By Lisa Carolin
In preparation for the Chelsea District Library‘s 10th anniversary celebration Aug. 18, improvements will soon be underway in the media center.
Assistant Director Linda Ballard announced at the April 19 Library Board meeting that plans are in the works to give the media center a facelift that will include adding more seating, making the shelving more user friendly, and cutting down the size of the reference desk. The board unanimously approved the movement of funds from the current budget and the capital improvement fund to finance the work, which is estimated to cost close to $43,500.
Plans are also in the works for the anniversary celebration that will include tours of the building and photo displays documenting its history. A local artist will be creating a commemorative coloring book as a keepsake.
Board member Jan Carr announced that Library Director Lori Coryell, who started her job in January, is no longer on probation, and the board responded with a round of applause.
The board unanimously approved updates to eight library policies including the Child Safety policy that states children 7 years old and under must have a parent or caregiver in the building and that caregivers must be at least 12 years of age. Other updates included those to Social Media Policy, Emergency Procedures, and Display and Solicitation in the Library.
There was a presentation by Kerry Sheldon of Bridgeport Consulting regarding working with the library on a 3-year strategic plan. Coryell previously worked with the consulting firm when she was in Ypsilanti. Bridgeport is currently working on a strategic plan for the Ann Arbor District Library.
Coryell reported that Chelsea’s Community Read will become the Washtenaw County Read in 2017 joined by the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Dexter district libraries.
She also reported that the Library’s World War I project received an additional $6,800 in support from a grant proposal submitted by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce to the Community Tourism Action Plan Program of the Washtenaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She attributed the securing of the funding to a collaboration between the library and the chamber, Chelsea City officials, the Chelsea Farmers Market, the Purple Rose Theatre, and local businesses.
The library will work with Faith in Action and the Dexter District Library from June 20 to the first week in August with a program called the Summer Munch Bunch, offering snacks from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and have teen volunteers and library staff read stories.
Gary Munce, president of Friends of the Chelsea District Library, reported that members would like to volunteer for the Munch Bunch. He also said that the number of people in the Friends group now numbers 58.
Staff members of the Chelsea District Library are looking forward to the Midwest Literary Walk on Saturday, April 30. It begins at 1 p.m. at the Chelsea Depot. Authors include Paula McClain, bestselling author of “The Paris Wife” and “The Circling Son.”
