Present: Library Director Diane Adams, Paul Nevanen, Dick Peterson, Ted Saxton, Lindsi Barnhart, John Dalton, Mayor Bob Anderson
Peterson called the meeting to order: 4:30 p.m.
Review of December meeting minutes. Saxton made a motion to approve the minutes, Barnhart seconded, motion approved.
Financial Report: The current bills were reviewed. Nevanen made a motion to pay the bills, Saxton seconded, motion carried. Dalton signed to pay the bills.
Director’s Report: Circulation for 2018 ended on a positive note with December 2018 being 6% higher than December 2017, ending the year 9% lower than 2017. December storytimes had nice attendance with 25, 26 and 18 the three weeks respectively. The County Board approved an appropriation in the amount of $22,324 to the International Falls Library for 2019. This will be in two payments with ½ in January and ½ in July. The appropriation to Arrowhead Regional Library System was $53,644 – which is the same as last year.
We have started a daily trivia contest with questions posted on our Facebook page at 3pm each day, followed by a hint at 10 am the next day. The first person to come to the library and correctly answer the question will receive a free digital movie while they last, followed by prizes to be determined. First question was posted on Wednesday, January 2, and as of this writing, no in person response yet. It is an effort to both keep the library present on Facebook and get people thinking about coming to the building.
Old Business: Upcoming Programs: Storytime begins again tomorrow. Supernatural Lake Superior with Chad Lewis will be Thursday, January 17th at 6:30 pm. Saturday, January 19th from 10 – pm offering Preschool Knights and Royalty Party for families to encourage them to read to their children and get any attendees signed up for Reading Ready. Preschool book club on Tuesday, January 22.
Anna Meyer Bequest – nothing new to report
New Business: Will look into IMLS grant – up to $50,000, deadline Feb. 25, 2019, would look into starting digitization of The Journal.
KTI – Koochiching Technology Initiative – meeting on Feb. 12, 4 – 7pm, location TDB, to talk about first round of funding – library will present proposals for boosting wi-fi in Smokey Bear park, co-working or incubator space for small/new businesses or craftsman looking to promote products online
Friends of Library book sale: February 26, 3 – 5 pm
John is just starting Honey Farm by Harriet Alida Lye, Dick is reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, Paul is reading the latest Allen Eskins The Shadows We Hide, while Ted is re-reading Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Bob Anderson has been looking at the papers recently donated by the daughter of the designer of the Smokey Bear Statue, Lindsi is reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and Diane is finishing up Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall.
Next board meeting: Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 4:30 p.m.
Adjourned: 5:30 pm