October 2026 | Director's Report | Minerva Public Library

Director's Report: October 22, 2026

Prepared by Director Jason Bumbico for the October 22, 2026 Board of Trustees meeting

The Library closed early on Wednesday, October 14, due to a power outage affecting the building.
Work continues toward addressing the lower-level water damage. As discussed under New Business, staff recommend proceeding with Pioneer Basement Solutions, whose quote totals $35,935.24.

Staff Development Day was held Monday, October 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and went well, with all regular Library staff in attendance. Don Boozer, Manager of the Literature Department and Coordinator of the Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library, led an hour-long session on the reference interview.
I attended the Ohio Library Council (OLC) Convention and Expo in Sandusky yesterday, Wednesday, October 21.

The Library has been assigned an attorney from the Stark County Prosecutor's Office, Gabriel J. Ernest, for the pending litigation (Case No. 2026CV01879). The Director is awaiting next steps and will update the Board as the case progresses.
On Thursday, October 8, I spoke to Julie Holderbaum's Reader's Workshop class at Minerva High School about how reading has influenced my life.
The Library will once again serve as a polling location for the November General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

We have begun work on the Circulating Art project, with artist submissions opening November 1. We recently secured all the necessary funding with grants from the Ohio Arts Council's ArtSTART program, the Carroll County Foundation, and the Minerva Community Charitable Fund.
Tracy McGuire has recently completed her notary training, and she and Megan Kindelberger will begin offering notary services to patrons in the near future.

The Sensory Room project is underway. The room has been prepared, with the shelves, lockers, sinks, and cabinets removed, so work can begin.
Regular weekly and monthly programming continued through September and into October, including Teen Book Club, Story Time and Book Beginnings, Tiny Tots, and Sit and Stitch.
There will be an MPL Pumpkin Patch program on the Library lawn on October 23 with pumpkin decorating, games, and snacks.

In September, patrons also enjoyed a Sheet Pan Dinners cooking program with OSU Extension (September 14), an Internet Safety and You class with the Stark County Sheriff's Office (September 21), and a Medicare 101 talk with Jay Culler (September 28).
On October 5, the Library hosted "Shawshank and the Ohio State Reformatory," a special presentation on the history behind the film, which drew 21 attendees. On September 17, local historian John Barnett's talk on the history of the Edmund Fitzgerald drew 20 attendees.
The monthly Adult Craft Class continued with "Brick or Treat" on October 13, with 19 attending.
Other programs in October include "It's Alive! An Evening with Frankenstein" with actor Jim Knight on October 19, and an "Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia" program on October 29.
The Library will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving and the day after.

New items added in September 2026 included: