Lovell council hears cry for help from Big Horn County Library

The Lovell Branch Library and the Big Horn County Library system in general is in dire straits without some funding assistance, library representatives told the Lovell Town Council at the February 10 regular meeting.

Library director Tina Ely and local library manager Cathy Collins spoke to the council about the challenges facing the library system in the wake of recent budget cuts that promise to be even deeper in the next budget.

Lovell’s first library opened in October of 1922, Collins said, and moved to its present location in 1972. An expansion doubled the size of the facility in 2010. She added that the library mission statement reads that the “Big Horn County Library system encourages lifelong learning by providing resources that enrich our communities.”

 The library serves thousands of people, Collins said, reporting that in January of 2026, a typically slow month, the Lovell branch showed a door count of 1,225 people who checked out 2,670 books, and the library hosted 19 programs that included preschool story time, preschool music group, teen and adult art classes, Lego club and book clubs.

Looking back to a busier month, Collins reported that June of 2025 saw 2,956 people come through the doors, checking out 3,731 books, and the summer reading program had 252 participants. Patrons can sign up for a variety of services including blood pressure kits to check out, STEAM activities, notary exam proctoring and take-home crafts.

There are currently four part-time employees and six volunteers at the Lovell branch.

“We work really hard to provide these services for our community, and we feel that we are a vital resource and part of our community,” Collins said.

Addressing the financial difficulties, Ely said the county commission cut the library budget by 20 percent last summer for the 2025-26 fiscal year, “and they are already telling us it’s going to be worse this fiscal year,” she added.

 “Just in Lovell alone, you have lost five hours of open time,” Ely said. “We’ve had to cut it back because we had to cut back staff hours.”

The Lovell branch is currently open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Before the reduction, the library was open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 5 and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 6.

Ely said the library system has asked the commissioners for help with utilities and other expenses but have been rebuffed, adding that the commission issued a veiled threat stating, in essence, “’Well, you know, we only have to support one library (in the county seat, Basin),’ so they’re already saying we’re going to support the main library and Lovell and Greybull can fend for themselves. And it was said very glibly, you know, so I believe them.”

Ely noted that the Greybull library is in a better situation than Lovell because the Town of Greybull owns the building where the library operates, with the space shared by the library and museum.

Ely said the county will take care of major expenses like furnace or door repair, but the branch is on its own when it comes to things like carpet cleaning, snow removal and yardwork.

“Greybull does own the building, and for many, many years they have supported the library completely there. We don’t pay a town bill. They pay our electric bill; they remove our snow. They do our yard maintenance. I mean, it’s a pretty sweet deal, actually, and we know it, and we appreciate it.

“And TCT provides us with free Wi-Fi, so we do get that from them, and we have a really good foundation who supports us in our programs, and our friends (group) support us in our programs. And so we’re OK there. As long as our doors are open, we’re going to be able to take care of our programs. It’s our doors that we’re worried about closing.”

Ely asked the council if there’s anything at all that the Town of Lovell can do to help financially from the water and sewer charges to snow removal, adding, “We’re on a thin edge right now, and it’s going to get thinner. I had said already, they already informed us that they really only have to support one library in the county. Cathy does a wonderful job here in Lovell, and it’s been basically a free service for many, many years, but we need your help now. So if you would consider that, and any questions you might have, if I cannot answer them tonight, I will certainly find that out and get that information to you.”

Mayor Tom Newman said he wasn’t sure what restrictions the town would have in supporting the library financially and would have to check with the town legal counsel.

Councilman Mike Grant asked about actual dollars, and Ely said the county cut $70,000 from the library budget, and the three libraries are now operating on a budget of $180,000.

Asked about grants, Ely replied that grants can pay for programming but not building maintenance, utilities or salaries. She said the library would appreciate anything the town could do, noting of the commissioner, “I don’t think they have too much love for the libraries.”

Scooter and bike ordinances

The council approved on the second of three readings eight ordinances -- 1025 through 1032 -- governing electric scooters and bicycles including definitions, general regulations, reckless and careless riding, lights and reflectors, riding behavior, riding on sidewalks, riding on the roadway and violation penalties. The ordinances are available at town hall for citizens to read and are to be discussed during a work meeting March 3 and likely considered on third reading at the March 10 regular council meeting.

Also of major interest February 10 was the passage of two resolutions regarding fees charged by the Town of Lovell. Resolution 2026-1 modernizes the town public records fee schedule, updating the previous policy and procedures and establishing new fees for staff time, documents, mailing, attorney work and the like.

Resolution 2026-2 updates fees for photocopying, fax sending, returned checks, contractor licenses, parks pavilions, Armory Park amphitheater reservations, fingerprinting, VIN inspections, pet licenses, utility late payment and reconnect, Xpress Bill Pay and use of the community center.

The council approved the resolutions unanimously with councilman Bob Mangus absent.

In other business February 10:

• Nebel reported on the proposed Don Davis subdivision just west of town, saying that the town is in discussion with the town’s legal counsel about what services the town can provide Davis for subdivision infrastructure.

• The council approved beverage catering permits for Aud’s 4 Corners at the community center for the Lovell FFA auction and banquet on March 21 and the Ducks Unlimited banquet on April 18.

• After a presentation by clerk/treasurer Colleen Tippetts, the council approved a letter to the Big Horn County Clerk requesting that the county conduct the 2026 primary and general elections for Town of Lovell offices – mayor and town council.

• The council voted to approve a request from Jane Mitchell for custodial/cleaning fees from $600 to $625 per month and the hourly fee for extra cleaning work from $15 to $20 per hour.

• The council voted to approve a letter of support from the Town of Lovell for the Wild West Dino Den dinosaur museum project in Greybull.

• The council voted to approve a document from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to be recorded with the property deed for Armory Park stating that the park will be retained and used for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.

• Nebel said he is gathering letters of support for the Cottonwood Canyon mountain bike trail system being developed east of Lovell, with funding sought from the Wyoming Legislature via a Recreation Trust Fund grant. He said numerous entities in the Big Horn Basin and the region are in support of the project, which he said would be a world class bike trail system.

The council scheduled a work meeting for Tuesday, March 3, at noon to discuss the trailer ordinance, scooter and bike ordinances and the request from the library.