JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library Association’s Board of Trustees will have a new president in 2018.
According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, the library board recently met and discussed officers for 2018, with current board vice president Joni Blackman expected to assume the role of president for next year.
Blackman will replace Tom Rankin, who is terming off of the board next month.
The board has been faced with challenges and criticism in recent years. A drop in donations from the public, combined with significant reductions in funding from the city has led the library board and executive Director Tina Scott scrambling to find ways to make ends meet. They’ve done so by cutting back on hours of operation, reducing staff size, and also auctioning off the library’s classic art collection, valued at $1.17 million.
So far nine paintings have been sold and have brought in $338,400, with an additional nine paintings going to auction at Sotheby’s tomorrow.
The library’s annual operating budget for this year is just under $1 million.
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