ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
Company E Room
February 27, 2024
Called to order at 4:01pm by Chair Halverson
Present: Trustee Englebert, Trustee Golz, Chair Halverson, Secretary Lane, Trustee Stojanovic, Trustee Turner; Trustee Witt and Superintendent of Schools Zimmerman (arrived at 4:05)
Absent: Trustee Franzoi and Teen Rep Lane
Also Present: Director Kopetsky, Winnefox Director Clairellyn Sommersmith, Programming Services Manager Moore-Nokes, Library Services Manager Raschke, Business Manager Dreyer and Librarian Kozerski
Public Comment/Communication
None
Consent Business
A motion was made by Lane, seconded by Turner to approve the Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from January 30, 2024. Under planning process, it should say Menasha Market Shopping Center not Menaha. Motion carried unanimously.
Authorization of Bills
A motion was made by Golz, seconded by Englebert to authorize payment of the December(3) 2023 bills from the 2023 budget and the February 2024 bills from the 2024 budget and endowment account. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates
Planning Process Update
⦁ EUA is currently working on a final design.
⦁ The RFP is due by this Thursday, February 29.
⦁ The next step will be to review vendor proposals with other city departments as soon as possible.
⦁ Kopetsky is looking to finalize the lease agreement for the Menasha Market Shopping Center (Shopko Plaza). He is waiting to hear back from them.
⦁ Once the lease is signed, Kopetsky will be able to contact moving companies with dates and final closure dates can be determined.
⦁ On March 12, the library board of trustees will review and vote on the RFP recommendation with a common council vote to follow.
⦁ There was a discussion of changes of building renderings over the course of the project.
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library Update
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library will hold its annual meeting on Monday, March 25. Kopetsky will be presenting the building project to the Friends at that time.
New Business
Director’s Report
⦁ There was a 6% bump in circulation over last year’s numbers.
⦁ Staff met as a group on February 14 to discuss the building project.
⦁ Our 2024 expenses to date are on track.
January Statistics
⦁ There will be a shift and impact in statistics as the move gets closer.
2023 Annual Report to Wisconsin’s Department of Instruction
⦁ Kopetsky is pleased with the relationship between the library and the Winnefox Library System this year.
⦁ Motion for approval was made by Witt, seconded by Lane to state on the annual report that in 2023 the Winnefox Library System did provide effective leadership and adequately met the needs of the library. Motion carried unanimously.
County Resolution (formally known as: “Resolution for Library Policy to Protect Children from Harmful, Sexually Explicit Material in Areas Designated for Minors.”)
⦁ Winnefox Director Sommersmith updated the board on the impact of this resolution and how the library would be required to comply.
⦁ The resolution was pulled off Winnebago County Board of Supervisors agenda for this evening’s county board meeting. This, or a similar resolution, could be proposed at a later date.
⦁ Discussion on the practicality of complying with the resolution and what policies currently exist at the library level.
Staff Reports
⦁ Staff is working on preparing for a move to a temporary location. This includes: weeding, cleaning and organizing.
⦁ We have partnered with A Better World Books for our weeded materials.
⦁ There are still many programs in March and April.
⦁ Staff is looking ahead to summer and would like to restart programming around or after the first week of July.
There will be a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 4:00pm. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 4:00pm.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made at 5:37pm by Lane, seconded by Witt. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eva Kozerski, Recording Secretary
