Beth Rumsey
Staff Writer

The Osgood Public Library will soon become a part of the Evergreen system after a unanimous approval from the board of managers at the regular meeting on Tuesday, February 22 at the Milan branch.

According to OPL Director Vicki Butz, joining with the Evergreen system will allow library patrons access to other libraries within the system across the state. Currently, the libraries in Versailles and Batesville are part of the system along with those in Madison, North Vernon and Greensburg.

Butz noted that although there is no start up costs to join, there will be a need to upgrade several computers in order to support the software.

Policies are being updated with the volunteer policy addressed at the meeting. There are two volunteers at the Milan branch, according to Butz. She presented a copy of the volunteer guidelines and an application for board consideration. It will be discussed at a later meeting.

Also being updated, the policy allowing eligible new hires to participate in deferred compensation, an employer matched retirement fund. Employees are allowed to contribute up to 5% of their salary with the library matching the same.

The question was raised as to when an employee can begin to participate. The motion to allow all eligible new hires to participate in the deferred compensation plan after 30 days was unanimously approved.

The board discussed whether to close libraries due to bad weather. Gene Pitts suggested that discretion be given to the director whether to close or to open later. The board unanimously approved the motion to allow the director to use discretion when to open during bad weather.

In other business:

• The board unanimously approved to waive overdue fines one time for children only in order for them to continue to participate in the summer reading program. The waiver will not apply for items lost or damaged.

• The board approved a week vacation without pay for the director. Current policy allows for the accrual of vacation days but the employee must wait six months before requesting use of vacation time.

• The director was advised to hire a contractor to address a leak in a roof and the sealing of the bricks on the Carnegie side of the Osgood branch.

• Vandalism at the Milan branch was addressed. According to Butz a flowering tree was destroyed and needs to be replaced at a cost of $400. The director was advised to wait to replace the tree.

All board members were in attendance. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 29 starting at 6 p.m. at the Osgood site.