HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Committee - Agenda - 8/24/2023 D August 17, 2023 Dear Library Committee Members, This letter is written to inform you of the Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting is scheduled for 4:00pm Thursday, August 24, 2023. This will be a REMOTE meeting only. Committee members and the public will be able to participate in the Meeting via video (click on JOIN MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING link) and or voice either by using the internet link or phone number below. Microsoft Teams meeting Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 228 391 911 762 Passcode: sE6zmm Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 715-318-2087,,180989732# United States, Eau Claire Phone Conference ID: 180 989 732# Find a local number | Reset PIN Learn More | Meeting options Contact Bayfield County at 715-373-6181 if you have access questions. Any person wishing to attend who, because of a disability, requires special accommodations, should contact the County Clerk’s office at 715-373-6100, at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting time, so appropriate arrangements can be made. Bayfield County Library Committee Bayfield County Courthouse 117 East 5th Street, Washburn, WI 54891 County Board Representatives: Charly Ray Jim Crandall John Rautio Bayfield County Library Representatives: Vicki Redenbaugh, Bayfield; Jennifer McBain, Drummond; Diane Posner, Washburn; Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan Cable/Namakagon; Cassie Fleming, Iron River; Connie Cogger, Northern Waters Library Service Bayfield County Librarians: Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler, Addie Arens, Kristine Lendved, Jared Blanche AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Introductions 3. Public Comment 4. Motion regarding the Minutes of January 18, 2023 5. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Bayfield County Library Funding Plan for 2024 6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2023 BSL Program Projects. 7. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2024 BSL Program Submittals. 8. In Recognition of Kristine Lendved, Forest Lodge Library Librarian, for her Years of Commitment and Service 9. Discussion regarding Wisconsin’s Capital Projects Broadband Grant 10. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Library Awareness Press Release 11. Next Meeting Date: January 17, 2024 12. Library reports 13. Adjournment. Respectfully, Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Administrator On behalf of Bayfield County Library Committee MAA/pat cc: Ashland Daily Press, via e-mail August 24, Library Agenda Narrative Item 5: The Proposed library plan for 2024 as prepared by County Librarians is attached. The traditional allocation of $187,590 is 74% of the total request, slightly above the state required 70%. Historically the County has allocated the difference between 100% County Library Funding and $187,590 to the BSL program. Over the past several years, circulation costs per checkout and actual circs have gone down for some communities. This means their calculated reimbursement from the county has gone down. In order to avoid a reduction, despite lower costs, the county has provided these libraries with the same payment amount as the previous year. In 2024 the proposed assistance in the reimbursement plan is approximately $21,007.61 for the communities of Bayfield and Cable. In addition, increased costs coverage for the communities of Drummond, Iron River and Washburn total $12,239.47. The assistance payments in the amount of $21k and increase cost payments of $12k reduce the available BSL funds. In 2023 BSL funds were $58.6k. In 2024 the amount will be $43.6k if we follow these recommendations, this is about $25k lower than 2023. My recommendation would be to proceed with the recommendation in 2024 as there are not a lot of BSL requests this year, but to study this at the January meeting. In addition, we could consider the broader topic of municipal library funding. Total County Library Funding will increase by $5k in 2024, about a 2% increase overall. While this is regulated by state statute, the importance of city and town funding is critical to the health of local libraries. Should the Committee share a letter with municipalities recommending cost of living increases at the minimum are important for libraries? For the January meeting I think there are a number of potential options to consider discussing, including: A minimum BSL amount, future of BSL, etc. Item 6: 2023 BSL Projects, updates by libraries: The following were approved for 2023. Summary reports for the Iron River and Bayfield projects are included. An interim report is attached for Drummond. Item 7. There are three proposed projects in 2024. Iron River, Bayfield and Forest Lodge. The total is $43,615. Item 9. Attached is a copy of the State of Wisconsin Capital Projects Grant for broadband. Do libraries need to consider improved broadband / wifi in and around their facilities? Applications for funding are due in November, the application process is extensive. The County may be able to assist if there is interest. Item 10. As budget season approaches for municipalities, should this committee help advocate for library advocacy / funding? Should the BC Library Committee write a letter to the editor? Here are some resources: https://www.ila.org/content/documents/rsa_toolkit_revised.pdf Minutes of the: Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting January 18th, 2023 - 5:00 p.m. Meeting Held Remotely Via Teams Members Present: Charly Ray, John Rautio, Jim Crandall, Jennifer McBain, Diane Posner, Cassie Fleming (arrived late), Connie Cogger, Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber (arrived late), Jacqueline Pooler, Addie Arens, Kristine Lendved, Jared Blanche Members Excused: Mary Lynch and Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan Other Members Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator and Paige Terry-Clerk III Items 1 & 2: Call to Order and Introductions: The meeting of the Bayfield County Library Committee was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Abeles-Allison. Introductions of members were made. Item 3: Election of New Chair: Crandall nominated Cogger as Library Committee Chair, seconded by Ray. Abeles-Allison asked for other nominations two times. Motion by Crandall, seconded by Ray to cast a unanimous ballot for Cogger as Library Committee Chair. Motion carried. Cogger took over the meeting as Chair. Cogger nominated Rautio as Library Committee Vice-Chair. Rautio declined the nomination. Cogger nominated McBain as Library Committee Vice-Chair, seconded by Ray. Motion by Cogger, seconded by Ray to cast a unanimous ballot for McBain as Library Committee Vice-Chair. Motion carried. Item 4: Public Comment: None. Item 5: Motion Regarding the Minutes of the August 17, 2022 Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting: Motion by Ray, seconded by Rautio to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2022, Library Committee Meeting. Motion carried. Item 6: Review 2022 and 2023 Building Strong Libraries (BSL) Library Projects: Abeles-Allison reviewed the projects from 2022. All projects are completed other than the new library for the Forest Lodge Library. Pooler reported that the Iron River Library will be purchasing three interactive panels for small children under the age of five or autistic children for their 2023 BSL project. The panels would mount on a wall of the children’s department. Abeles-Allison informed the committee that the Bayfield Library will be purchasing and installing insulated blinds. Arens reported that the Drummond Library will begin its outdoor patio upgrade project in the spring when the snow thaws. Lendved reported that the Forest Lodge library is still in the progress of their new library expansion project, but the library is in the process of revisiting the building plans to downgrade to a smaller footprint to create a more affordable option. The library will be holding a stakeholder meeting to review the new option. Abeles-Allison reviewed the purpose of the Building Strong Libraries (BSL) Program. Item 7: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2024 BSL Program: Cogger pointed out an error in item 4(c) on page four of the 2024 BSL Program that listed the due date for completed project submittal as July 28, 2022 and stated the date should read July 28, 2023. 5:19 p.m. – Cassie Fleming joined the meeting. Motion by Ray, seconded by Fleming to approve the 2024 Building Strong Libraries (BSL) Program with the recommended change in item 4(c) on page 4 to list the due date for completed project submittals as Friday, July 28, 2023. Motion carried. Item 8: Review 2022 Library Budget: Abeles-Allison reviewed the 2022 approved library budget. Item 9: Next Meeting Date: Thursday, August 17, 2023 Item 10: Library Reports: Pendergrass, Washburn Public Library, reported that the library will have a new lift to take customers between floors by the end of January 2023. Pooler, Iron River Library, reported that the library will be holding a dog sledding program at the library later in the night and the library anticipates holding a summer reading program. Lendved, Forest Lodge Library, reported that the library expansion project is being redesigned. The library held a virtual book writing boot camp that had terrific results and will hold another boot camp the following month. Lendved announced that she will be retiring at the end of the year, so the library board is now tasked with finding her replacement. Blanche, Red Cliff Library, reported that the library has now opened up full-time in its brand-new space. The library has hired a new employee that has been working primarily on library outreach to bring citizens into the library. Blanche reviewed a number of events the library has put on and gave informed the committee that he has completed all necessary courses to get his library director certification, he is now working on the necessary paperwork to receive his formal certification. Blanche gave a history of the library to the committee. Arens, Drummond Public Library, reported that traffic has been slow at the library, but reported that she has continued to explore other long-term programming options for the library. The library is exploring the implementation of a seed library that would integrate the number of gardens and gardeners around the area to spread the natural beauty throughout the area by offering seeds to patrons to expand or start gardens or work in the community garden. Arens explained that the library is looking to utilize its limited space by creating a steam corner that would serve as a monthly display for kits that patrons can check out and work on. A new clerk was hired at the library the previous week, but he is only a seasonal employee. 5:40 p.m. – Sherry Machones and Teresa Weber joined the meeting. Machones, NWLS, reported that the Red Cliff Library is now a part of the ILS Consortium. Machones listed a number of grants that the NWLS is pursuing, including the ILS Merger Exploration Grant that would merge the NWLS and the Wisconsin Valley Library Service. Cogger clarified that ILS stands for “Integrative Library Systems.” Crandall reported that the NWLS board will be holding their first in-person meeting in years in March 2023. Machones informed the committee that the NWLS has a full-time tech support position open. Weber, Bayfield Public Library, reported that the library completed its strategic plan the previous summer and listed “building community” as the number one goal to work towards the future. To achieve this goal, the library will be participating in a Blue Moon Community Prom on February 4, 2023. The Library is working