ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
University of Oshkosh-Fox Cities
1478 Midway Road, Menasha
M1319
July 23, 2024
Called to order at 4:02pm by Chair Halverson
Present: Chair Halverson, Vice Chair Golz, Secretary Lane, Trustee Turner, Trustee Witt, Trustee Stojanovic and Superintendent of Schools Zimmerman
Absent: Trustee Franzoi, Trustee Englebert and Teen Rep Lane
Also Present: Director Kopetsky, Programming Services Manager Moore-Nokes, Library Services Manager Raschke and Business Manager Kozerski
Public Comment/Communication
None
Consent Business
A motion was made by Witt, seconded by Golz to approve the Library Board of Trustees meeting minutes from June 25, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.
Authorization of Bills
A motion was made by Lane, seconded by Golz to authorize payment of the July 2024 bills from the 2024 budget and endowment account. Motion carried unanimously.
Updates
Renovation Process Update
Demolition of the library has been completed at the First Street location.
The grounds have been prepped for outside construction. There is a plan for re-landscaping once major work has been completed.
There have been no changes to the original project timeline and it remains on budget. Permits have also been lined up.
Only the public fundraising portion is left to cover. Discussion ensued.
A professional fundraiser looked over the fundraising documents and relayed suggestions and changes to Director Kopetsky.
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library Update
No new updates
New Business
Director’s Report
Director Kopetsky has begun planning for the 2025 budget and the anticipated challenges. There will be no Capital Improvement requests from the library as we are doing our 2024 project now. Discussion on the 2025 budget ensued.
Finances look good at this point despite the shift in spending we have seen as a result of the move and relocation. General discussion ensued.
Director Kopetsky discussed recent concerns in the library field regarding technology infrastructure and security and how it connects to public library patron confidentiality accountability. Discussion ensued.
June Statistics
Despite being closed for 90% of the month, we still had over 7500 circulations. These can be attributed to renewals of items already checked out, along with the digital circulation checkouts from our patrons. General discussion on print versus digital resources ensued.
2024 Budget Status
Budget lines for maintenance and building expenses may see less of a hit than prior years as the library building will be closed to the public for the remainder of the year.
The wages budget line has a jump in expenses due to retirement payouts. This is expected to flatten out as the year continues.
Director Kopetsky would like to have a pool of material funds set aside in service of a new and robust opening day collection upon our reopening at the finished library.
2024-2025 Board Offices and Committees
General discussion on term limits, reappointments and trustee expectations ensued.
The Board’s Governance Committee will meet prior to the August 27th board meeting.
2024 Director’s Annual Performance Review
The Policies and Personnel Committee leads this process.
The August 27th board meeting will include going into closed session for this item.
Approve Board of Trustees Meeting Dates for 2025
A motion was made by Zimmerman, seconded by Lane to approve the proposed dates for the 2025 slate of Elisha D. Smith Public Library Board of Trustees meetings.
The meeting start time will remain 4pm.
Staff Reports
It has been a month of finding solutions and addressing patron concerns as we are now open to the public.
Curbside service will be starting soon.
Circulation and patron traffic has been higher than expected.
Staff is starting to pull together programming for the fall.
Marketing, SMITHworks procedures, and 2025 programming are all projects currently being worked on.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 4:00pm.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made at 5:23pm by Lane, seconded by Zimmerman. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eva Kozerski, Recording Secretary
