The Westchester Public Library received a donation from the estate of one of its long-time patrons, Library Director Lisa Stamm reported at the WPL Board of Trustees meeting Thursday.

Floyd Montgomery, also known as Monty, was “adored by library staff,” according to Stamm, who said Montgomery spent time at the Library each day drinking coffee and reading the newspaper before he passed away in 2016. “Monty was a fixture in the Library and the community, and the Library is very grateful for his generous donation,” Stamm said.

WPL received a check from the attorney handling Montgomery’s estate on Aug. 2. WPL was named in Montgomery’s trust for a donation, but per his wishes, the amount of the donation is not to be disclosed.

34,920 people visited WPL in July. WPL presented 92 programs that attracted 1,577 attendees. 235 people used library meeting rooms. Staff answered 736 reference questions and 190 technology-related questions.

Stamm named some service highlights, including the WPL Comic Con, which attracted 208 attendees, and caterpillars.

Stamm said some Monarch caterpillars were rescued from a field just before it was mowed and have been moved into butterfly enclosures in the Thomas and Hageman Branch children’s departments. When they emerge from their chrysalises, the butterflies will be released back outside.

Stamm reported that representatives from Horizon Bank met with WPL business officials on July 16 to try to remedy some of the software problems related to WPL taking payments with debit and credit cards.

Stamm emphasized that the problem with accepting card payments is only related to the receipt of fee statements and account reconciliation on the Library’s end. Stamm said the internal processes related to accepting the payments are “laden and complex,” and have been slowing down the employees who work with the software for bookkeeping. Patrons paying with cards, on the other hand, can expect their transactions to go off without a hitch.

Though the machines aren’t the problem, Horizon Bank refunded the $1,000 cost of the machines as a gesture of goodwill, Stamm said, and they have been diligently working to help remedy the issues.

The Board held a reorganization, as President Michael Livovich wished to step down. The Board elected Rondi Wightman to serve as President and Livovich to take over her role as Vice-president.

The Board passed a resolution to renew WPL’s commitment to the Indiana State Library’s Consortium for Public Library Internet Access, which allows WPL to take advantage of federal funding from the E-rate telecommunication discount program.

The Board also approved the 2019 budget for publication.