Posted on September 30, 2000

By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Digital technology is coming to Westchester Public Library in a big way, assistant director Jane Walsh-Brown told the board of trustees Thursday.

ImageMax has provided samples of their work in digitizing the Duneland Historical Society newsletters and research papers as well as the library's oral history transcripts, which Baugher and Walsh-Brown found very satisfactory. Arrangements have also been made to digitize back issues of the Chesterton Tribune, which the library then plans to make accessible on the WPL website. Plans are to eventually post the local history vertical file contents as well as selected Chesterton Tribune photos.

The work will all be funded through a $5,000 grant from the Federal Library Services and Construction Act, (LSCA) Technology Grant for 2000, administered through the Indiana State Library.

"We're very grateful to the Chesterton Tribune for getting us off to such a great start," Walsh-Brown said.

Walsh-Brown reported to the board in Director Phil Baugher's place. Baugher was unable to attend the meeting, as he was caring for his wife Sue who was hurt when the horse she was riding was injured and fell.

The Westchester Public Library's service to homebound patrons is slowly gaining popularity, Walsh-Brown reported. Active patrons total six, she said, with 26 books delivered, 131 audio books and 10 magazines. She said

additional publicity for the service is planned to increase awareness and clarify what the service provides.

The board, on Baugher's recommendation, lowered the tax rate for the Library Capital Projects fund from a rate of five cents down to four cents on $100 in total assessed valuation. Any portion of the Capital Projects Fund levy over four cents is subtracted from the Operating Fund levy total, so it makes sense to stay at four cents, Baugher told the board via speaker phone. The difference of approximately $50,000 may be returned to the Operating Fund, which will allow more flexibility in spending for library materials and services. The change, previously done informally has now been done by resolution, Baugher explained.

The board agreed to legally advertise to solicit proposals for a "sweep account," so that the library can get interest benefit from their daily miscellaneous revenues. Besides the legal advertisement, letters of solicitation will be sent to banks with branches within Westchester Township. Banks will be asked to submit proposals, which the board hopes to review at next month's meeting, Oct. 26. Other specific account benefits the library desires include a suspension of fees on the account, return of the warrants and end of the month reports with checks sorted numerically.

Discussion of the first draft of planner Gerry McCabe's feasibility plan for expansion and renovation of the library facilities was postponed to next month's meeting when Baugher can attend. A utility study of the library's current gas and electrical use has been forwarded to McCabe.

Oz Fest Crowds Out Patrons:

The huge crowds generated during Oz Fest may mean Thomas Library closes for that weekend next year. Many patrons complained they had extreme difficulty reaching the library, Walsh-Brown said, and staff was at times overwhelmed by the crowds using library restrooms, seeking telephones, blocking entryways and ignoring barricades to park in reserved areas.

The museum had its own problems, with the entrance blocked both visually and physically by festival booths. Walsh-Brown said she has assurances from Duneland Chamber director Laurie Franke-Polz that the museum will be allowed in the future to reserve, free of charge, the booth space in front of the museum to maintain access to the museum entrance.

The board decided they would discuss the issue again, with an eye toward closing Thomas for the two days of the festival and encouraging patrons to use Hageman Library. Valparaiso Public Library does close its downtown

branch during Popcorn Fest, Walsh-Brown noted. The board asked Walsh-Brown to work with Baugher to develop a proposal.

Visits with "Arthur, the Aardvark," generated numerous new library card holders, Walsh-Brown reported, though the total new patrons won't be known until the end of the month when new card numbers can be compared to regular monthly figures.

The Westchester Public Library's bandstand Christmas ornament is proving to be quite popular, Walsh-Brown said. The gold-plated, 3-D rendition of the bandstand circa 1924 comes in a gold embossed, velvet lined box for $12. Walsh-Brown said 500 will be available and that she already has 150 orders. To order, call 921-0963.

Both adult fiction and non-fiction use were up for August, fiction from 2,190 to 2,453, for an increase of 12%; non-fiction up from 4,197 to 4,651, an increase of 11%. Juvenile use had similar increases: up 11% in fiction, from 3,433 to 3,806 and 16% in non-fiction, from 1,587 to 1,840.