Montgomery Library Board Revises Bylaws to Prevent Quorum Issues

The Montgomery County Public Library Board voted to amend its bylaws to reduce the number of members required to have a quorum during their quarterly meeting on Jan. 21 in the Montgomery County Public Library.

The amendments were proposed by Board Chairman Jean Kenney during the board’s previous meeting on Nov. 13, where not enough members were in attendance to have a quorum, which allows the board to take official action on business items. The previous bylaws, adopted in 1990, required nine members to be in attendance for actions taken to be considered valid.

The amended bylaws lower the required number of members for a quorum to five members. Other amendments include lowering the number of Montgomery County Board of Commissioner appointees from six to three, lowering the number of Montgomery County Board of Education appointees from two to one, raising the number of terms a board member may serve from two to three, changing the designated election meeting for officers from January to April and changes to the treasurer role.

The amendments received approval from the board members and will be officially voted on in the board’s next meeting.

Library Manager Kelly Stephens also spoke to the board members about her ideas for future events to attract visitors to the library. Her first suggestion was to host a chili cook-off event during the year’s early months, when the event would have little competition and attract more attendees.

“I wanted to do something where I can get the guys, who can get the moms, get the guys and the moms to get the kids,” said Stephens.

Stephens suggested the competition could partner with local businesses and feature multiple categories for chili. The event would be held at the library on a Saturday, with aims to make the cook-off an annual event.

Board members offered Stephens multiple suggestions for the event, such as beginning with a smaller scale and potentially hosting the event on Thursday, Feb. 26, which is National Chili Day.

Stephens also wished to expand the library’s Touch-A-Truck event, in which local first responders bring vehicles and equipment to the library for visiting children to interact with. According to Stephens, the event provides children with a “positive impact” and helps them develop a healthy relationship with first responders and law enforcement.

“It leaves an impression, that positive impact between the police, first responders and firefighters and children,” said Stephens.

Stephens also mentioned the upcoming summer reading program, which will be dinosaur themed. According to Library Director Cameron Asbell, the summer reading program will only be held in June rather than extending into May.

In the library’s financial report, the library has received $12,300.12 in revenue in fiscal year 2026, which totals 36% of its total budgeted revenue, and the library has spent $14,482.24 in fiscal year 2026, which is 42% of its total budgeted expenditures. The board also approved of an amended 2026 budget, which featured higher technology and electricity expenditures due to rising costs.

The board also reviewed a mid-year technology report delivered by Matthew Stembridge, which compared library visitation and usage from fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2026. According to the report, patron visits increased from 820 in FY25 to 2,167 in FY26, total circulation increased from 963 in FY25 to 1,722 in FY26, total computer usage increased from 607 in FY25 to 890 in FY26 and programming attendance increased from 322 in FY25 to 580 in FY26.