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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Committee - Minutes - 1/24/2024 Minutes of the: Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting January 24th, 2024 - 3:00 p.m. Meeting Held Remotely Via Teams Members Present: Connie Cogger, Charly Ray, Mary Jean Fenske, Amanda Westlund, Jennifer McBain, Addie Arens, Jim Crandall, John Rautio, Sherry Anderson, Diane Posner, Jared Blanche (arrived late) Members Excused: Mary Lynch, Cassie Fleming, Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler Other Members Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan-Forest Lodge Library Board Member, Fred Strand-County Board Supervisor, Kristine Lendved-Former Forest Lodge Library Director Items 1 & 2: Call to Order and Introductions: The meeting of the Bayfield County Library Committee was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Committee Chair Connie Cogger. Introductions of members were made. Item 3: Public Comment: None. Item 4: Motion Regarding the Minutes of the August 24, 2023 Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting: Motion by Ray, seconded by Rautio to approve the minutes of the August 24,2023 Library Committee Meeting. Motion carried. 3:09 p.m. – Jared Blanche joined the meeting. Item 5: Review 2024 Building Strong (BSL) Library Projects: St. Aubin-Whelihan and Lendved reported that the Forest Lodge Library had asked for BSL funds for the library expansion project. A letter was recently from Abeles-Allison which stated that Bayfield County library support was currently at approximately $100,000. The library was given three years for the project and the deadline is near, so the library is asking for a year extension as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down progress for the project. St. Aubin-Whelihan stated that the library sent out an end-of-year mailing to the library’s service population and received approximately $83,000 in donations as a result. Cogger asked if the project would be an addition to the existing structure or an entirely new building. Fenske explained that it would be an addition to the existing structure that would be connected by a corridor. Lendved stated that the only way to expand the library and remain in the log cabin library was to purchase the adjacent property when it became available to use as the site for the expansion. Information regarding the other 2024 BSL projects was included in the packet. Item 6: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2025 BSL Program: Abeles-Allison reviewed updates made to the program. 2025 BSL applications are due Friday, July 26, 2024. Motion by Crandall, seconded by Fenske to approve the 2025 Building Strong Libraries (BSL) Program. Motion carried. Item 7: Discussion and Possible Action on Forest Lodge Library BSL Extension Request: Fenske informed the committee that the library has experienced a large amount of success with its fundraising efforts over the past year. In total the library has raised over approximately $900,000 in funds for the project. The library has reached out to several construction companies that operate in the nearby area to seek bids on the project. A couple of bids have been received, the lowest bid received is $1.3 million and the contractor feels confident that they could break ground in April 2025 with the project being completed by October 2025. Fenske reviewed the other fundraising efforts that the library plans to undertake over the next year and stated that the library is asking for a one-year extension on the original project deadline to allow the library to finish its fundraising efforts. Motion by Posner, seconded by Ray to approve the one-year extension to the Forest Lodge Library Expansion Project. Motion carried. Item 8: Review 2024 Library Budget Approved by County Board: Abeles-Allison reviewed the 2024 library budget approved by the Bayfield County Board. Expenses total $383,000 with the following allocations to each of the Bayfield County libraries: • Bayfield Library - $89,528.47 • Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) - $7,932.15 • Drummond Library - $15,692.25 • Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library (Iron River) - $32,919.66 • Washburn Library - $62,525.08 Abeles-Allison explained the formula for determining fund allocation to the committee. Ray asked if the funds that have been designated to the Forest Lodge Library expansion project have been named as allocated savings. Abeles-Allison replied yes and stated that projects are normally one-year projects with the library expansion project being the only multi-year project. Ray asked if the county has ever gone above the 100% funding structure to fund a library project. Abeles-Allison answered no and informed the committee that there was a lack of projects for several years that led the county to be below the 100% funding structure. Item 9: Next Meeting Date: August 15, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. The committee agreed to hold an in-person meeting with a virtual option as well. No location for the meeting was set. Item 10: Library Reports: Arens reported that it has been quiet at the Drummond Library; however, the library has implemented a story time program. The crafternoons program will continue through March and adult crafting sessions are held once a month. Arens informed the committee that the BSL project from the previous year was on a bit of a hiatus as they were waiting for materials to come in, but library staff is hoping to hold either a Spring or Summer introduction event for the patio. Lendved welcomed Amanda Westlund as the new Forest Lodge Library Director. Anderson reported that it is annual report season for the Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS) and the first library report was received earlier in the day. The NWLS is nearing the end of the second year in a two- year merger project that will merge the NWLS ILS circulation system with a neighboring circulation system, Wisconsin Valley, which is headquartered in Wausau. Once the second year is complete, a final report will be issued in May and the libraries, and their respective boards, will vote whether to continue with the merger. Anderson finished her report stating that everyone in the NWLS is currently in compliance. Blanche reported that the Red Cliff Library is currently fully staffed again and reviewed several programs the library has available, which includes game nights, movie nights, resume help, arts and crafts, and indigenous arts and crafts. Abeles-Allison asked if Anderson would keep the committee informed should the Red Cliff Library receive its certification as a public library. Anderson replied yes and reported that they are waiting for the Red Cliff Library to get some paperwork in order, but she would inform the other libraries as well as Bayfield County when the library receives its certification. Abeles-Allison informed the committee that the Forest Lodge Library will be hosting a party at The Lakewoods Resort on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. to celebrate Kristine Lendved on her retirement and to introduce Amanda Westlund as the new director. A short program will begin at 2:30 p.m. Item 11: Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Ray, seconded by McBain to adjourn the meeting at 3:38 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