ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
Company E Room
July 25, 2023
Called to order at 4:02pm by Chair Halverson
Present: Trustee Golz, Chair Halverson, Trustee Stojanovic, Trustee Turner, and Superintendent of Schools Zimmerman
Absent: Trustee Eisenach, Trustee Franzoi, Secretary Lane, Trustee Witt and Teen Rep E. Lane
Also Present: Director Kopetsky, Programming Services Manager Moore-Nokes and Business Manager Dreyer
Public Comment/Communication
Trustees welcomed Matt Zimmerman, Superintendent of the Menasha Joint School District, to the Board.
Consent Business
A motion was made by Turner, seconded by Stojanovic to approve the Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from June 27, 2023. Motion carried unanimously.
Authorization of Bills
A motion was made by Zimmerman, seconded by Golz to authorize payment of the July 2023 bills from the 2023 budget and endowment account. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates
Planning Process Update
We will hold a special meeting in August to review details of fundraising for a potential renovation.
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library Update
Friends now have the incorporation documents and 501(c)3. They are looking at a membership drive and used book sale.
New Business
Director’s Report
⦁ The summer reading program wraps up on July 29. We exceeded our total participation from 2022 by about 10%. Launch day was our busiest day.
⦁ On July 26, City of Menasha department heads will be meeting with representatives from Carlson Dettman to review the initial findings of the city’s wage study. The final report will be given to the common council in August. Trustees will need to decide if implementation of a new pay structure is warranted and if so, how to do so. The findings of the statewide library salary study should also be available around this time.
⦁ Kopetsky has begun work on next year’s budget. For the most part, this will be a status quo budget. However, decisions on the library renovation project and the wage study could have an impact.
⦁ Library directors from Winnebago County and the Director of Winnefox met with the Winnebago County Executive and his assistant to discuss the 2024 budget request. Based on the formula used, overall county funding should remain flat for 2024, though Menasha’s funding should see a significant bump.
June Statistics
Overall, our collection statistics have remained consistent in 2023. We have seen moderate growth in the use of digital materials and a continued decline in physical audiovisual materials. In June, the LoT had more circulation than our magazine and audiobook collections. The use of our facility continues to grow. Our program attendance and visitor count has seen double digit growth all year.
2023 Budget Status
Trustees reviewed the 2023 budget status.
Approve Slate of Officers for 2023-2024
Motion made by Turner, seconded by Stojanovic to approve the following slate of officers for 2023-2024:
Jill Halverson – Chair; Bob Golz – Vice Chair; and Carrie Lane – Secretary. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Appointment of Teen Rep for 2023/2024
Motion made by Zimmerman, seconded by Golz, to re-appoint Emily Lane as the library’s teen representative for 2023-2024. Motion carried unanimously.
Committee Assignments for 2023-2024
Finance/Investments: Chair Lane, Franzoi, Golz and Zimmerman
Governance: Chair Halverson, Golz and Lane
Marketing & Resource Dev.: Chair Witt, Halverson and Stojanovic
Policies & Personnel: Chair Stojanovic, Witt and Zimmerman
Building & Grounds: Chair Halverson, Golz and Turner
Approve Days and Times of Board Meetings
Trustees agreed to continue to hold our meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 4:00pm.
Staff Reports
⦁ It has been a busy summer. We have had good program participation.
⦁ Librarian Sam Krasny has jumped in with lots of programming ideas.
⦁ Computer usage – 1,173 sessions and 43,380 minutes were used in June.
Our next Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 4:00pm.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made at 5:36pm by Turner, seconded by Golz. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Dreyer, Recording Secretary