collaboratively with CORE to allow prom participants to visit CORE and the Library at no cost and with no requirements. Weber stated that the library will also be working collaboratively with Penny Print on a promotional campaign for citizens to come up with statements on why they think libraries matter so those statements can be printed on signs and shirts. Additionally, Weber, informed the committee that the Bayfield Library received a grant to develop a gaming platform, and the library is working on developing a gaming platform that would take users on a tour around Bayfield. Item 11: Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Fleming, seconded by Ray to adjourn the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Paige a. terry, Clerk III, Bayfield County Administrator’s & Clerk’s Offices On behalf of Bayfield County Library Committee PAT cc: Ashland Daily Press, via e-mail 2024 Bayfield County Library Reimbursement Plan DRAFT Bayfield County Librarians: Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler, Addie Arens, Kristine Lendved 1 Statutory Basis for Reimbursement As provided in Wisconsin Statutes 43.11(3) and 43.12(1), established by Act 150 in 1997, the libraries in Bayfield County are submitting this plan for reimbursement in 2023 to the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors. The reimbursement is for costs incurred by Bayfield County’s five municipal libraries in 2021, which is the statistical year that is the basis for 2023 reimbursement. Act 150 established a county’s statutory responsibility to provide funding for library services for its residents living in municipalities without libraries. As of January 1, 2001, Bayfield County is required to annually reimburse its public libraries at least 70% of their cost of serving patrons who are residents of Bayfield County but live outside the library’s municipality and have no municipal library of their own (hereafter referred to as “Bayfield County patrons”). The basis for reimbursement to each library is the cost to that library of circulating an item such as a book or video or music CD (hereafter referred to as “cost per circulation”), and the number of such items it circulated to Bayfield County patrons (hereafter referred to as “reimbursable circulation”). Table 1 (Forest Lodge Library is a joint library operation between Cable and Namakagon) Recommended Reimbursement in 2024 (with 2023 actual & projected) 2023 2024 $187,590 Change Bayfield Carnegie Library $89,528.47 $97,550 $72,555.61 $16,972.86 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) $7,932.15 $5,240 $3,897.40 $4,034.75 Drummond Public Library $15,441.37 $21,098 $15,692.25 $25.88 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library $27,158.72 $44,260 $32,919.66 $5,769.56 Washburn Public Library $56,081.05 $84,064 $62,525.08 $6,444.03 Total $189,095.18 $252,212 $187,590 1 2 3 Bayfield County has traditionally held the libraries to a flat reimbursement of $187,590 – which for 2024 would be 74.39737-% of a total reimbursement. By statute, counties in Wisconsin are required to fund at no less than 70-% Looking at Table 1, column 3 – left side of the column – this would be the reimbursement for each library under the ‘flat plan.’ This would leave Bayfield and Cable significantly short in reimbursement funding from 2023. Bayfield County has traditionally used the difference between $187,590 and 100-% for Building Strong Library Grants, in 2024 this would be $64,622. If Bayfield County were to fund Bayfield and Cable at the same level in 2024 as 2023, it would require an additional $21,007.61. This would still leave $43,614.39 for granting purposes. 2 Table 2 Reimbursable Circulation to Bayfield County Patrons 2021– 2022 2021 2022 Bayfield Carnegie Library 13,264 14,431 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) 422 386 Drummond Public Library 1,431 1,306 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library 8,626 10,293 Washburn Public Library 8,385 11,338 Total 32,128 37,754 Table 3 Cost per Circulation 2021 – 2022 2021 2022 Bayfield Carnegie Library $8.82 $6.76 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) $15.48 $13.58 Drummond Public Library $12.77 $16.15 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library $4.28 $4.30 Washburn Public Library $9.08 $7.41 Average $10.86 $7.30 Explanation of Reimbursement Formula The reimbursement formula is calculated using circulation and financial statistics collected from each library annually. Every library eligible for reimbursement from Bayfield County under Wisconsin Act 150 must provide to the county clerk, by July 1, the following statistics for the previous year: (1) the total number of items circulated to all patrons; (2) the net annual operating expenditures of the library (total operating expenditures less capital expenditures and any federal funds expended); and (3) the number of items circulated to Bayfield County patrons (reimbursable circulation). These statistics provided to the county by July 1 are used to calculate the following year’s reimbursement. Circulation of materials is the primary measure of library service. “Materials” are defined as books, magazines, videotapes, music CDs, audio books and other items physically circulated by a library. When a patron checks out materials, the number of items and the municipality of that patron are noted. Each item constitutes one circulation for statistical purposes. Each renewal of an item counts as an additional circulation. Net Operating Expenditures  Total Circulation = Cost per Circulation Cost per Circulation X Reimbursable Circulation = Reimbursement 3 Table 4 (The Cost Per Circulation extends beyond the number provided) 2022 Statistics and Recommended 2024 Reimbursement Total Circulation Net Operating Expenditures Cost per Circulation Reimbursable Circulation Recommended Reimbursement Bayfield PL 22,751 $153,792 $6.76 14,431 $97,550 