Ferndale Area District Library Approved by State
(FPL Press Release, Dec. 16, 2014)
The Ferndale Library continues to prove its adaptability to troubled times with its successful bid to form a District Library with the City of Ferndale and Ferndale Public Schools as partners. The agreement, unanimously approved in October by the Library Board of Trustees, the Ferndale School Board and the Ferndale City Council, was crafted with the intention of creating a more stable future after a rough year that saw library budget cuts, resulting in reductions in operating hours and staff.
Michigan’s State Librarian Randy Riley issued his official approval on November 21, 2014. With that, the Ferndale Public Library will become officially reorganized under the District Library Establishment Act on December 31st.
For patrons regularly utilizing the library’s services, in-house and online, not much will change in the current day-to-day operations, nor will its current policies, standard procedures and board bylaws. Forming the district library will have no immediate effect on current millage rates, but makes possible increased funding at some point in the future. In the near-term, lost hours and staff will not be able to be restored.
The library’s board will expand from six (6) members to seven (7). Under the agreement, the Ferndale City Council appointed provisional library board members at their December 15th meeting. Current library board members, reappointed by the council, plus one newcomer, Kevin Yezbick, will serve until the end of 2016—when the next library board election will coincide with the next school board election in November of that year.
“The library and Ferndale Public Schools have a very close, collaborative relationship,” Library Director Jessica Keyser said. “Forming a District Library with the schools will lay the foundation if other communities nearby want to join the district, but starting with the school district is ideal for Ferndale and now is the time to do that.”
The schools will not be contributing to library finances, and the library will not be involved in the operation of the schools’ media centers. However, the possibility of more funding for the library could lead to more outreach efforts and services to Ferndale Public Schools students and staff, helping to support school success.
Library Board President Patrick Dengate said, “This is a great example of collaboration between the three elected bodies in Ferndale. The library board, school board, and city council put their heads together, consulted with their attorneys, did the research, and came up with a plan. I think it’s clear we all believe this is an excellent strategy to ensure the future success of this important community institution.”
Learn more about the Ferndale Public Library at http://www.ferndale.lib.mi.us/.