Council challenges libraries to streamline, work together

Derry

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

June 27, 2008

By Julie Huss

DERRY — More cooperation, streamlining services, and giving patrons the best possible library information — these things were put on the table Tuesday, June 24, when town councilors met with trustees and directors from the town's two libraries to discuss how things might run smoother and more efficiently.

Councilors and the library representatives brainstormed ways for both the Derry Public Library and Taylor Library to become more efficient and to streamline services to meet the needs of all patrons in town.

Town council chairman Rick Metts called upon both libraries, trustees and directors to discuss strengths and weaknesses, and how things might run smoother between both buildings.

Right now, the Taylor Library in East Derry runs a very popular children's program, bringing in hundreds of young readers throughout the year to participate in story times, holiday events, and the summer reading program.

Director Linda Merrill said space is the key issue and the library's main weakness, and the library hopes someday to expand its current 1,300-square-foot space to include a 3,500-square-foot addition. Fundraising is ongoing at the library to help support a future plan, she said.

The Derry Public Library, the larger of the two buildings, also runs popular adult and children's programming, but director Cheryl Lynch said it's always hard to predict how many people might attend a planned program. Parking at the building on East Broadway is the library's greatest weakness, Lynch told councilors.

Several years ago, discussion came about under former town administrator Russ Marcoux about a possible library consolidation in town. Metts said it was never the intention of the council ever to close the Taylor Library, but he urged both facilities to get together and discuss more cooperation among services, consolidation of certain areas, and hopefully someday even one single library card to access both facilities in town.

"That is not my intention or the intention of council," Metts said of ever closing Taylor. "No matter what you've heard through the grapevine, I would fight that. There is a need. Everyone has something to offer."

Current town administrator Gary Stenhouse reiterated the need for two separate libraries, but a joint venture in services in many areas, too, could serve patrons best.

"I see, down the road, two facilities, (meeting) different needs for different people," Stenhouse said. "But one likely could specialize in 'X' while the other in 'Y' and still provide a wide variety of services. The more we can economize by working together, the better off we'll be."

The discussion and documents generated two years ago about possible library consolidation could be used to go forward, Metts said, and could be a basis for both libraries to work together much better, even bringing about one library card to serve both libraries.

Derry library trustee Elizabeth Ives said both libraries are on the "same side" and want only what's best for the patrons in town.

"We all want the best libraries for the town of Derry," she said.

Metts told library representatives there is no rush to consolidate and the process could cost a lot of money. He did challenge the trustees and staff to work together and bring information back to the council about where they would like to head in the future and how they are working together to make success at the libraries in Derry.

"This won't happen overnight," Metts said.

Lynch said much is already happening between the two libraries where cooperation and shared services are concerned.

"We are working together and people don't always see that," she said.

The combined council and library group also discussed American Disabilities Act compliance issues at the tight-spaced Taylor. The group also planned to continue discussions on the possible expansion project at the tiny East Derry library.