Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Committee - Minutes - 1/18/2023 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