Chesterton Tribune                                                                                   Adv.

Westchester Library finances called best they've ever been

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By MARGARET L. WILLIS

The Westchester Public Library is “doing very well,” financially, executive director Phil Baugher reported Thursday. In fact, he added “I don’t think it’s ever been as good as it is right now.”

WPL has $3,481,730 on hand, or nearly three and a half million dollars, in its various funds. “We received our fall tax draw and expect the December settlement before year’s end.” he added.

The good financial news comes after nearly four years of struggle, major cutbacks and cautious rebuilding of library budgets and services after the Bethlehem Steel bankruptcy devastated the library’s finances.

The board approved a budget and plan of service for 2006, which Baugher presented Thursday night.

The board, with Karen Nash absent, unanimously approved a new salary schedule, providing for a variety of raises for staff.

Baugher and assistant director Jane Walsh-Brown were awarded raises of six percent; bringing their salaries up to $80,505 and $65,642 respectively.

Supervisory staff were given raises of four percent; clerical staff three percent.

The largest single increase, by percentage of pay, was awarded to the maintenance supervisor, whose pay was increased by ten percent, to a new high of $28,600.

The library, now in the fourth year of recovery since the bankruptcy of Bethlehem Steel, will have an operating income estimated at $1,813,213 for 2006.

Baugher said the library has no debt and does not anticipate needing any loans.

The facilities, while needing some repairs and maintenance, will not likely change any this coming year.

Library operating hours will remain the same; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Thomas; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Hageman.

Baugher proposes the same number of full-time employees for the year, 15, and 50 part-time. A new cleaner and two new clerks are proposed.

Salaries and wages, employee benefits and other personnel services total $1,217,292.

Supplies total $71,500, while other services and charges, including utilities and insurance total $1,444,000.

The plan calls for capital outlays for books, periodicals and non-printed materials of $357,500.

Baugher’s plan calls for material allocation to be maintained at as high a level as possible and automation services to continue to upgrade.

The library budget, funded by property taxes, comprises just four to five and one-half percent of taxpayers’ overall bill, Baugher told the board, which is about average for libraries.

Baugher has filed an appeal with the Department of Local Government Finance, since two library funds were legally advertised incorrectly.

The Operating fund total was correct, but the Library Capital Projects Fund was published as if it were a Bond and Interest Redemption Fund (which the Library does not have) and a lesser, incorrect rate was published for the LCPF. Baugher has filed an appeal with the DLGF.

Air Overhaul Needed

The Library Service Center, originally built to house bank employees, simply doesn’t have the air circulation needed to host large groups, director Phil Baugher told the Westchester Public Library board Thursday.

“When you get 100 to 150 people in that meeting room, the system just can’t cool the air,” he said.

Board members agreed and have taken the advice of Tom Heinsberger, of ME Designs in Mishawaka, to plan a major upgrade of the heating/cooling system, as well as reconfigure the duct work.

Not enough outlets for cooled air is a big part of the problem, Baugher noted.

Old cooling units and narrow, flexible tube duct work will be replaced with new, Freon free cooling units and rigid ductwork.

The project will need to be let for bid as the estimate for the project is $75,000.

Baugher said he ranks the air system in the LSC higher than new carpet, another planned improvement for library buildings.

“I see it as a mechanical need, whereas the carpets are more an aesthetic,” he said.

Board members were unanimous in their support.

In other capital improvements, WPL will be upgrading the computer equipment and software this year.

The main server is already five years old, Baugher said and the Polaris software has been upgraded to the 3.2 version.

Combining the effort will require just one system shutdown, Baugher said. The plan is to install the new server and software simultaneously in January.

Museum Very Popular

The Township Museum is going “great guns” Baugher told the board, with nearly 200 visitors counted since its opening this fall.

The Victorian Christmas event was well attended and the tree was decorated with handmade, tin craft ornaments.

Special events at the museum, with religious overtones, including the Victorian Christmas celebration, are not an issue as they may be in some public venues, since they reflect historical activities, he said.

The Westchester Township Historical Museum is housed in the George Brown Mansion, leased from the Duneland School Corporation

WPL plans a special community-wide program for 2007; a Year in the Life of the community. Local amateur and professional photographers will be recruited, along with students and anyone else interested in participating, to record the history of the community as it happens. The focus will be on a visual record of the life of Duneland residents and events. Digital photos will be gathered, along with some written narrative and compiled on CD-ROM for photographic display and web publication, Baugher said. Planning will begin in 2006.

Two Board Seats

Up For Appointment

Two board member’s terms are expiring in 2006. Sue Harris, appointed by the County Commissioners and Neal Mortensen, appointed by the Westchester Township Trustee, both stated they would like to be reappointed. The board agreed to have letters sent to both appointing bodies asking that Harris and Mortensen be reappointed.

In other business, WPL continues to increase its circulation, with November’s numbers up 40 percent over November of 2004.

Thomas Library saw a total circulation of 27,359 items, up from last November’s 19,101.

Hageman’s circulation was 1,163, very close to last year’s 1,168.

Year to date numbers are Thomas, 301,960, up from 2004’s 258,075 ; Hageman, 13,344, down from last year’s 16,881.

Baugher displayed to the board a new, more customized, statistics report he will be converting to.

A direct visitor count for each library facility will be included, as well as a public service unit measurement, quantifying library staff service in a variety of departments similarly.

Each one hour computer session will be tallied as a public service unit, for example, said Baugher.

Though Hageman’s circulation is “falling behind,” as board member Rick Hokanson noted, WPL director Baugher said two main factors have combined for that decline.

Firstly, the services and collection at Thomas have expanded, at the same time the collection at Hageman has been refined, with the adult collections consolidated at Thomas.

“We’ve really focused on families and children,” said Baugher.

Hageman’s hours, still limited after the financial hardships since 2001, plus the emphasis on children and families, have combined to somewhat reduce overall use at Hageman. Baugher said Hageman is still “a very viable library,” and he sees no need for change.

Board member John Corso said a direct comparison of Hageman’s and Thomas’ open hours and use might show more balance than the current statistics reveal.

The board’s next meeting is set for January 12.