The next regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the East Hills Library.
Minutes from the October 26, 2023 Board meeting:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
October 26, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Downtown Library
M I N U T E S
The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph Public Library met on October 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library. Board members in attendance were Joshua Bachman, Rosetta Ballew-Jennings, Bobbie Cronk, Harriet Gordon, Jonht Slayden, Kyla Ward, and Tona Williams. David Jordan and LaTonya Williams were absent. Lisa Ransom, Jessica Poet, Jen Wildhagen, and Mary Beth Revels were present from the staff.
President Rosetta Ballew-Jennings called the meeting to order and the roll call was taken.
Under approval of the minutes, Joshua Bachman moved and Bobbie Cronk seconded to approve the minutes of the September 28, 2023 meeting of the Board of Trustees. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the financial reports. Joshua Bachman asked if the library is required to publish the announcement of the tax rate hearing in the local paper. It is not required, and since it is so expensive, the consensus of the Board was to not publish the announcement in the News-Press but continue posting the announcement publicly in the libraries, at city hall, and online. Kyla Ward moved and Tona Williams seconded to approve checks #34415 through #34472, September electronic withdrawals, direct deposits, and journal entries. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the September monthly financial reports. She and David Jordan met with accountant Tim Gawatz to go over the reports. Tona Williams moved and Joshua Bachman seconded to approve the monthly financial reports prepared by library staff and office of Liechti, Franken, & Gawatz, LLC. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels reported that the annual audit is ongoing. The auditor is planning to present the final report at the November Board meeting. There was no other financial business.
Under reports of committees, Rosetta Ballew-Jennings reminded Board members to let her know which committees they are interested in serving on.
Under old business, Mary Beth Revels reported that a staff committee met and ranked long-range plan priority actions in the order they are to be addressed. Some of the first priorities to act on are increasing the number of patrons using the HelpNow homework help and tutoring service by increasing promotional efforts and making sure staff is comfortable talking about it. A staff committee is also working to finalize Collection Development procedures.
Mary Beth Revels reported on the meeting with Lippert Mechanical Service regarding the Downtown Library’s HVAC system. There was discussion about getting a quarterly maintenance agreement for the system so it runs more smoothly, while at the same time continuing to determine how to fix or replace the cooling system. Bobbie Cronk moved and Tona Williams seconded to enter into a maintenance agreement with Lippert Mechanical Service for the Downtown Library’s HVAC system. All Board members in attendance voted “yes”. Motion carried.
There was no other old business.
Under new business, Lisa Ransom, Downtown Library’s Childrens Department Manager, presented information on the Winter Reading Challenge, which will be held in January and is for adult readers this year. The prize for participants reading two books during the challenge is an SJPL mug.
Mary Beth Revels presented an updated Memorandum of Understanding from the Missouri Evergreen Consortium. Tona Williams moved and Bobbie Cronk seconded to sign the updated Memorandum of Understanding. All Board members in attendance voted “yes”. Motion carried.
Jessica Poet presented the 2023 SJPL Foundation holiday cards. These holiday cards will be sold in three local stores. Both the 2022 and 2023 holiday card sets are now available to order and pick up at any of the four branches.
There was no other new business.
Mary Beth Revels gave the Director’s Report. After Dark in the Park at Krug Park went well. The City Council approved a funding request that will benefit the Carnegie Library park. The approved funding will purchase new benches, trashcans, bike racks, and a new water fountain. There is also a request for similar funding for the Washington Park Library. November 17-18 will be a Boozy Book Fair for Adults at The Angry Swede. The Landmark Commission is meeting at the Washington Park Library on November 7, 2023 and will discuss drainage and erosion at the building. Their December meeting will be held Carnegie Library on December 5, 2023 to discuss the roof and skylight.
Under Board Discussion, the board reviewed the Missouri Public Library standards on Services & Programming.
There was no public comment.
The next meeting will be November 16, 2023 at 6:00 at the Carnegie Library.
There being no further business, Kyla Ward moved and Tona Williams seconded to adjourn the meeting. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Tona Williams
Secretary