The next regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Carnegie Library.
Minutes from the March 27, 2025 Board meeting:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
March 27, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Washington Park Library
M I N U T E S
The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph Public Library met on March 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Washington Park Library. Board members in attendance were Joshua Bachman, Rosetta Ballew-Jennings, Bobbie Cronk, Harriet Gordon (via Zoom), David Jordan, Jonht Slayden (via Zoom), Kyla Ward, and LaTonya Williams (via Zoom). Heidi DeSchepper was absent. Mary Beth Revels, Karen Schultz, Kirstie Healey, and Katie Green were present from the staff.
Kyla Ward called the meeting to order, introductions were made, and the roll call was taken.
Upon review of the February 27, 2025 meeting minutes, Rosetta Ballew-Jennings moved and David Jordan seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Under the Report of the Treasurer, Bobbie Cronk moved and David Jordan seconded to approve checks #35394 through #35436, February electronic withdrawals, direct deposits, and journal entries. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Bobbie Cronk presented the February Financial Reports. She and Mary Beth Revels met with accountant Tim Gawatz and no new concerns were noted. Joshua Bachman moved and Rosetta Ballew-Jennings seconded to accept pages 9-20 of the financial report as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels reported that she is working on next year’s budget and has enlisted the help of volunteers from the Administrative Council. She discussed strategies the library is taking to manage rising expenses.
Under Reports of Committees, Rosetta Ballew-Jennings explained the procedures the Personnel Committee is using to distribute and gather SJPL staff-completed questionnaires to evaluate Mary Beth Revels’ performance. The Questionnaire is scheduled to close April 7.
There were no other Committee Reports.
Under Old Business, Mary Beth Revels discussed the ongoing projects list, highlighting a few projects. She talked about the upcoming switch to Ingram as the primary source for books and DVDs and applying for a grant to update how SJPL covers book.
There was no other old business.
Under New Business, Mary Beth Revels presented items for Policy Review Updates. The Board of Trustees Bylaws were distributed for review and later discussion. Updates to the Confidentiality of Patron Records were presented and an edit was suggested. Bobbie Cronk moved and David Jordan seconded to approve the Confidentiality of Patron Records policy as edited. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented a new Cybersecurity Policy and an edit was suggested. Joshua Bachman moved and Bobbie Cronk seconded to approve the Cybersecurity Policy as edited. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the Investment Policy for discussion and approval. Jonht Slayden moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to approve the Investment Policy changes as discussed. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the Meetings & Records Policy with updates for discussion and approval. David Jordan moved and Bobbie Cronk seconded to approve the Meetings & Records Policy as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Karen Schultz, Branch Manager of the Washington Park Library, discussed potential grant applications for updating the furniture and repairing sidewalks and outdoor steps. The branch is hosting the Summer Reading Program kickoff party. Kirstie Healey, new Senior Library Assistant at the branch, talked about how she’s promoting the library and the weekly programming for patrons of all ages.
Under other new business, Harriet Gordon discussed introducing Social Workers into the libraries to help with the uptick of trans-institutionalized patron population, utilizing Missouri Western students that are needing practicum hours to complete their degrees.
There was no other new business.
In the Director’s Report, Mary Beth Revels discussed February outreach events, showed photos of the Downtown Children’s Department’s repairs completed by Chad Sawyer, and announced that there will now be four new graduates at Saturday’s Gale Excel Adult High School commencement ceremony, noting that David Jordan will speak and Hannah Dixon will play violin at the event.
There was no board discussion.
There was no public comment.
The next meeting will be on April 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., Downtown Library.
There being no further business, LaTonya Williams moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to adjourn the meeting. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Harriet Gordon
Secretary