Davis agrees to take over Kaysville library

FARMINGTON — Davis County commissioners on Tuesday approved the merger of the Kaysville Library into the Davis County Library system — a move that came after long debate.

"It's a lot more than just handing over some keys, I'll tell you that," Kaysville Mayor Brian Cook said.

Effective immediately, Kaysville residents can apply for free passes to the county libraries, though the Kaysville branch will not bring books in from the county system until the merger is official next July. At that point, the library will close for renovations. It will open with new employees and up to 600 square feet of additional space.

Kaysville City Council's split-vote on the merger prompted an employee walk-out last week. Employees and the library board have long opposed the merger, citing the historical significance as the first city library and a desire to keep their system. With the merger decided, full-time employees face losing their jobs next year. The board will dissolve.

For current employees, the county offers little hope. They will be allowed to apply for new positions, but the system is merit-based and the Kaysville library staff will start at the bottom.

Davis County library director Pete Giacoma calls the hiring process "open competition," which doesn't permit keeping the current staff at their positions.

"I'm still very worried about the status of our employees," said Bruce Allen, library board chairman. "The county has not given one millimeter on the position and I strongly feel that they ought to be fairly treated and transitioned into the county."

Cook has worked to guarantee some sort of job to the library's four full-time employees. If they don't work at the library, he hopes to find them a different place in the city.

The merger has split the city, with some residents talking about putting an initiative on November's ballot to repeal Tuesday's vote.

County officials plan to counter that effort with their own campaign promoting the benefits of the merger, including the ability of Kaysville residents to access all books in the county system, rather than just one library. That means available checkout items will jump from 53,000 at the Kaysville Library to 575,000 systemwide.

"Having made the decision now, we are not going to be neutral," Giacoma said, adding he believes a new building for Kaysville will go into the county's five-year plan.

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