MECHANICSBURG – Village Council on Jan. 18 learned the Mechanicsburg Public Library, in conjunction with the state Library of Ohio, is updating its strategic plan and, in order to do so, is seeking public feedback.
Library Director Tammie Beers shared with council the two-page survey created to help determine the future direction of the library.
“It’s basically to take the public’s temperature and get a feel for what people think we are doing well now, what we need to do better, and what direction the library should go in the future,” Beers said. “There is never enough resources to meet all the needs, so we have to prioritize. We have to say, OK, these are the things that people are most passionate about and try to accomplish those things first.”
The survey is available online (www.mechanicsburg.lib.oh.us), at the library and in the lobby of the municipal building.
“We are encouraging people to chime in on the future of the library,” Beers said. “Any input, suggestions or comments are welcomed.”
Council was given a library fact sheet by Beers that revealed the following statistics for fiscal year 2014: 7,370 people had a Mechanicsburg Public Library card (31.8 percent are children); 21,360 items were checked out; 29,172 people visited the library (561 people every week); and 2,050 people attended library programs (88 percent of attendees were children).
Beers added the library has expanded its hours for 2016 and is now open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
In other business:
•Village Administrator April Huggins-Davis informed council the village’s snow plow has maintenance issues following its first two calls into service this winter.
“It seems to be together for now,” she said. “We will see how long it makes it.”
•Fire Chief Bob Keene stated the 21 SCBAs (air packs) his department purchased through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grants program will be delivered this week and put into service next week.
The total cost of the SCBAs was $120,624, but after using the grant funds, the village’s share of the purchase was $6,031.20.
•Council learned the local Fraternal Order of Eagles will be donating five new radios, worth approximately $1,600, to the Mechanicsburg Fire & EMS.
Keene thanked the Eagles for the donation and told council, “We are trying to get every nickel we can.”
•The Mechanicsburg Planning Commission will meet at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the municipal building. Zoning Officer Dusty Hurst said the meeting is being held to discuss the zoning overlay.
