Rick Hokanson, “Why don’t we turn off the electricity and use candles?”

Last year there was a push downstate by some lawmakers to consolidate public libraries into county or multi-county systems. Baugher said some fear the move toward statewide automation standardization would help fan the consolidation flames again.

Also Thursday:

•The board welcomed new member Keith Davison appointed by Westchester Township Trustee Suzanne Philbrick replacing Neal Mortensen, who moved out of state.

•Baugher reported WPL will be receiving a donation from the Friends of the Library whose recent book sale raised $6,300 in sales and memberships, a record for a single sale.

•After a slow winter at Thomas in part due to weather and remodeling, WPL circulation systemwide increased in April by just over 4 percent although circulation year-to-date at Hageman remains strong showing a 27 percent jump over 2007. Individual opportunities to serve patrons known as public service units increased by 5 percent through April over last year.

•Baugher said the new Rosetta Stone foreign language DVD programs are proving very popular in circulation; the courses are available in Italian, French, German and Spanish. Nash said it’s a great advantage to the public to have access to the programs on loan.

•Baugher reminded patrons that they may not tear articles and/or pages from magazines and newspapers in the reading room or do the crossword puzzles. A copier is located in the next room if copies are desired.

Posted 5/9/2008