Adams Library Has Staffing Concerns
Library Director Holli Jayko updates the trustees on staffing concerns.
Library Director Holli Jayko told the trustees on Thursday that even though the library is meeting state material spending and hours of operation standards, the town's allocation for the library may not be up to snuff.
"We are low on our overall town appropriation and it is lower than it has been in a long time," Jayko said. "We may be making progress but we still may have to apply for a waiver."
Jayko said the town's allocation has decreased because, as the new director, she is lower on the pay scale. However, at a recent personnel subcommittee meeting with the Selectmen and the town administrator, they discussed cutting the children's librarian position into two part-time positions because the full-time person is leaving.
"Next year, if the budget drops and we have taken out a full-time position and replaced it with two part-time ones, we will see savings, but it could put us at a disadvantage when it comes to state aid," she said.
Chairman James Loughman, who attended the personnel meeting, said town officials were open to the library's concerns, which included having a librarian on staff who can cover if the director is out.
Jayko added that another problem was that even though the positions are generally competitive, it may be difficult to keep employees who little room to move upwards in the library.
"I understand they want to save as much money as they can but it creates challenges for us," she said. "We will be constantly training and it will be difficult."
Trustee Brian Bishop thought the library would only attract retirees and others looking for a second income because the part-time positions will not have a livable wage.
Jayko said the town administrator had a similar concern and suggested possibly increasing the salary in hopes of making the position more competitive. The library has the town's lowest salaries.
"We are the lowest paid department in town and we require master's degrees for some of our positions and bachelor's degrees," she said. "A lot of other departments just require a high school diploma."
In other business, the library will use $1,861.18 from a $5,000 Adams Community Bank donation to purchase a custom wood-carved sign for the library from Neathawk Designs.
The sign will also have the Historical Society's name on it and the society offered to cover some of the cost.
Jayko said the sign should need little maintenance.
"They said it will need very little maintenance and most have outlasted the businesses," she said.
With the same donation, Jayko said she plans to purchase 30 new chairs and some tables for the lower annex.
"Currently there are 26 old wooden chairs that are most uncomfortable and 38 plastic chairs that are cracking and pinching people's bums," she said.
Instead of purchasing something wooden and historic, she chose a more functional style with $60 mesh folding chairs that are cheaper and easier to move.
"Right now, most of my staff is over 60 and to move everything around can be difficult with the big wooden tables and chairs," Jayko said. "I think something more functional that looks nice would be better."
She said the summer reading program "Build a Better World" was a success and the children surpassed the $1,500 the trustees originally set aside.
"They read enough books to raise $1,795 and they exceeded your goal," she said.
One hundred and seven kids signed up for the program and 59 recorded 1,000 read books.
The money will be donated to Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity.
Although Habitat for Humanity does not have a project lined up in Adams, Jayko said the program may change that in the future.
"They were very grateful for the donation ... and they never participated in a program like this," she said. "So they are focused on Adams right now and encouraged by this so maybe this will get us a home here."
Jayko said the library will soon lend out mobile hotspots that will allow people to temporarily have internet in their home.
"We are going to move forward with that and I will let you know more when we get them," she said. "It would be great to be able to lend these out."
She said the library plans to purchase four units that will be lent out for up to six days after a three-day renewal.
She said if not returned, the library can turn them off and will charge $1 a day.
They will only be available to Adams residents.
She said it is part of a larger effect to lend out objects other than books and other typical library materials. She said this summer the library will lend out ukuleles for their summer reading program.
"Other libraries have told me they fly off the shelves and people love them," she said. "They are easy to learn too."
The library will be closed November 11, 25 and December 23.
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