HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board Minutes 02.08.2022MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
Library Board
02/08/2022 06:00 PM
Laurel Public Library
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
X Katie Fjelstad
X Kate Manley
X Nancy Schmidt, Secretary
X Clair Killebrew — Foundation Liaison
OTHERS PRESENT: None
1. Public Input
X Arthur Vogele, Board Chair
Samantha Barnhart
Vacant
Citizens may address the committee regarding any item of city business not on the agenda. The duration for an
individual speaking under Public Comment is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the
committee will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
a. Addressing the Board -None
2. General Items
a. The minutes for January 2022 were presented for approval by the Library Board members. Kate
motioned the minutes be approved, Katie seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
b. The library received a $50 donation from Ray Wells and $55 donation from the Tuesday Bunco
group. Geralyn Stevens gave the Board a Thank You card for her commemorative stone for her
garden. She also included a photo of the stone.
c. Circulation Report - Traffic: up 22.3%; circulation: all items circulated totaled 3,950 (including
500 eBooks), book circulation was up 10.6%, media circulation was down 2.5%, eBook
checkouts for this month was 14.2% of total book circulation, we circulated 855 items to
partners and 185 items from other libraries; computers: internet use was up 44.1%, children's
use was even, wi-fi use down 5.1%; patron cards: city patrons make up 63.9% of registered
users, county 32% and out of county users make up 2%. There were 74 tech assists in January.
3. New Business
a. The group, Celebrate Recovery, has asked for use of the Community Room. Their current
meeting location is closing in May, hence the need for a new location. After discussion, it was
decided that Celebrate Recovery would be allowed to meet after hours in the library.
b. Riverstone Health has asked that we partner with them to distribute test COVID test kits. They
will make about 500 kits available for area residents. One per household member can be given
out without a cap on amount allowed.
c. Darlene will be unable to clean the library for a couple of months. She fell and broke both of
her wrists, requiring her to need surgery. Library staff will clean major areas until she is able to
return.
4. Old Business
a. Nancy gave an update on the hotspot program at the library. These are currently provided by
the State Library under funding grants through ARPA. The sunset date on this program is
looking to be December 2022. For the library to maintain the use of the hotspots it would cost
us about $40 per month/hotspot. That is not looking doable for us right now. We also have
iPads and HP ProBooks available for patrons to check out but no management software to track
them with. Eli has proposed that we not push the checkouts until the State Library releases
them to us fully and then purchase the software needed for tracking the items.
b. Nancy reported that she talked with Mayor Waggoner about the Board positions that will be
opening. Samantha is not going to renew her position on the Board for another term so we will
need a replacement starting July 1. It was decided to let Samantha finish out this term and have
someone appointed beginning in July rather than try to fill out the remaining 6 months and
appoint someone after that time period. The position help by Emelie Eaton will be vacated and
a vacancy announced so others may apply to fill out the rest of the term which ends in 2024. If
needed a meeting will be set up between Mayor Waggoner, City Attorney, and Board Chair
(Arthur) to decide how to choose the next Board member.
5. Other Items
a. The Federation meeting is scheduled for March 22, 2022 online at 4:00 pm. Anyone interested
in attending may ask for the Zoom link or attend with library personnel in the Community
Room.
b. Mike and Nancy are still trying to use up their extra vacation hours. They will start to take part
of the day off when time allows.
c. Kate recommended listening to the podcast by Heather Cox Richardson concerning the current
ideals on book banning in other states.
6. Announcements
a. Next regular meeting is Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Community Room of the
Laurel Public Library.
Motion to adjourn: Kate, seconded by Katie. Meeting adjourned at 7:01 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy L Schmidt
Library Director
Secretary for the Board
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of listed agenda
items.