Service To Green Oak Township

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August 4, 2005

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact Nancy B. Johnson, 810 229-6571 X203 or chuget@brightonlibrary.info

Brighton District Library: Brighton District Library Board Speaks Out

All public library boards are charged with the responsibility of managing the present and planning for the future needs of its patrons. The goal of a library board must be to provide continuity in quality library service to its district as that district grows and changes. A library board's assessment of its strategic plan to meet this goal is ongoing.

As part of this continuous process to examine the effectiveness with which the Brighton District Library (BDL) is delivering library services to its patrons, the BDL Board identified Green Oak Township as the most rapidly growing population within its District. Yet, usage statistics (defined as Green Oak residents who have checked out at least one piece of library material in the last year) showed that only 10% of Green Oak Township residents used the BDL compared to usage rates spanning from 31% to over 50% by residents in Genoa and Brighton townships and the City of Brighton.

In the summer of 2004, the BDL Board began a comprehensive study of the situation which included a review of the current funding arrangement with Salem-South Lyon District and Northfield Township libraries. The libraries, both located in neighboring counties, contracted with the BDL in 1997 to provide library service to the far edges of the Brighton library district. The library service contract stated that it was binding for three years (anticipating the evolving library needs of the area) and could be ended by any of the parties with a six month notice. The BDL Board has never given such notice.

Given the nod by township officials to present a proposal to use the unfinished lower level of the township as the site for a satellite facility, the (BDL) Board of Trustees thought they might accomplish this goal with a win-win outcome. The BDL could offer convenient, quality services to the residents of Green Oak Township and not raise taxes.

In their effort to establish a process that would identify an appropriate funding source for the Green Oak Township proposal, the BDL Board brought in well known Michigan library consultants, Marianne Hartzell and Joe Mika, to facilitate a meeting between the BDL Board, Northfield Township Library Board and Salem-South Lyon District Library Board. Unfortunately, the Northfield Township Library rejected an offer to meet making a three party discussion impossible. A series of consequent meetings at the Green Oak Township Hall ended with no mutually agreed upon plan of action.

Notwithstanding the fact that 70% of those responding to the survey indicated distance to be the primary consideration in choosing to use a library, Green Oak Township officials have publicly declared through the local media that there is no need for a satellite branch in Green Oak Township at this time. Therefore, the Brighton District Library Board will take no further action on the issue at this time.

The BDL Board will continue to reach out to areas where library service is under used.

By the end of the summer, the BDL will launch a new bookmobile service in areas of the district furthest removed from the main library. The bookmobile will provide over 2,000 popular print, visual and audio materials for all ages. The library's online catalog will be available through a wireless work station. Expanding the children's programs held at the Green Oak Township Hall and bringing computer classes to the site are also among the plans to expand BDL resources. "The Trustees and staff of the BDL are continually uncovering creative ways to offer our constituents quality, accessible service," said Huget, "Our focus has never wavered."

For further comments or questions, please contact Charlene Huget, Director of the Brighton District Library at 810-229-6571, x203 or chuget@brightonlibrary.info