Abby Whitt
Contributing writer
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Director Karim Kahn and Christiansburg Branch Manager Branch Manager Salena Sullivan recently told the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors of the system’s fiscal year accomplishments and plans for expansion in the future.
Compared to fiscal year 2023-2024, FY 24-25 saw a 16% increase in card holders and a 12% increase in use of passport services.
Program attendance increased by 4%, Kahn said July 28, the number of programs offered grew by 2% and the number of eBooks and eAudio resources checked out increased by 14%.
Some of the milestones met this year include the opening of the Lee and Ray Dessy Story Terrace, which Kahn said is used by patrons to read and study outside on nice days, as well as by groups. He noted that it was used for the foam party to celebrate the summer reading program and that a local Girl Scout has installed a pollinator garden.
Kahn said that the library was also “proud and happy” to be a part of celebrating Southwest Virginia Civil Rights Leader Nannie Berger Hairston’s book launch during the fiscal year.
Other milestones mentioned by Kahn include the Free Fridge and Pantry at the Meadowbrook Library (which helps distribute on average about 1,000 pounds of food each month to address food insecurity in eastern Montgomery County), the addition of sensory programming and equipment, and the incorporation of tools for grant seekers, such as a program called Candid.
Future community needs, Kahn said, include the renovation and expansion of both the Christiansburg Library, which opened in 1986, and the Blacksburg Library, which was last renovated in 1996. Neither building currently meets size recommendations set by state Standards for Virginia Public Libraries.
There is also opportunity to service additional communities, such as Prices Fork, Riner and Pilot, Kahn said, either with new library branches or by implementing new practices, including book vending machines, pop-up programs and more.
During the new business portion of the meeting July 28, the board voted to schedule a public hearing for Aug. 25 to hear citizens’ comments on if the Board should adopt an ordinance to establish voter satellite offices for the Nov. 4 General Election.
The proposed offices would be in the multi-purpose room at the Blacksburg Community Center, in the Shawsville Middle School Cafeteria and in the Auburn High School Cafeteria, and they would be used to absentee voting in-person only, according to the draft ordinance.
Members also voted to approve the following:
- A proposed agreement between the county and Public Service Authority in which the county takes responsibility for operations, maintenance and daily management of the organization
- An operation agreement for a partnership between Montgomery, Pulaski and Floyd counties and the City of Radford regarding a collaborative regional opioid abatement project application (Supervisor Anthony Grafsky abstained from the vote)
- Capital Fund appropriations and transfers totaling $31,752,314 for various projects
- A balance carryover from the 305 Roanoke Street project, which is a part of the Capital Improvement Plan (Supervisor Todd King voted against)
- A reconciliation of $670 to the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Funding to stay in line with updated increases from state aid and an appropriation of $95,693 to the Floyd library budget
- An appropriation totaling $12,500 to Engineering Studies for Falling Branch Corporate Park and Elliston Lafayette Industrial Park
- An appropriation of $52,776 for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to use funds collected from school zones purchase Automated External Defibrillators for patrol vehicles and airway clearance devices for facilities throughout the county
- A one-time, $7,500 donation to the Imagination Library of Montgomery County
Note: Many of the funding matters require a public hearing to be finalized.
