The Marshall Public Library Board of Trustees met Wednesday, March 12, to discuss the results of a patron survey and to consider enabling parents to have more control on what materials children can check out.

Library Director Amy Crump said gave the board an update on how the survey is going for targeted uses of the library.

As of the morning prior to the evening meeting, the staff had collected 99 surveys.

"Ninety-nine is a pretty good response," Crump said.

The survey was asked for after the many months of debate on paperback versus hardback purchases for the library. Elderly readers have been requesting that more paperback books be purchased because hardback books are hard to handle because of weaker hands.

The survey asks library patrons 17 questions regarding their main reason for visiting the library; the frequency of coming to the library; types of books, magazines and newspapers they read; the notification options; usefulness of the library's collection; the studiousness of the library; and if they use the genealogy room.

To help improve the library, the facility has two new features that are making staff and patrons very responsive to the work completed.

The new handicapped accessibility doors are installed and in full use now.

"Are the new doors well received?" Elsea asked.

"They are used all the time and they love it," Crump said. Mothers pushing strollers use the doors a lot, too, she said.

The genealogy room has a new drop ceiling with insulation above the ceiling to cut down on noises from upstairs. It was an issue the genealogy staff had brought the board's attention to a few months ago.

Crump also reported that she was approached by a mother who has a 10-year-old son.

Her son had checked out a book that she thought he should not read but had no problem with the library offering it for others to read, according to Crump.

"I think giving involved parents the option is great," Crump said.

With the board's permission, Crump said she would check around and see what other libraries offer for parental control as well as contacting the company who supplies the computer system for checking out books from the library.

At this point, there is nothing in place for parental controls. The option Crump is looking into would be a broad one, such as parents can say their children cannot check out Young Adult (YA) books or Restricted (R-rated) movies. The library will be unable to break it down to genres.

"It has to be broad," Crump said. "The rest is on the parents."

"I think it's an excellent idea," said Katye Elsea, board member.

"I think it's a wonderful thing to offer, if we can," said President Anita Wright.

Crump said the system is ready for an upgrade in April anyway, but the question is whether such a system is feasible and advisable.

The board gave approval for Crump to put together a committee of three staff members and three board members to do research on possible options and come back to the board with a proposal.

The next board meeting will be Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the library's conference room.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net