ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
Company E Room
July 26, 2022
Called to order at 4:30pm by Chair Halverson
Present: Vice Chairman Golz, Chair Halverson, Secretary Lane, Trustee Stojanovic and Trustee Witt
Absent: Trustee Franzoi, Trustee Turner, Superintendent of Schools VanderHeyden
Also Present: Emily Lane, Director Kopetsky, Moore-Nokes and Business Manager Dreyer
Public Comment/Communication
None
Consent Business
A motion was made by Golz, seconded by Witt to approve the Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from June 28, 2022 and accept the Policies & Personnel Committee meeting minutes of June 23, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.
Authorization of Bills
A motion was made by Lane, seconded by Golz to authorize payment of the July 2022 list of bills from the 2022 budget and endowment fund. Motion carried unanimously.
Unfinished Business
501(c)3 Update
We are working on filling the officer positions.
New Business
Director’s Report
- On July 6, over 200 people attended the Pizza and a Movie night cohosted with Menasha Park and Recreation. We will be cohosting two more outdoor movies: the Dive-In Move on July 28 at the Jefferson Park Pool and Dance Under the Silver Screen on August 17 in Shepard Park.
- We have been holding story time programs at the city parks and Heckrodt Wetland Reserve.
- We are looking into collaborating with The Draw in Appleton, Sweet Lair in Menasha and Cre8lab, a makerspace in Neenah.
- The Winnebago County library directors recently met with the new County Executive Jon Doemel and his assistant. We had a conversation about how the county funding mechanism works and its importance in helping libraries provide services to their community.
- We have two people from Todd Steven & Associates, Inc., an occupational development organization working with people who have disabilities and cognitive delays, working in our circulation department and in SMITHworks.
- Victor Flores developed a partnership with Fox Valley Literacy to serve Hispanic patrons with English learning at the library.
June Statistics
We are still behind 2019 levels on most print materials – but not by much. Young adult circulation is 25% higher. DVD circulation is at about 40% of 2019 levels and eBook usage has plateaued overall but is 27% higher than 2019. Library programming has been strong considering we were unable to do much the first part of the year. SMITHworks is projected to have 4,000 people using the space in 2022.
2022 Budget Status
Trustees reviewed the 2022 budget status.
Approve Recommended Changes to the Organizational Structure Policy
Motion made by Witt, seconded by Lane, to approve the recommended changes to the Organizational Structure Policy as noted in the Policies & Personnel Committee meeting minutes of June 24, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Appointment of Teen Rep on Board
Motion made by Golz, seconded by Stojanovic to appoint Emily Lane as the library’s teen representative. Motion carried unanimously.
MPL YOUmedia Site Designation
Kopetsky is recommending that the library become designated as a YOUmedia site. YOUmedia Learning Labs are models of how to engage and encourage youth in self-directed learning. SMITHworks is based on this approach. A 2019 survey showed that the YOUmedia Learning Labs Network serves over 300,000 youth annually. Their national network enables practitioners to connect, share programs and engage in high-quality professional development. All labs in the YOUmedia Learning Labs Network are eligible for national grants, corporate sponsorships and other funding streams. This item was tabled for more information.
Meeting Time and Day
Motion made by Lane, seconded by Stojanovic to change our meeting time to 4:00pm. We would continue to hold the meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Motion carried unanimously.
Staff Reports
Self-check installations are complete. Moore-Nokes gave us a demonstration on how they work.
The summer reading program is going well.
Our next board of trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 4:00pm
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made at 5:49pm by Lane, seconded by Golz. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Dreyer, Recording Secretary
