Present: Library Director Diane Adams, Ted Saxton, Lindsi Barnhart, MaryJo Winkel, Darcy Sullivan, John Dalton, Paul Nevanen
Saxton called the meeting to order: 4:35 pm
Review of August meeting minutes: Barnhart made a motion to approve the minutes, Dalton seconded, motion approved.
Financial Report: the current bills and financial report were reviewed. Nevanen made a motion to pay the bills, Sullivan seconded, motion carried, with Saxton abstaining. Dalton signed to pay the bills.
Director’s Report: August circulation was slightly above August 2018 and down a bit from July 2019. We are currently down 3% year to date. Limited programming in August, but a very poor turnout at the summer reading finale. Fall programming has begun and we are trying a Wednesday (early release day) program again, this time STEAM focused. First day was September 4th and we had 8 in attendance (all homeschoolers). We will try to improve attendance and continue weekly through the end of October. Storytime will resume on September 12. Our first Saturday with open hours again will be September 7th.
Library of Things is coming along. We have shelving in the upstairs staff office, most items have been photographed and cataloging is beginning. Once we have a significant number ready, we will start publicizing the collection and using it in programming. We are working with Kootasca and Headstart to look at some kind of cooking program in the new year.
Old Business: Upcoming programs include storytime starting again tomorrow. We are experimenting with an after school STEAM program on Wednesday afternoons (early release day), Paint an Autumn Landscape, this Saturday (9/14) at 10:30 for teens and adults. Then the Siama’s Congo Roots concert, Monday, September 23 at 6:30 pm and author Allen Eskens on Thursday, September 26th at 6:30 pm. The recording studio open house will be Monday, September 30 from 5 – 7 pm.
Anna Myer Bequest – nothing new
KTI – nothing new
2020 Budget – nothing new
Donations: move by Dalton with second by Winkel to approve the following donations: in memory of John Nevanen $10 from Darrell Schmidt, $10 from Onida Kocinski, in memory of Carol Pierce $25 from Pam Saunders
New Business:
Board had another discussion about overdue fines after the announcement that both Duluth and St. Paul are going fine free. The director is hesitant as overdue material is up 40% this year. We use fines as an opportunity to talk about the way libraries work, that everyone needs to be responsible and return material in a timely manner so others can borrow it. All staff are aware that they can waive fines after talking with someone about returning materials within a four week time frame or asking us for an extension. Board agreed to take no action at this time.
This is Barnhart’s last meeting as they are moving. Her term expires at the end of the year, so we agreed to talk to Ashley Kostiuk and see if she would be interested in serving out the remainder of Barnhart’s term and then if wants being appointed to her own three year term in January.
What are you reading? John is reading Flights of Passage by Samuel Hynes, Paul is reading The Russians by ben Coes, Ted is enjoying The Hillsider by Don Ness while Darcy is reading Louise Erdrich’s Four Souls. Diane is reading Women Talking by Miriam Toews, Lindsi continues reading the Narnia series with her children and they are currently on The Horse and His Boy while MaryJo just finished the Tucker Lake Chronicle: thirteen months in the North Woods by Joan Crosby.
Next Meeting: October 9th, 4:30 pm
Meeting adjourned: 5:10 pm