County/City Library Committee 9/29/26 at 10:00 a.m.

The City/County Library Committee met on September 29, 2026, to discuss options for closer cooperation or a possible merger of the Minot and Ward County library systems. No contracts were awarded and no purchasing decisions were made. The directors reported that a grant application intended to support collaboration was unsuccessful; they noted that shared systems could enable future joint purchasing or materials processing. Members requested updated budget comparisons for standalone operations and merger options, along with a merger timeline, mill-levy comparisons, and information on a potential joint library board and staff impacts.

Members discussed when to put a merger proposal to voters. A special election was estimated to cost roughly $45,000–$50,000, while prior analyses cited possible annual savings of about $250,000–$400,000 if the libraries combined. Participants weighed a 2027 special election against waiting for a higher-turnout 2028 election, potentially in November; no election date was decided. The committee also discussed protecting the bookmobile and employees, including possible attrition rather than layoffs, and asked the two library boards to meet before the committee’s next meeting. The motions to amend and approve the agenda and to approve prior minutes passed; no spending or procurement motion was taken.