Library directors meet with legislators
PHILIPPI — Library leaders traveled to Charleston earlier this year for Library Day at the Legislature.
Belington Public Library Director Tamela Smith and her husband, Mike Smith, and Philippi Public Library Director Judy Buckner Larry and Board President Annette Fetty Santilli traveled to Charleston to represent the two Barbour County public libraries.
The delegation met and spoke with many legislators including Delegate Danny Wagner, R-Barbour, and Sen. Dave Sypolt, R-Preston, and Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, at Library Day at the Legislature and the evening’s Legislative Reception hosted by the West Virginia Library Association. The events took place Feb. 5.
The delegation spoke specifically about goals including dedicated funding of public libraries, maintenance of current level grant-in-aid funding to all of the state’s public libraries and the West Virginia Library Commission, passage of legislation allowing a Library Facilities Improvement Fund, an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution on the next statewide ballot in order to have a simple majority approval for all excess levies and the need for school libraries and school librarians in every school.