Carroll public library Board of Trustees to discuss required studies at Wednesday meeting

Carroll commissioners voted to restrict $80,000 from the public library system until two studies are completed.

The Carroll County Public Library Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday to discuss requirements for the library system to receive full funding in the county’s fiscal 2025 operating budget.

Commissioners allocated $11,281,770 to the library system in the county’s fiscal 2025 budget. An additional $169,230 in one-time funds to cover the system’s operating costs was also proposed, but commissioners voted 3-2, in May to hold back the one-time funding unless the library system starts collecting fines from adults who return books late and conducts a study about how to open some library branches on Sundays.

Until those directives are completed, commissioners will withhold $80,000 of the one-time funds from the library system. Fiscal 2025 begins July 1.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board will discuss a study on the impact of overdue fees and a study for feasibility of Sunday hours, according to the agenda. Both items were requested by Commissioners’ President Ken Kiler in order for the system to receive the full allocated funds.

Many residents were upset with the decision to restrict the money and said they believed the decision was because of Kiler’s previous frustration with library employees who publicly supported the Freedom to Read Act. The act, which was passed by the Maryland General Assembly this legislative session, establishes a statewide policy on how school systems review objections to library materials and prohibits a county Board of Education from dismissing, demoting, disciplining, reassigning, suspending, transferring or retaliating against school library staff.

Kiler represents District 2 and is also the former president of the Carroll County Board of Education, and he accused county library staff of being “anti-Carroll” in a March work session.

“They’re a big part of the state that puts together that bill in Annapolis that’s anti-Carroll County and anti-[local] control,” Kiler said. “They have staff people that have been testifying in Annapolis. I’m not interested in paying them to go to Annapolis and fight against Carroll County.”

Both studies are nearly complete, according to Lisa Picker, the library system’s communications director. Picker said no additional information could be provided ahead of the board meeting when asked about a statement, progress made, or any additional information on the board’s position on cooperation with the commissioners’ requirements.

The seven-member Board of Trustees meets monthly and is responsible for developing library policy, establishing rules and regulations for library operations, and the approval of the library’s annual and operating budget request and allocation. Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public and will have 15 minutes allocated for public comment. It will be held in the Eldersburg library branch at 6400 W Hemlock Drive at 7 p.m.

For more information on previous agendas and future meetings, visit library.carr.org/about/board.