Good to Know
by Julie Kirk, Director
Have you ever wondered about the governance of the library? Probably not because it’s not something one usually thinks about, as long as the materials, services and programs are what you’ve come to expect. However, much goes on behind the scenes to bring you those materials, services and programs.
New Castle Public Library is an independent library that has contractual agreements with New Castle County and the State of Delaware. The Board of Directors of the library meets ten times per year, September through June. The nine-member board work with the director to oversee the total operation of the library, establishes policy, actively work towards advancing the library’s objectives, guide the direction of the library’s affairs and report to the Trustees. The Trustees of New Castle Common own and maintain the building. At least one Trustee is appointed to the Library Board. Currently Tom Clayton and Cork Viola are Trustee appointed board members. Cork Viola was instrumental in the renovation of the building in 2009-2010 and continues to provide valuable input into the operations of the library. Tom Clayton, with great dedication and good cheer, handles the maintenance of the building.
The library also works closely with New Castle County to provide a seamless experience to the users no matter which library they visit. We participate in all county initiatives and projects. The State of Delaware also provides many services. The databases, Overdrive for electronic books and audiobooks, IT equipment and support are only a few of these services. Library staff participate in many county and state committees to make decisions, solve problems and suggest ideas for providing better library services to the public.
The New Castle Library Friends is perhaps our greatest partner when it comes to providing materials, services, and programs. They support the library in advocating to the state and county for funding but also fundraise to help the library purchase materials such as the Walk-in Collection (high demand, popular books), technology for children such as the educational game computers in the Children’s Room, programming such as the yearly Shakespeare presentation by Linda Emerick, as well as support for PAWS (children reading to dogs), Delaware Humanities and UD Cooperative Extension programs to name just a few.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Library Board of Directors, our relationship with the county and state, or how the Friends help the library, please contact me at the library.
New Castle Public Library is an independent library that has contractual agreements with New Castle County and the State of Delaware. The Board of Directors of the library meets ten times per year, September through June. The nine-member board work with the director to oversee the total operation of the library, establishes policy, actively work towards advancing the library’s objectives, guide the direction of the library’s affairs and report to the Trustees. The Trustees of New Castle Common own and maintain the building. At least one Trustee is appointed to the Library Board. Currently Tom Clayton and Cork Viola are Trustee appointed board members. Cork Viola was instrumental in the renovation of the building in 2009-2010 and continues to provide valuable input into the operations of the library. Tom Clayton, with great dedication and good cheer, handles the maintenance of the building.
The library also works closely with New Castle County to provide a seamless experience to the users no matter which library they visit. We participate in all county initiatives and projects. The State of Delaware also provides many services. The databases, Overdrive for electronic books and audiobooks, IT equipment and support are only a few of these services. Library staff participate in many county and state committees to make decisions, solve problems and suggest ideas for providing better library services to the public.
The New Castle Library Friends is perhaps our greatest partner when it comes to providing materials, services, and programs. They support the library in advocating to the state and county for funding but also fundraise to help the library purchase materials such as the Walk-in Collection (high demand, popular books), technology for children such as the educational game computers in the Children’s Room, programming such as the yearly Shakespeare presentation by Linda Emerick, as well as support for PAWS (children reading to dogs), Delaware Humanities and UD Cooperative Extension programs to name just a few.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Library Board of Directors, our relationship with the county and state, or how the Friends help the library, please contact me at the library.
