New Harford library board members attend first meeting

Thursday evening marked the first Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting with three new members and a report that showed annual library circulation in Harford approaching 5 million books, DVDs, audio-books and music CDs.

Alex Allman and Bruce Smith, two new board members, took their places at the board table, as did Cara Reilly, who is the board's new student representative.

The brief meeting was held in the Fallston branch, as part of a new initiative, Library Director Mary Hastler said. Moving around to different branches instead of holding meetings in the boardroom at the Bel Air branch gives board members an opportunity to look at different collections, talk to staff members and simply visit branches they may not see otherwise.

Associate Library Director Daria Parry gave a brief statistical report, detailing the circulation at Harford County Public Library branches for the past fiscal year.

"[We] almost made the five million circulation goal," she said, adding that they came "very, very close."

The total, year to date, circulation information for fiscal year 2011 was at 4.8 million in terms of circulation.

Parry did say that she felt they did not reach the five million circulation goal because of cuts in hours caused by budget restrictions.

She did, however, add that she expects the new library management system, known as ILS, could change circulation numbers. Overall, she said, circulation numbers were up over the previous fiscal year which runs from July 1 to June 30.

Hastler delivered her report, detailing several capital projects for the library system.

Federal economic stimulus funds, according to Hastler, will be put toward the replacement or improvement of the HVAC system at the Edgewood Branch, totaling $312,500. The replacement of the Fallston branch's HVAC chiller, too, was budgeted at $213,800. Both projects are expected to be completed this October.

Funding for two feasibility studies was appropriated in the fiscal year 2012 budget, Hastler added, for Aberdeen and Darlington branches. Funding for the design of a bigger Havre de Grace branch, as the feasibility study was already completed, was appropriated in fiscal year 2012 as well.

Repairs are also scheduled to begin at the Joppa Library, for the roof and HVAC leak, with the bidding process underway now. Hastler said she expected the projects to be completed by this December.

Both Hastler and Reilly mentioned the new Havre de Grace teen room, which had a ribbon cutting on July 1. The teen room features a large monitor for movies and gaming as well as spaces for group work. The project also integrated work from local teenagers, too, who Hastler said were involved throughout the process.

"[It's] the first project where teens worked on from the start," she said.

The teenagers were in charge of planning the room, budgeting the project and working with designers, she added.

Hastler also brought back news from the American Library Association Annual Conference, where she said they discussed eBooks for public libraries, as well as self service book pick-up stops to ensure patron privacy. The library system has also been selected for the Smithsonian traveling Journey Stories Exhibit, she announced, but details on dates have not been released yet.

The Harford library system will also take part in an initiative to expand GED testing sites through public libraries, through a workforce development partnership with the Department of Labor Licensing Regulation, according to Hastler's report of a Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators meeting.

In other business, Mark Gregory was recognized as the library's new facilities and operations manager.

Board member and District Judge Susan Hazlett was recognized for her recent appointment to the county's charter review board.