Johnston steps in as new BHC Library director

Big Horn County Library has a new interim director following the retirement of Tina Ely at the end of June. Barbara Johnston of Greybull was appointed last month to fill the position for a period of six months. Johnston served as a librarian at the Basin branch since February following a career as a senior living controller. 

Numbers are Johnston’s specialty, and she gave a rundown of the libraries’ for her first director’s report: 

“So, our overall circulation at Basin was down from last year by 11%, which makes me nervy. But we’re up 2%in Greybull and 1% in Lovell. So, to me that tells me that our goal is to get Basin to draw more people in,” Johnston said. She noted that hours open were decreased 7% in Basin, 6% in Lovell and increased 2% in Greybull. 

Johnston noted that Big Horn County School Dist. No. 4’s switch to a four-day school week will require the Basin library to offer more Friday opportunities. Attendance at Basin programs last year was up 4% with 26% less staff. 

“Greybull blew the doors off and they were up 16% in attendance,” Johnston said. “Lovell was down 22%, which I’m not sure I believe that number. I mean, that’s the numbers they reported, but I’m not sure because they seemed like they had a lot of good attendance.”

During his financial report, accountant Troy Butler gave a rundown of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget’s final numbers. He reported admin expenses came in at 93% of budget, payroll at 94% of budget. Buildings and grounds maintenance came in well under-budget at 38%. 

“That’s mainly going to be due to Lovell,” Butler said. “Cathy (Collins) was mowing the lawn; she was doing everything there, so saved a lot of costs there.”

Total expenses were 10% under budget, $240,000 was left in the operating and petty cash accounts at the end of the fiscal year, up by $30,000 from the prior year, and net income was $45,908 for the fiscal year. Butler attributed this to income from donations and a cut in expenses. 

Library board members reported that Big Horn County commissioners had informed them the library budget should stay the same in the next fiscal year, though no final budget numbers have been received from the county. 

OTHER NEWS

- No decision has been made regarding the library board’s new bylaws, which they moved to change in order to remove two members of the board earlier this year. Former Big Horn County Deputy Attorney Jennifer Kirk previously advised the commissioners that the board members had not been properly removed; the board awaits county advice as to whether the bylaws were properly enacted. 

- The next library board meeting will be moved to Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. 

- Johnston reported the library’s Venmo account has been updated on their website for donations, it had previously been improperly linked.