Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Library plans future initiatives
Mayor commits to keeping Level Up program going, director says
FAYETTEVILLE — The library’s administration is looking toward the future with a number of initiatives discussed during a board meeting Monday.
One such initiative is continuing the Level Up workforce development program at the library’s Center for Innovation. The program launched using $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan money from the city. The program provides classes and certification in skilled trades, information technology, heavy equipment operation and culinary arts. Cardholders can sign up for the programs for free.
David Johnson, the library’s executive director, told the board Mayor Lioneld Jordan has committed to keeping the program going. The federal money is set to run out by March 31, Johnson said. Continuing the program for another year would cost about $609,000, he said.
The information technology training program gained more than 20 new participants last quarter, said Melissa Taylor, manager of the library’s innovation center. The program has added some new in-person training and robotics sets for manufacturing and drone operation, she said.
The library plans to work with apprentice placement programs to help graduates of the program get jobs, Taylor said. She said 14 participants recently gained certifications and had enrolled for further training with the program.
Additionally, this past fall semester the adult career and training program of Fayetteville Public Schools moved a number of courses to the library, Johnson said. Programs include a pharmacy technician program, a paraprofessional educational program and a job-training certification program called Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy.
“It’s all falling into that bigger bucket of workforce development,” he said.
Also, the library is working on a compensation survey for its employees. Administrators try to do a salary survey every three to five years, but the covid-19 pandemic put those efforts on hold, Johnson said. He anticipated a greater gap than usual to keep wages comparable with peer cities.
Johnson said he hopes to present a salary plan to the board in fall in time for 2025 budget preparations.
Board member Stan Rodgers said the sooner the survey can be completed, the better, especially considering nationwide inflation.
“We’re trying to keep our human capital compensated,” he said.
In other business, a project to install a new air-conditioning system to replace the 20-year-old system in the Blair portion of the library should begin in September or October, Facilities Director Sam Palmer said. The work will require the use of large cranes to install the equipment on the roof, and as a result, Mountain Street and School Avenue next to the library will need to be closed. The building also will need to be closed to patrons. The work could take three to five days, he said.
The library still has a little more than $2 million to raise out of $23 million to finish paying for the cost to build the expansion that opened in January 2021, Johnson said. He said the library’s foundation is nibbling away with smaller donations, but is hoping for a “transformational” gift.
After the amount is raised, Johnson said he hopes to have a strategic planning meeting with the board to come up with a new vision plan for the library.
“It’s hard to start making plans and doing things to move forward when you’ve got that in front of you,” he said.
Johnson told the board that the Fayetteville library and the other plaintiffs that joined a lawsuit against the state over Act 372 plan to file a motion for summary judgment by May.
A federal judge in July temporarily blocked enforcement of two provisions of the law, which would make it possible for librarians and booksellers to face criminal liability for providing harmful materials to minors. Additionally, library personnel would be required to relocate the material to an area inaccessible to minors in response to a successful challenge.
A motion by former state Sen. Jason Rapert to withhold state aid to libraries that are part of the lawsuit was rejected by the state library board earlier this month. Rapert was appointed to the state board late last year.
Johnson said the Fayetteville library gets about $162,000 annually from the state.