The Summit County Library Board of Directors held a meeting on July 21, 2022, at the Kimball Junction Branch. The meeting, conducted in a hybrid in-person and Zoom format, addressed several administrative updates, library programming, and facility decisions.
Director Dan Compton reported on various goals aimed at expanding the user experience. The Open+ extended access hours service has been available for one year and is seeing an increase in registered patrons. Additionally, automatic renewals for certain materials became effective for items checked out after June 23, 2022, via a TLC software upgrade.
Regarding facilities, the board discussed outdoor Wi-Fi usage and overnight camping at the Kimball Junction. Officials stated they have discussed these concerns with the Sheriff Department and plan to post signs with proper ordinance notices. The board also voted unanimously to allow the purchase of outside book lockers for the Kimball Junction and Kamas branches, utilizing funds set aside by County management.
Programming updates included the success of summer reading activities and the implementation of virtual author events through a library consortium. The board noted that the Kamas Geocaching challenge is live in collaboration with the County Historian, and a Pop-Up Concert was held at the Kimball Junction in June through a partnership with the Utah Symphony and the Utah Opera.
The board discussed future staffing and hours. While Sunday hours were requested, officials determined that maintaining current staff retention is the priority. A request for temporary employee hours will be made in 2023 to pilot a Sunday hours program in the spring to gather data for a potential 2024 fiscal year budget request.
Administrative changes were noted, including Tom Fisher departing Summit County on July 29 to accept a position in Frisco, Colorado. Janna Young was named interim County Manager.
The meeting concluded with the announcement that Tom Horton has given notice of leaving the board. The next meeting was scheduled for September 15, 2022, in Kamas at 6 p.m.
