Officials dissolve library board
Despite lingering concerns about financial stability, Chartiers-Houston Community Library is still opening its doors – and its books – to patrons. The library’s managing board, however, is now defunct.
Officials from Houston Borough, Chartiers Township and Chartiers-Houston School District voted recently to remove their representatives from the library board, essentially dissolving the leadership.
The library is “not meeting state standards as set forth by the Pennsylvania Library Code,” according to a statement from an appointed transition team that is handling the board’s reorganization.
“Each entity feels these steps are necessary to ensure a sustainable future for the Chartiers-Houston Community Library,” read the statement. “In the meantime, the library staff is manning the daily library operations and is ready to serve the communities of Chartiers Township, Houston Borough and the Chartiers-Houston School District.”
Diane Ambrose, director of Citizens Library in Washington, said more details will be available after the transition team meets next week. Members of the team, including Chartiers Township manager Jodi Noble, Chartiers-Houston business manager Don Bennett and Houston resident Larry Scears, were appointed by their respective boards.
Demo Agoris, who served most recently as library board president, said he felt the library “exceeded” expectations and did not know what standards it allegedly failed to meet. He said the library has consistently been putting out more volume than it takes in, or in other words, using its own materials before requesting books from other libraries.
He said a report from former library board treasurer Kenneth Britten determined the library’s finances are in decent shape, despite losing about $50,000 when the school district withdrew its contribution last year.
The library had about $53,000 in its savings account, $19,000 in a checking account and $71,000 in a certificate of deposit as of March 24, Agoris said, adding that the funds did not include about $27,000 it expected to receive from the state.
“That would have taken us well into next year, so we were financially sound,” he said.
Agoris said several board seats were left vacant because of resignations. The board is composed of four representatives from the school district, two from Chartiers Township and one from Houston Borough.
Bill Hill, a former library board president who most recently served as a board member, said he is “not involved anymore” and is not sure what his role will be going forward.
Hill said the funds the board raised should be enough to keep the library afloat at least for the remainder of the year.
“As far as beyond 2015, I have no knowledge at this moment,” he said. “All I hope is that the library does continue because it’s an absolutely wonderful organization and a big asset to the community.”