Republic file photo The interior of the Bartholomew County Library in downtown Columbus.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Bartholomew County Public Library will soon consider a proposal to recognize a longtime library director who died earlier this year.
The library’s board of trustees voted Monday to approve a “Naming and Name Recognition Policy,” with library director Jason Hatton stating that he plans to bring a proposal at next month’s meeting to honor the late Steve Suckow, who died in January and served as library director from 1967 to 2003.
“Put frankly, the library would not be what it is today without Steve,” Hatton said in a social media post shortly after Suckow’s death. “He built the foundation that we get to benefit from today.”
Suckow’s work included leading the library through the construction of the Columbus branch’s current building and an addition built in 1986.
While Hatton has not yet settled on what to name for Suckow, he mentioned that one possibility is the library’s atrium, as it was the biggest piece of the addition.
The naming policy approved by the board is intended to guide this type of decision, he said.
The policy states that library facilities are typically named in accordance with their geographical location or functions.
“However, BCPL also allows for naming rights and name recognition opportunities, in accordance with the guidelines outlined below, when there is a strong community desire for a specific name for a facility or when the Library Board desires to honor an individual, foundation, or corporation for outstanding service contributions that are consistent with the nature and mission of the library,” the policy states.
For the complete story, see Saturday’s Republic.
