International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
December 14th, 2022
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Paul Nevanen, MaryJo Winkel, Dick Peterson, Darcy Sullivan
Meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Nevanen.
Minutes – Peterson moved and Winkel seconded to approve the November 2022 minutes. All approved.
Financial Report – Peterson moved and Sullivan seconded to approve December 2022 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – November circulation was 2% less than October 2022 and November 2021. That puts us 4% above our 2021 circulation to date. Storytime attendance has been down in the last month. As we talk with folks, there has already been lots of sick families. I’m thinking we need to offer some ‘grab bag’ type of offerings where families can call us with the age of their children, the types and quantity of material they want and we put together a bag they can just swing in and pick up.
We are slowly decorating. The book tree is up. Holiday books and videos are on display. We are packaging Winter Reading supplies for the elementary school and two high school English teachers. I have also spent a lot of time preparing story stations, a series of activities families can do together to help young children (7 and under) develop their early learning skills. We will have them set up in the meeting room from December 22 – 31.
Junior room couch is back and it looks wonderful in the room. Steps continue to be very slowly worked on. No word on when they should be done.
Old Business: Fall programming is storytime in person, weekly Libratory take-out bags, and a monthly take-out craft for teens and adults. We put together LED Christmas card kits and ALS provided us with Watercolor kits for teens and adults. Winter Reading supplies have arrived and will go to the schools on Monday, December 19th. Elementary students will keep track over the Christmas holidays – the end of February. Junior high students will track days read from January 3 – March 3. Story stations will go up Thursday, December 22 and will be available until December 31.
William Frank has agreed to serve on the library board. Appointments will be made at the organizational city council meeting on Tuesday, January 3.
Policy Manual – haven’t heard back from Betty Bergstrom or Ted Brokaw regarding my questions about the disaster plan.
New Business: highway library sign – after our discussion at the last meeting, I received an email from the state and the sign is due to be replaced and will cost over $2,500. The state representative who contacted me said they don’t believe the signs are needed as most people looking for the library are local and know where it is or google it. Board agreed but asked for the signs to be given to the library when removed.
Staff pay raises agreed upon back in July when the budget was presented were approved on a motion by Peterson with a second by Winkel. A discussion was had about the need to increase the salaries of library employees. Director will address that in the 2024 budget.
The library received an unsolicited donation from the Knudson Foundation in the amount of $5,000. It was accepted on a motion by Winkel with a second by Sullivan and all approved. Director will begin process of pushing to get a small shed added to the outside of the building outside the staff entrance for storage of a couple of bikes, skis and tools.
Next Friends of the Library book sale will be Saturday, December 3rd from 11 am– 1pm.
What are you reading? – Paul finished The Maze by Nelson DeMille and has been reading magazines. Darcy is too busy and hasn’t had time to read lately, Diane just started the third book in the Schoolomance series The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, Dick recommends Diamond Eyes by Kate Quinn, Treasure State by C J Box, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and Game of Birds and Wolves by Simon Parkin (it was his month to read about women) and doesn’t recommend Omega Rules by Eric VanLustbader, while MaryJo enjoyed the holiday read The Gift by Cecila Ahern and End of the Night by Paul Bogard, a Hamline University professor.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 at 4:30 pm.
Meeting ended at 5:05 pm.