Library Board meeting recap

The Navasota Public Library Advisory Board meeting was held Sept. 19, 2019. Head librarian Gloria May presented budget reports indicating the number of children participating in the summer reading program was 28, the same as last year. She said that in the previous three months 71 new library cards had been issued which is lower than the 88 issued during the first quarter, which May stated was normal due to summer vacations.

The first inventory taken in 15 years is complete. The Library’s collection has 38,405 items. May said all items have been scanned but screening for condition is not yet complete because it must be manually checked.

This year May said that the book sale will be held inside October 21 through 25. In the past it has been outside under tents where weather and the manpower needed to carry boxes has been problematic. Recently a popup children’s book sale was successfully held inside.

Volunteer Shannon Goetz was introduced where twice a month she does the toddler and preschool story time at the library. Goetz not only reads to preschoolers but provides the children with story-specific craft kits.

Goetz lives in Iola and says that one of her goals is to get Grimes County citizens who live outside of Navasota to come to the Navasota Public Library, the only library in the county. Navasota’s program is free. On Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. story time is open to all children from eight months to four years.

In addition to volunteering at the Library, Goetz setup a Little Free Library, LFL, littlefreelibrary.org , at her home. These are small structures containing books that promote neighborhood book exchanges. Once registered, they appear on the international LFL World Map, littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap. Some LFL in Navasota can be found by going to www.navasotatx.gov/p/getconnected/288 and clicking Community Literacy Map.

Goetz told the Board about Children’s Whimsical Storybook Stones, facebook.com/childrenswhimsicalstorybookstoneshiding. It is part of the international Kindness Rock Program, a scavenger hunt for children. There are several rocks hidden around Navasota and Grimes County. “We hide storybook character rocks throughout different towns,” said Goetz whose family paints the rocks. “We’re getting ready to do a big drop.” Recently 10 Iola children came to the Library looking for rocks.

There is currently only one child-size table and four child chairs in the children’s room. They are supplemented by two adult tables and eight chairs that are cloth-covered. When story time and crafts require more, Library staff must move heavy tables to the area. Both May and Goetz expressed a desire for more furniture appropriate for preschoolers. Crawford contacted Navasota schools, but they had no children’s furniture available. She will contact area churches. Goetz said she has purchased education items from online auctions but usually they were not active until the end of the school year.

May said that it may be possible to use a Tocker Grant to get furniture. There was a discussion about grants with input from City Council Liaison Bernie Gessner, Brent Cahill and May.

Replacement of the microfilm reader is still unresolved due to cost. There may be a time factor as some of the microfilm has a vinegar smell known as “vinegar syndrome.” It is caused by old acetate film deteriorating. Most of the microfilm is not made of acetate. May says there are 153 rolls that will cost between $27 and $45 per roll to convert if a new machine is purchased. Board President Jo Crawford is working with vendors and says the cost ranges from $6,000 to $12,000 for a new machine. May is concerned that this may have a negative impact on the budget for book purchases.

A new machine will allow the information to be put online. May says that even if a new reader is purchased, copyright issues must be resolved with the Navasota Examiner newspaper before certain information is put online. Crawford and Boyce Ann Miller will contact the Examiner.

May told the Board about a new request box placed at the front desk. It is an effort to respond to the community and requests will be considered when purchasing new books.

Ways to publicize Library events was discussed. In addition to the sign in front of the Library and facebook.com/navasotatx.gov it was suggested that the calendar section of the Navasota Examiner newspaper be used.

The Board noted issues still unresolved:

• The placement of the new bicycle rack and bench. Further discussions are needed with City maintenance personnel who will pour a concrete slab.

• Madeley Trust details of how the Library can use the money. Jo Crawford will ask to look through old City documents.