June 13, 2019 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

STATS UP YTD		STATS DOWN YTD
Collection		Collection	items cataloged
Circulation	City; Waukesha, Washington, & other counties; total circulation; adult & juvenile cardholders; adult & juvenile items; OverDrive; renewals	Circulation	Dodge & Jefferson Counties
Services	visits; reference questions; room reservations; internet uses	Services
Programs	summer reading registration for June 2019 was 2,049 compared to 1,980 registrations for June 2018	Programs	adult programs & attendance; kids' programs & attendance; total attendance

Finance Committee

Members - M. Mulder, D. Knutson, L. Kowieski
Last Meeting - June 12, 2019
Next Meeting - to be scheduled
Reported at the June 13, 2019 Regular Board Meeting.
Meeting Notes -

Mulder called the meeting to order at 5:38 pm.

Members Present - M. Mulder, D. Knutson, L. Kowieski

Review and Discussion

B. Bleck reviewed the budget including the following budget lines -

- - - - Line 321 Book budget - increased by $5,000 based on recent year spending
        
        Line 400 Repair/Maintenance of Buildings - $9,500 was budgeted for replacing flooring in the meeting room
        
        A request has been made to add an adult program assistant position

L. Kowieski recommended creating a budget line for furniture, fixtures, and equipment separate from line 340 Operating supplies. He also recommended reevaluating the donation budget lines and separating restricted/allocated donations from non-restricted/non-allocated donations. He also suggested reviewing the DMV lease to include an annual maintenance fee and monthly storage fee for equipment.

D. Knutson moved to approve the 2020 budget for presentation to the full library board, L. Kowieski seconded.

D. Knutson moved to adjourn at 6:54 pm, L. Kowieski seconded.

COMMUNICATIONS

We received a suggestion in the suggestion box, and as it relates to policy, B. Bleck shared it with the board: “My suggestion is: The Hartland Library has much cheaper fines for movies – I think it is either 10 cents or 25 cents per day. Our library should do the same. My suggestion would benefit: All patrons. I’m sure most people realize they’ve forgotten after a few days, but $1.00/day adds up so quickly. I try to keep on top of everything, but between a job, kids & house, it is easy to lose track of library materials and end up returning them a few days late. I have paid way too much in fines over the years. Please consider this!” Our suggestion slips are anonymous, so I do not have the patron’s name for follow up. (Editorial note: Hartland’s overdue fine for all material types is 10 cents/day.)

LIBRARY OPERATIONS

Over the winter, the library changed the default length of sessions on the public Internet computers from 30 to 60 minutes, as patron feedback indicated this would be well received. B. Bleck gave the board an update that that ‘experiment’ is working well. She would like to keep it as a trial for now, until we see how it works during the summer months. If the trial period continues to go well, the board could consider updating the Public Internet Computer Use Policy to make the change official.

PERSONNEL/CONTINUING EDUCATION

B. Bleck let the board know of the extra effort, commitment, creativity, and long hours library staff have put in the past few weeks as they finish preparing for the summer reading program. Staff worked very long days, worked on their day off, and brought significant others and family to assist, and the results are excellent. The library is decorated to the hilt and looks marvelous, and the reading programs and events are truly impressive. Patron feedback has been effusively positive.

[spacer height="10px"]We have some new trustees on the library board! We welcome Jared Chapiewsky, who will occupy Melissa Krahn’s former seat (City). We also welcome Alderman Lou Kowieski, who will occupy Matt Rosek’s former seat (Mayor/Council representative).

[spacer height="10px"]We have a few new staff: Kate Herne is our Summer Library Program Assistant. She started last week, and has already been a tremendous help to Caitlin Schaffer and Jennie Fidler, our Youth Services staff. We said goodbye to page Cali Jacobs, who left for college May 31. In her place, we welcome Stephanie Christiansen, who started work on June 4.

[spacer height="10px"]B. Bleck was able to share her Crisis Prevention Institute training at the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA)’s Support Staff and Circulation Services conference in Eau Claire. Her presentation was called “Giving Bad News: Never Fun. Often Necessary. Always Survivable!” Marilyn Muehlenberg and B. Bleck both attended the conference, and found it useful and inspiring.

[spacer height="10px"]B. Bleck also got to talk about “Giving Bad News” in an audio interview for a course at UW-Madison’s Information School.

PROGRAMMING

As you are no doubt aware, summer reading has started! In the four days following the ‘soft start’ on June 3, 764 kids, teens and adults have signed up!

[spacer height="10px"]To supplement the traditional adult programming on offer this summer, we have a “Take and Make Craft” available the first week of June and July, while supplies last. That way folks can still enjoy a library program even if their schedule doesn’t allow them to make it to an event at a set day and time.

Consider/Act on approving “Library Board Certification of Eligibility for Exemption from County Library Tax”

Every year, the library board must certify that the library meets certain minimum standards of service, to remain exempt from the county library levy. The library meets all standards. H. Schick moved to approve the "Library Board Certification of Eligibility for Exemption from County Library Tax", D. Knutson seconded

[spacer height="10px"]Consider/Act on approving the 2019 library budget request

The library’s operating budget request was due to the City Finance department May 31, and the capital request was due May 6. B. Bleck submitted a budget that reflects discussion and direction received from the board. The board reviewed the capital requests and 2020 budget submitted. D. Knutson moved to approve the 2020 budget as submitted to the City, K. Nelson seconded.

[spacer height="10px"]Election of Officers

At the May 2019 meeting, the board voted to approve the Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates, as follows:

President (June 2019-June 2020): Matt Mulder
Vice President (June 2019-June 2020): Orlin Foat
Secretary (June 2019-June 2020): Lisa Baudoin

H. Schick moved to approve the election of officers as elected, S. Homberg seconded

[spacer height="10px"]Consider/Act on rescheduling October board meeting

The Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference will take place October 8-11 in Wisconsin Dells. L. Radder and B. Bleck are both planning to attend the conference. The board approved moving the October board meeting to October 17, 2019.

CLOSED SESSION

H. Schick moved to convene into closed session at 7:10 pm per Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) “Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility (Library Director). H. Schick seconded. Motion carried with a roll call vote. D. Knutson moved to reconvene into open session at 7:40 pm, H. Schick seconded. Motion carried.