HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board Minutes 12.12.2023MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
Library Board
12/12/2023 06:06 PM
Laurel Public Library
X Katie Fjelstad
X Kate Manley
X Nancy Schmidt, Secretary
Clair Killebrew — Foundation Liaison
X Arthur Vogele, Board Chair
X Lela Schlitz — via Zoom
X Mary Nelson
1. Public Input
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 November 2023 were presented for approval. Arthur motioned the
minutes be approved as presented, Lela seconded the motion. Motion passed.
b. Correspondence — the following were received this month: we received a letter from the
VA clinic in Billings thanking us for bringing them boxes of paperbacks to share with
their patients, we also received a donation from a worker at CHS Refinery via Blackbaud:
Your Cause in the amount of $200.00.
c. Circulation Report — (compared to the same time period as last year) Traffic: down 28.2%;
circulation: all items circulated totaled 3,874 (including 710 e600ks), book circulation
was down 1.5%, media circulation was down 31.8%, eBook checkouts for this month
was 19.5% of total book circulation, we circulated 963 items to partners and 234 items
from other libraries; computers: internet use was down 7.9%, children's use was down
50%, wi-fi use down 53%; patron cards: city patrons make up 66% of registered users,
county is 25.3% and state/out of county has 8.7% of our registered patrons. There were
39 tech assists in November.
3. New Business
a. It is the time of year in which we are asked to look at the amounts we charge for
copies/prints, book replacement, community room fees, etc. The amount that was
decided upon was printed in a new document for board approval. Arthur motioned that
we approve the fees and charges as presented, Lela seconded the motion; motion
passed.
b. Just a quick reminder that we are having a Musical Storytime at the library on Friday,
December 15th at 10:30 am. The program is being presented by the Billings Symphony.
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Fliers will be given to preschools, daycares and kindergarten students to share with their
parents. It will be held in the community room.
4. Old Business
a. Keeping board meetings on the second Tuesday of each month has been determined to
be the best alternative for all members so we will keep that day as our meeting days.
We will visit the meeting days again in the future if needed.
b. The fundraiser (80's Prom) being held by the Laurel Small Business Alliance is going to
benefit the library this year. It is scheduled for Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
Tickets went on sale December 15t for $25 each. There will also be a 50/50 auction, gift
basket raffle, and Pac-Man wall. The members of the Small Business Alliance have
requested that we use the funds for new book shelves as previously discussed.
c. A new book shelving unit has been ordered in anticipation of the funds from the 80's
Prom fundraiser. Library staff have determined that the area in most need it the fiction
section. We will arrange the old shelves and discard those in the worst condition and
move those in acceptable condition of areas that need more shelves.
5. Other Items
a. Upcoming Items:
1. We will be discussing pursuing a mill levy in the next year. It is important to
get the mill levy organized and, on the ballot, as soon as possible. We need
to be thinking about the reasons behind our request for a specific number of
mills.
2. Nancy will be sponsoring a pizza party for library staff on Monday, December
18th at 3:00 pm if anyone is interested in joining us.
6. Announcements
a. The next regular meeting is January 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the library community room.
A Zoom link will be added to the next agenda.
Meeting adjourned at 6:53 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.
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