Cable/Namakagon PL 9,169 $124,478 $13.58 386 $5,240 Drummond PL 4,925 $79,562 $16.15 1,306 $21,098 Iron River PL 30,458 $130,946 $4.30 10,293 $44,260 Washburn PL 24,795 $183,840 $7.41 11,338 $84,064 Total 92,098 $672,618 $7.30 37,754 $252,212 Table 5 (percentage of ‘county’ library use) 2022 total circulation vs reimbursable circulation Total Circulation Reimbursable Circulation Reimburseable percentage of checkouts 2022 county funding County funding percentage 2022 Bayfield PL 22,751 14,431 63% $89,528 58% Cable/Namakagon PL 9,169 386 4% $7,932 6% Drummond PL 4,925 1,306 26% $15,441 19% Iron River PL 30,458 10,293 34% $26,139 20% Washburn PL 24,795 11,338 45% $50,054 27% Total 92,098 37,754 41% $189,095 28% Table 5 shows that of the total circulation for libraries in Bayfield County 41% of the checkouts are by Bayfield County residents (reimburseables). Yet, of the total money spent by the libraries just 28% percent is funded by Bayfield County. It should be noted that county funding is a reimbursement for expenses already spent – money ‘earned’ by the libraries, so to speak. Unlike other departments in local government, library funding from the county isn’t for work we expect to do, it’s for work done. Recommendation for 100% Reimbursement While s.43.12(1) allows a county to reimburse libraries at 70 % of their cost of serving county patrons, the Bayfield County Library Committee believes strongly that it is desirable to provide 100 % reimbursement to Bayfield County’s public libraries when it is fiscally possible and responsible to do so. This belief is founded on several considerations: • Wisconsin Act 150 requires Bayfield County to reimburse only library service provided to Bayfield County patrons — not to municipal patrons or vacationers — and its funding to the public libraries is a reimbursement for costs already incurred by the libraries providing service to those Bayfield County patrons. Reimbursement paid in 2023 is for costs incurred in 2021. • Bayfield County reimburses libraries only for the materials circulated to Bayfield County patrons. But libraries do much more than lend books and 4 videos, including providing free high-speed Internet access, reference help, story times, children’s reading programs, adult educational and cultural programs, proctoring for distance and continuing education, home-schooling resources, and free community meeting facilities for non-commercial purposes. Bayfield County patrons make use of all of these services. • The libraries of Bayfield County do wish to express their appreciation to Bayfield County for the development of the Building Strong Libraries Grant program. This program has enabled libraries to acquire needed fixtures, effect important building repairs and implement new programming efforts without having to budget them from general operating expenses. This effort demonstrates strong and essential support for the libraries of Bayfield County, especially in budgetary times when 100% reimbursement is not feasible. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 14, 2023 Contact: Meghan Sovey, 608-266-9600 meghan.sovey1@wisconsin.gov PSC Opens Broadband Infrastructure Program Grant Round $42 million in funding available through Capital Projects Fund to invest in broadband infrastructure MADISON – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) today announced the Broadband Infrastructure Program grant round is now open. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. Department of Treasury awarded Wisconsin $42 million through the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) to administer the Broadband Infrastructure Program and invest in broadband construction and deployment that will provide high-quality internet to locations that lack access to adequate, affordable service. “We have come a long way to connect more homes and businesses to affordable, reliable internet service since the beginning of the pandemic, but barriers still exist for many in our state,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program supports the Evers Administration’s ongoing work by investing in projects that improve access to high-speed internet for communities that were most impacted by the pandemic.” The CPF is designed to address the barriers to internet access that existed before, but were made worse by, the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadband Infrastructure Program grant funds will be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure designed to provide consistent, reliable, and high-performance broadband service to areas most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin. Eligible entities for the competitive grant program include internet service providers, telecommunications utilities, co-operatives, local governments, and for-profit and non-profit organizations. The funding is available to construct broadband infrastructure projects to deploy reliable internet service that will meet or exceed 100/100 Mbps symmetrical speed internet service and include at least one low-cost option for work, education, and health monitoring. The deadline to apply is Tuesday November 7, 2023 at 1:30 pm. More information on the Capital Projects Fund can be found on the Capital Projects Broadband page on the PSC website. The Wisconsin Broadband Office is holding two webinars for interested applicants. The Capital Projects Application Overview webinar will be held on September 8, 2023 at 11:00 am. This live webinar will walk through a basic overview of the grant program, eligible subrecipients and projects, merit criteria and how to submit grants through the new PSC Grants Management System. The “How to Map Your Capital Project” webinar will be held on September 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm. Questions for these webinars will be taken at the end of this presentation or can be sent ahead of time to PSCCapitalProjectsFund@wisconsin.gov. ###