BEATRICE – The Beatrice Public Library board is becoming an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council. To this point, the board has been a governing body.

"The City of Beatrice has operated under a governing body, since the creation of the library in town. The governing body has a lot more control and authority over the library....essentially the mayor and city council have virtually very little control and authority over the library. At this time in order to make things more efficient, we alter that to make it an advisory body", said City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer.

The city approves the budget for the local public library.

The city council approved ordinance amendments Monday night related to the change. The Library Advisory Board will consist of five members, each serving staggered five-year-terms. The City Council also appointed Laureen Riedesul as Public Library Director. That position will now be appointed by the mayor and council similar to how other department head positions are handled.

The council also appointed to the advisory board, Brandy Coffin, Christine Huls, Robert McClelland, Jason Sutter and Tina Wright. All had served on the library board governing body.