Tuesday’s Warren County Library Commission meeting included updates from the library director’s report as well as concerns from the public. The meeting took place on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richard D. Gardner Branch of the Warren County Library. There was also a Zoom option for members of the public, but they could not pose questions or comments to the board.
The commission addressed a working draft of revised bylaws, and the bylaw subcommittee met afterward to continue drafting.
The library director’s report from Jill Butcher said this year’s summer reading program was a success, with more than 23,000 days read by children — an increase from last year. Butcher reported positive feedback regarding the Koha integrated library system, implemented five months ago. The new system has been an adjustment for staff, but an update expected later in the week should make it more efficient. Since last year, there has been a 24% increase in circulation, with reduced wait times. The main branch received a $150,000 state grant to help offset the cost of transitioning to Koha. The library system is expected to switch its e-book platform from cloudLibrary (Hoopla) to Libby in March 2026.
Staff at the Catherine Dickson Hofman branch are monitoring roof leaks, and the construction company that handled the renovation was called to address them. The Northeast branch recently repainted and will be closed Thursday, Oct. 9 and Friday, Oct. 10, for parking lot repaving.
The remainder of the meeting consisted of public comment. A major ongoing concern is the cost of retaining an attorney to sit in on commission meetings. One Hope Township resident said they had attended library commission meetings in Somerset and Hunterdon counties to observe their boards’ financial transparency and whether they retained lawyers at meetings. She told the board she would be happy to share her observations.
Three other residents also raised concerns about the attorney’s cost, with one suggesting a potential conflict of interest because the firm representing the Warren County Library Commission has ties to other Warren County commissions.
A lack of transparency regarding the budget was another concern from the public, with multiple residents expressing a desire for easier access to financial information.
Other topics raised included the possibility of banning materials from the library collection, board members’ bias and conduct at the June meeting, and official minutes omitting written correspondence without bylaw amendments. Another resident expressed concern that the September meeting was held during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and urged the board to consider major religious holidays when setting dates.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. It is scheduled to reconvene Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richard D. Gardner Branch, or via Zoom. The agenda and now meeting recordings are available on the Warren County Library Commission website. Links to all meetings are posted on the library calendar.
Julien Smith is a student journalist from Northwest New Jersey. He has had a lifelong fascination with all things journalism, and mentors elementary and middle school aged kids with the program “Indy Kids” in NYC. He lives in between Hope and Blairstown, and usually can be found puttering around his garden or with his nose in a textbook.
- Julien Smith, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/julien-smith-contributing-writer/
- Julien Smith, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/julien-smith-contributing-writer/
- Julien Smith, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/julien-smith-contributing-writer/
- Julien Smith, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/julien-smith-contributing-writer/
