Staffing changes, summer programming, and new library services were among the key topics discussed during the Churchill County Library Board of Trustees meeting May 28, as trustees also reviewed policy updates and plans to fill a vacant board seat.
During the library director's report, Library Director John Hong discussed several staffing and program updates. The children's services librarian resigned, and the former events services librarian was promoted into the role. Hong said the library is accepting applications for an adult services librarian position through June 7.
Hong reported attending the 2026 Nevada Library Association Conference in Henderson and a library leadership summit. He announced the library recently added access to Ancestry Library Edition, allowing patrons to use genealogy research databases while connected to library computers or the library's Wi-Fi network.
Hong highlighted the library's Summer Reading Program, which will kick off June 6 from 10 a.m. to noon and will feature magician Larry Wilson, a bounce house, cotton candy, crafts, and other family activities. The event is sponsored by Financial Horizons Credit Union and Credit Media. Library staff expect about 200 attendees at the kickoff and roughly 500 participants throughout the summer reading program.
The board also reviewed Module 5 of the Nevada State Library Trustee Training, which covers the importance of policies involving collection development, intellectual freedom, patron privacy and confidentiality, and materials selection. During the discussion, trustees identified potential new policies, including an unattended children policy and a public solicitation and advertising policy. No action was taken.
Human Resources Director Joe Sanford discussed the library director evaluation process with the board, explaining that the evaluation must be conducted during a public meeting. Trustees complete evaluation forms rating the director in several areas, including public relations, management, professional conduct, responsibility, and overall performance.
Sanford said Human Resources compiles the individual evaluations into a combined score and summary of comments, which becomes part of the public record. Trustees also discussed the timeline for the annual evaluation, how the library's strategic plan may factor into the review process, and whether employee feedback could be considered in future evaluations.
Trustees reviewed the process for filling the vacant board seat. The position has been advertised, and applications are available through the county website and the Human Resources Department. Applications will be reviewed by Human Resources and the County Manager's Office before a recommendation is brought back to the board for consideration.
In other business, the board approved the April 2026 budget report and Library Gift Fund Report. Trustees also approved three full-day library closures on June 15, July 20, and Dec. 14 for professional development, training, and internal projects. Board members approved a request for two library employees to work 36-hour schedules during the summer reading session.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 25 at 3 p.m.
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