Library Advisory Board Meeting

Library Advisory Board Meeting Recap: March 13, 2025

The Buncombe County Library Advisory Board held a virtual meeting on March 13, 2025, to address operational challenges, review facility updates, and discuss future community roles for the library system. The primary focus of the session was navigating the impact of a county-wide hiring freeze on library operations, alongside a presentation on the Trust Fund for Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Key Decisions The board voted to approve the minutes from the January 9, 2025 meeting. Ms. Smith moved to approve the minutes, and Ms. Stapleton seconded; the motion passed. Additionally, the board unanimously voted to amend the agenda to move the public comment segment later in the meeting due to technical difficulties. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Ms. Risedorf.

Director’s Report and Operations Library Director Jason Hyatt reported that six of the twelve library locations are currently operating on a temporary modified schedule due to the ongoing hiring freeze, with no specific end date established for the revised hours. In response to a question from Mr. Miller, Mr. Hyatt stated that the Buncombe County Strategy and Innovation department is working on a traffic flow analysis for the libraries. Mr. Rogers and Ms. Stapleton expressed interest in seeing this report. Mr. Hyatt also noted that the West Asheville Library branch manager retired in March and that the library received a waiver in the hiring freeze to fill this position.

The Director highlighted several successes and facility updates. Staff at the Enka-Candler library received the 2024 Large Library System Program of the Year Award from the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association for their Reading MENtors story time series. Mr. Hyatt announced the resumption of the Zoom Pass program next month. Regarding facilities, the Weaverville Library is scheduled for new carpet in the meeting room in April, and the North Asheville Library is scheduled for paint and carpet in May, funded by a grant from the Trust Fund of Buncombe County Libraries. Mr. Hyatt also noted that the library’s digital resources are being accessed globally, including from Australia, Portugal, and Bosnia.

Trust Fund Presentation Kay Wall, Chair of the Buncombe County Library Trust Fund, presented an overview of the fund’s history, current activities, and future goals. She stated that the Trust Fund is working on a strategic plan and is interested in establishing connections with the Library Advisory Board and the Friends of the Library. The Trust Fund currently supports initiatives such as scholarships for library staff and professional development.

New Business: Community Resiliency In the new business segment, Mr. Rogers inquired about using all libraries as disaster support centers, similar to how the Swannanoa Library was used during Hurricane Helene. The board agreed that this would be a positive direction for the libraries and surrounding communities. Mr. Hyatt noted that ongoing discussions with the County are underway regarding the libraries' role in initial emergency responses.

Community Input Public comment was postponed due to technical difficulties with a participant. The board agreed to email the participant a direct Zoom link and potentially revisit the issue at a later meeting. Lena, a community member, praised the Oakley Library for maintaining excellent programming despite reduced hours.

Follow-ups and Next Steps The library will analyze door count and circulation data from the reduced-hour branches to inform future operational decisions. A report on library usage trends will be presented at the May 8, 2025 meeting. Jason Hyatt will investigate options for sending a representative to the NCPLDA award ceremony in New Bern. The library will explore options for serving as community resiliency hubs, including investigating funding opportunities and partnerships. The Trust Fund Board will begin working on developing a website to communicate their mission and activities. Angelica Tyler will coordinate communication with the county to ensure awareness of the Reading Mentors program award.

The next Library Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM.