The next regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Washington Park Library.
Minutes from the September 25, 2025 Board meeting:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
September 25, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Carnegie Library
M I N U T E S
The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph Public Library met on September 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Carnegie Library. Board members in attendance were Bobbie Cronk, Kate Davison, Heidi DeSchepper, Harriet Gordan (via Zoom), and LaTonya Williams (also via Zoom). Rosetta Ballew-Jennings, Kathie Brunner, Jonht Slayden, and Kyla Ward were absent. Library staff attending were Director Mary Beth Revels, Carnegie Library Branch Manager Jenny Ellis, and Administrative Assistant Katie Green.
Bobbie Cronk called the meeting to order, and the roll call was taken.
Upon review of the August 28, 2025 meeting minutes, LaTonya Williams moved and Heidi DeSchepper seconded that the minutes be approved as written. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Under the Report of the Treasurer, Heidi DeSchepper moved and Kate Davison seconded to approve checks #35723 through #35763, August electronic withdrawals, direct deposits, and journal entries. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Bobbie Cronk presented the August Financial Reports. She and Mary Beth Revels met with accountant Tim Gawatz to go over the reports in detail. Kate Davison moved and Harriet Gordan seconded to accept pages 9-24 of the financial report as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
There were no Committee Reports.
Under Old Business, Mary Beth Revels presented the new format of the Library Projects Overview. Mary Beth discussed a newly discovered solution to the all-in-one self-serve printing and scanning solution to use at all four branches and announced that the new security cameras that the Board recently approved for the East Hills Library are scheduled to be installed in the next few weeks.
Mary Beth Revels presented four edited policies for review and approval. The policies were reviewed and approved by attorney Mark Woodbury. The “Public Computers and Internet Policy” was presented and discussed. Kate Davison moved and LaTonya Williams seconded to approve the proposed changes to “Public Computers and Internet Policy” as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
The “Public Services Policy” was presented and discussed. Heidi DeSchepper moved and Harriet Gordan seconded to approve the “Public Services Policy” as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
The “Unattended Minors Policy” was presented and discussed. Mary Beth Revels noted the suggestions made by Mark Woodbury. LaTonya Williams moved and Kate Davison seconded to approve the “Unattended Minors Policy” as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
The “Weapons Policy” was presented and discussed. Heidi DeSchepper moved and LaTonya Williams seconded to approve the “Weapons Policy” as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
There was no other Old Business.
In New Business, the “Behavior Policy” was presented and discussed. Mary Beth Revels again noted the recommended wording submitted by attorney Mark Woodbury. Harriet Gordon moved and LaTonya Williams seconded to approve the “Behavior Policy” as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes”. Motion carried.
Next, Jenny Ellis, Branch Manager at the Carnegie Library, talked about the program series, Saturday Cinema at Carnegie. With this four-week series, grant funded outdoor movie equipment is utilized, and families can experience watching outdoor movies in their neighborhood.
There was no other New Business.
In the Director’s Report, Mary Beth highlighted the guttering and fascia repair at the Washington Park Library, the Friends of SJPL Children’s Book Sale at the East Hills Library, and the program True Crime Time, that moved from the Downtown Library to the East Hills Library.
Under Board Discussion, Bobbie Cronk and Mary Beth Revels shared information about Books, Beers & Boos, the St. Joseph Public Library Foundation fundraiser that will be held at the Downtown Library on October 10, 2025.
There was no other Board discussion or public comment.
The next meeting will be October 23, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., at the East Hills Library.
There being no further business, Heidi DeSchepper moved and Kate Davison seconded to adjourn the meeting. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” The motion carried.
Harriet Gordon
Secretary