District Library to install automatic doors on restrooms

The Belleville Area District Library is getting automatic doors installed for its restrooms because the doors have been hard to open for those in wheelchairs, reported library director Mary Jo Suchy at the library board’s regular meeting on July 9.
Treasurer Tanya Stoudemire said her husband had been mentioning that problem to her for some time, but she didn’t bring it to Suchy until recently.
Director Suchy also reported the other in-ground flagpole light that was not broken, now is broken and she is in contact with the electricians.
Board president Sharon Peters said they have spent four years worrying about the one light that illuminated the flagpole that was not working and now it’s the other light.
The first malfunctioning light was fixed several times and finally recently replaced completely and is working well.
Director Suchy also reported that the staff entrance door lock with keycards was not working right and it took $2,771 to repair it. She said while it was malfunctioning, employees had to come in the front door and then race to shut off the alarm.
In another building maintenance issue, Suchy reported most of the library’s carpet was cleaned, when the company’s machine broke, with 25% left to go. The company will complete the carpents when they come to clean the library’s tile floors, she said.
In other business at the 45-minute meeting, the board:
• Learned the basic literacy program is starting up again, after being sidelined by COVID-19, and there will be a 7 p.m., July 24, meeting for those interested in being trained as volunteer tutors for adult literacy. Suchy said the library is going through the Washtenaw Literacy program. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, one out of every five American adults reads below a fifth-grade level;
• Heard vice-president Linda Priest say the personnel committee met on June 21 and talked about the personnel policy. A lot needs to be done before it is brought to the board, she said. President Peters said they are on the right track and the library wants to be a good employer. Suchy said the library’s attorney has a sample policy to study;
• Was impressed that the Friends of the Library made $2,188.05 from their latest used-book sale;
• Learned the library is sending Jennifer Richardson to an Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) conference in Indianapolis, IN Oct. 14-17 at an early-bird registration cost of $450. The board was assured she will bring back the information to share with other employees;
• Heard Suchy report that the summer reading programs have been very popular, with signup about 20% higher than last year’s registrations;
• Learned Suchy say she will be meeting this summer with staff members who interact with teens in order to do some planning for fall. She said they will discuss programming as well as best practices for dealing with any behavior issues that might arise;
• Heard Suchy report that new to the Library of Things are storytime kits that families can check out. Each kit contains books and educational activities based on a specific theme such as Dino Storytime, Farm Storytime, Explore Nature, etc. She said many of the kits were checked out within the first day after they were put on display;
• Heard discussion on the open seats on the Library Board that will be filled in the Nov. 5 election. The seats are currently held by Joy Cichewicz of Sumpter Township, Alma Hughes-Grubbs of Van Buren Township, and John Juriga of Belleville; and
• Heard Priest say that she attended the auditions for “Steel Magnolias” that will be presented at the Van Buren Township Community Center’s Black Box theater in September. She said she didn’t try out, but offered to help in other ways and she said she will help get the props together. She said many retired people want to volunteer to stay active and there should be a list of places to volunteer locally.
Board secretary Alma Hughes-Grubbs was absent and excused from the meeting.