After an executive session to discuss personnel, the Jackson County Public Library board of trustees looked at preliminary 2024 operating fund budget numbers when the group met Monday at the Crothersville Library.

The budget is available to the public on the Indiana Gateway at gateway.ifionline.org. The public hearing on the budget will be at the regular board meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Seymour Library, and the adoption is at the regular board meeting Oct. 16.

Crothersville Library Assistant Teresa Black gave a report to the board. She has been at the library for more than 16 years. She reported children’s STEAM programs and adult craft programs and book discussions have been popular. Meeting room use also is increasing.

The board also approved a 4% overall increase in assistants’ and janitors’ salaries for budgetary purposes, closing libraries Nov. 17 and 18 during the Evergreen Indiana update and approving up to five staff members to attend the Public Library Association Conference from April 3 to 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.