Library Plans to Restore Services

On March 6, 2012, Adams County voters approved a one-mill levy to restore and renew the library services of the Adams County Public Library.  After the levy approval, the library board decided to restore library services and hours at all locations as soon as possible with a target date of June 2012. 

New North Adams Library Building Planned

The library board also plans to begin construction on a new library building for the North Adams area by late 2012.  The library already owns property on Moores Road adjacent to North Adams High School. 

Building plans for the North Adams Library were originally drawn up three years ago when the board thought that Recovery funds from the federal government would be available to match local funds for the construction of a library building.  When those funds did not materialize, the plans were shelved.  Now that the local levy will help with matching funds for construction, those plans are in the process of being reviewed, updated, and revised.
 

Library Committed to Providing a Broad Range of Services

As state funding for public libraries decreased over the past ten years, the local libraries were forced to make significant cuts in the purchase of materials and services as well as reduce public service hours when departing staff were not replaced.  

Current staff have been working hard during these “lean” times to meet the needs of Adams County residents.  Wi-Fi is now available at all library locations.  This was made possible by using surplus equipment as a result of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Staff will soon begin training on a new circulation system which will go “live” around June 6, 2012.  Priority Dispatch, a new delivery system based in Cincinnati, will soon take over the delivery of items between Ohio libraries. 

Interlibrary loan is one of the most popular services of the library.  It allows Adams County patrons to conveniently borrow items from over 176 library buildings in Ohio as well as ebooks through the Serving Every Ohioan (SEO) Consortium.

The library board thanks the voters for their support on March 6th.  Both the board and staff are humbled by the confidence that the voters have placed in them.