A steering committee will help shape the future of the new library, Library Director Carol Wohlford said Tuesday.
The library is creating this committee to oversee decision-making for the new building at 736 Main St. So far, Wohlford, Board Treasurer Amy Jankowski, Cass Steinlage, Mindy Frehe, Ed Jankowski and Molly Pratt have agreed to join the committee.
Wohlford told the Library Board during its meeting that she has also reached out to Aaron Thakker, Scott Keltner and Tim Bruce but has not yet received responses.
Amy Jankowski said she wants the committee formalized by March 2. Farmers State Bank will present a check to the library at 5:30 p.m. that day.
Jankowski said she has also been in communication with the architect involved in the new library building renovations. She said he is asking about floor plans, but she said she wants to wait to make decisions until after the steering committee is formed.
Wohlford said she has a meeting with the architect on March 2 to discuss the library building.
In other business, Vice President Eric Magette gave an update on the legislative movement to require board members to be elected instead of appointed. The bill was recently amended to require Library Board elections to be held in odd-numbered years, and the Committee on Local Government recommended it be passed.
Magette said Thursday is the Turnaround Day in the Kansas Legislature, which is the last day committees can consider non-exempt bills in their house of origin.
Following the passage of the bill, the next step would be a joint resolution between the city and township about the specifics of the electoral process.
“Things just kind of lined up that we were able to be able to do this as quickly as we have,” Magette said. “We’ve been fortunate.”
President Kenny Massey said County Commissioner Gene Dorsey, Rep. Mike Amyx, D-Lawrence, and Rep. Lance Neelly, R-Tonganoxie, have all been helpful throughout the process. He also thanked Magette for his efforts throughout the legislative process.
In other business, Eudora Times Publisher Teri Finneman and chief photographer Annalynn Phanthadeth presented to the board about their plans for a gallery reception highlighting Phanthadeth’s work on March 23.
The event will also allow the public to see the vacant new library, and Massey said the board will be there in a special meeting to answer questions.
Magette said he thinks it’s a great idea, and Massey said it’s a “cool deal for everybody involved.”
The library is also working to update employee job descriptions. Massey said there are 12 different job descriptions, and he found them to be confusing and convoluted upon review. So, he has sorted the positions into separate Google documents, and he and Wohlford will write specific descriptions for each one. Each position will have its own purpose statement, Massey said.
Reach Bella Waters at [email protected].
