Warsaw Library Board Member Cathi Zdenek hears an update on the library’s curbside services during a board meeting on Monday, Jan. 11. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Warsaw Community Public Library Board of Trustees heard an update about the library’s curbside services during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 11.

WCPL Assistant Director Joni Brookins told the board that the library has only been open for curbside services since Monday, Jan. 4. This is due to Kosciusko County moving to the “red” category on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard on Dec. 30, 2020. On Jan. 6, the county moved back to the “orange” category with a 14.9% positivity rate.

“If we’re still in the orange zone this Wednesday (Jan. 13), we can probably re-open Monday,” said Brookins. “But I don’t think our odds are real good. Fifteen percent is when we go into red.”

Brookins said many patrons have been using the library’s curbside services in the last week. Other available services at the library during the closure include Wi-Fi in the parking lot, telephone/e-mail reference, virtual programs and the digital library.

Several policy changes in the library’s employee handbook were also presented to the board, with a majority of the edits involving new verbiage added by the library’s legal counsel.

Policy edits regarding changes in personal information, child sexual abuse prevention, conflicts of interest, continuing education, deductions from exempt employees’ salaries, dress procedure, equal opportunity employment, family/medical leave, immigration law compliance, employment termination and time clocks were all approved at the meeting.

The board also held its annual board of finance meeting following its regular session.

Library Business Manager Renee Sweeny delivered her 2020 investment report to the board. In total, the library has $6,598,000 in investments at four local banks. There is a $1,162,000 investment at 1st Source Bank; $1,104,000 at Lake City Bank; $2,524,000 at Northwest Bank; and $1,808,000 at Teachers Credit Union.

The board also reviewed the library’s investments’ policy and approved it.

WCPL’s next Board of Trustees meeting will be at 4 p.m. on Feb. 8.