About the Beecher Community Library

When you come into the library to check out a book, it is a simple procedure. Do you ever think about the "behind-the-scene" actions which make it possible?

Like any successful operation or business, there are different people responsible for different areas of operation. With the Beecher Community Library there are three groups of people involved: the Library Board of Trustees, the Library Director and staff, and the library patrons.

The Beecher Community Library is the physical operation of the Beecher Public Library District. It is tax-supported by the property owners and businesses within the library district. Boundaries of the district are Offner Road (south side of road) on the north, State Line Road (west side of road) on the east, Country Line Road (north side of road) on the south and Crawford Avenue (east side of road) on the west.

The operation of the Beecher Community Library is the responsibility of the seven Library Trustees, who are elected by the voters to serve 6-year terms. Current Trustees and their offices are Shirley Biery, president; Brad Coats, vice-president; Kathy Czarnicki, secretary; Beverly Wehling, treasurer; Gwen Dean, Dawn Wrobel and Lance Saller.

The Library Board of Trustees meet on the second Tuesday of each month through October, 2008. Meetings shift to the third Tuesday of each month beginning in November, 2008.. Meetings are held in the Beecher Community Library at 7 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.

The Library Board of Trustees is responsible for the following areas:

• Conduct monthly board meetings to handle overall operation and maintenance of property and grounds
• Collect tax revenue
• Budget tax revenue to cover costs of operation
• Adopt policies, with recommendations from the Library Director
• Review concerns from library patrons

The daily operation of the Beecher Community Library is the responsibility of the Library Director.. Her responsibilities include:

• Operate library on a daily basis
• Train and supervise staff and volunteeers
• Establish and maintain collection materials
• Implement library policies as adopted by Library Board of Trustees

The third group involved with the library are the patrons. They are the ones served. However, they share in the successful and efficient operation of the library. They are responsible for:

• Their personal library card
• The care and return of borrowed materials
• Overdue fines and costs of damaged or lost materials
• Respecting and abiding by library policies

The Beecher Community Library continues to grow -- both in the number of library partons and the volume of materials. With this growth, it is important for everyone to understand the over-all operation and areas of responsiblity. With everyone's cooperation, we can look forward to a bright future.

If anyone would like more information, they are welcome to attend a Library Board Meeting or to talk with the Library Director.

Regular library hours are Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.