The Jackson County Public Library board of trustees held a public hearing on the 2023 budget during its monthly meeting Monday at the Seymour Library.

The library’s proposed 2023 operating fund budget is $2,898,350.

During the meeting, Lola Snyder, head of youth services, gave an update.

“I believe we are now back to our pre-COVID numbers in our department,” she said. “Before this meeting today, there was a youth program at 4:30 p.m., and it was hopping in there.”

Snyder said more than 1,500 youth had signed up for programs this year. She estimated the most that had ever signed up in the eight years she has been with the library was about 2,000, and the least was during COVID-19 pandemic with 333 signups.

“I was a little disheartened doing everything online, but now, we’re back to doing all of our programming with some modifications for staff,” she said.

Administrator Mary Reed said the Hoopla service is very popular right now. Hoopla, which is free for patrons and commercial-free, is an online streaming service for public libraries that offers films, documentaries, television shows, albums, graphic novels and audiobooks.

Content is always available without wait lists, and items are automatically returned, so there are no late fees. Hoopla is constantly getting new titles from various vendors on a weekly basis.

The board also approved a staff appointment and received an updated report on branch facilities’ costs with the recent increase in hours at both Crothersville and Medora.

The board’s next meeting, which includes adoption of the 2023 budget, is set for 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Seymour Library.