ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
Company E Room
August 22, 2023
Called to order at 4:03pm by Chair Halverson
Present: Trustee Golz, Chair Halverson, Secretary Lane, Trustee Turner, Trustee Witt and Superintendent of Schools Zimmerman
Absent: Trustee Franzoi, Trustee Stojanovic, and Teen Rep E. Lane
Also Present: Director Kopetsky, Programming Services Manager Moore-Nokes, Library Services Manager Raschke and Business Manager Dreyer
Public Comment/Communication
None
Consent Business
A motion was made by Turner, seconded by Lane to approve the Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from July 25, 2023 and August 9, 2023. Motion carried unanimously.
Authorization of Bills
A motion was made by Lane, seconded by Zimmerman to authorize payment of the August 2023 bills from the 2023 budget and endowment account. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates
Planning Process Update
(Details in the EUA re-engagement and preliminary 20234 budget.)
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library Update
Friends is planning a used book sale the beginning of November.
New Business
Director’s Report
In fall, we will be starting a bi-weekly crafting program in the children’s room and a date night series that we are co-sponsoring with the Park and Rec. Department.
September is new library card month.
The Winnebago County libraries met on August 17 to discuss the county funding request. We should be getting a modest increase in our library’s funding based on the current formula. We will see a decrease in Calumet County funding due to reduced circulation to Calumet residents and unanticipated consequences of COVID-19 on the negotiated funding formula.
July Statistics
Program attendance, computer usage and meeting room usage continued to increase. We have seen a 30% increase in program attendance so far this year. Last week, the makerspace had 131 attendees – the busiest week to date.
2023 Budget Status
Trustees reviewed the 2023 budget status. We are on target.
The library received the annual distribution from the Endowment Pool Fund which was temporarily put into the general fund. The Finance & Investments Committee is recommending that we transfer $3,439.34 into the technology line, $1,500 into teen programming, $1,500 into adult programming and keep the remaining $1,000 in the general fund for apparel for outreach staff and t-shirts for staff.
The Finance & Investments Committee is also recommending that we make our annual transfer from the Memorial Fund held at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Inc. to the checking account held at Nicolet National Bank as follows as per the donor:
10% from the Graves Fund for children’s materials
5% from the Howe Fund for children’s materials
5% from the Vollmer Fund for children’s materials
5% from the Loescher Fund for craft books and programs
Motion made by Lane, seconded by Golz, to approve the two recommendations by the Finance & Investments Committee as stated above. Motion carried unanimously.
2024 Library Wage Scale
Trustees reviewed the Carlson Dettmann wage scale. Motion made by Lane, seconded by Witt to approve the wage scale as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Preliminary 2024 Budget
The Finance & Investments Committee reviewed the preliminary 2024 operating budget. They made changes to materials and dues/memberships/licenses. The city has not yet received the numbers for health insurance. Motion made by Zimmerman, seconded by Lane to approve the preliminary budget with the changes recommended by the Finance & Investments Committee. Motion carried unanimously.
The Finance & Investments Committee is recommending that the library request $250,000 for final library design for the renovation project from the capital improvement budget. Motion made by Witt, seconded by Zimmerman to approve this request. Motion carried unanimously.
Re-Engage EUA in Design Process
Before we go into the fundraising phase, it was recommended that we get additional renderings and better cost estimates. Motion made by Lane, seconded by Turner that we ask EUA for 4 additional renderings at a cost of $14,000. Motion carried unanimously.
Staff Reports
- Library Assistant Eric Seyler starts tomorrow. He also works for the Neenah Public Library.
- Circulation staff is working on cross training.
- Librarian Sam Krasny is focusing on early grade school age programs.
Our next Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 4:00pm.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made at 5:08pm by Turner, seconded by Golz. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Dreyer, Recording Secretary
