International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
March 13th, 2024
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Maggie Horning, Mona Johnson, Will Frank, Heather Weaver, Sasha Moss, Dick Peterson
Meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Frank.
Minutes – Johnson moved and Horning seconded to approve the February 2024 minutes. All approved.
Bills – Weaver moved and Moss seconded to approve the March 2024 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – February circulation was significantly below January circulation but 1% above February 2023 physical items and 7% above digital and physical totals in 2023. We’ve had good response to the takeout crafts – over 40 took the yarn bird craft and over 25 for the libratory project. In person attendance continues to fluctuate wildly with craft time varying from 1 – 8, storytime attendance from 6 – 27 and the first Saturday storytime with one family. 13 attended the second Saturday storytime.
Middle school winter reading program is complete. I will be providing a pizza lunch to Mrs. Rudolf’s 5th period class. The elementary classes will finish up today. I’ll work with the Sweet Living Bake Shop again to create cookies for each elementary student that reads at least 60 of 70 days.
I’ve started working on the summer reading booklet, but the ALS print shop is closed at the moment, so I’m hoping I don’t have to find another way to get the booklets printed. Brian is out on medical leave, and he is supposed to be able to come back to work on April 12. ALS assures me they will be able to handle our print requests for the FES literacy night. I am glad I’m not going to have to try and print them here.
Old Business: Storytime continues on Thursday mornings with a wide range in attendance. I had 26 followed by 10 and then 13 for the 2nd Saturday storytime. The March takeout craft is being provided by ALS and is a library card record book. Winter Reading at the middle school saw 5 English classes all read less than 30% of the 60 days the program ran. Pizza and pop was provided to the winning class today at 12:15. FES literacy night is March 21st and Kelly will attend for the library. She’ll take a variety of handouts about digital services, card applications, the Library of Things books and a handful of Playaways and Wonderbooks. Summer reading preparations have begun but still waiting on some possible performers. Upcoming programs include Silent Book Club and Crafters Café, a Calligraphy night on April 1st and a grief writing workshop on Saturday, April 27th. We’re also working with Cheryl Peterson on a dinosaur party as a local book launch for her new book Bonedigger’s Daughter.
The director shared an infographic of the previous year’s statistics and will post in the library and on Facebook.
New Business: none
The next Friends of the Library book sale will be on Friday, April 5th from 3 – 5 pm.
What are you reading? – Dick is reading The Wager by David Grann after MaryJo recommended and his son purchased to read on vacation. Will just borrowed Project Unlonely by Jeremy Nobel. Diane finished Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and watched the movie and needs something lighter so is just starting The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty, a female pirate fantasy. Sasha is also having to balance reading with Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Heather spent the last month reading Agatha Christie and didn’t particular enjoy either Tuesday Murder Club or Dead Man’s Folly while Mona picked up Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear which several of us recommended and Maggie finished rereading The Firm by John Grisham and is interspersing her reading of Gunflint Burning by Cary Griffith, another heavy read.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th, 4:30 pm
Meeting adjourned at 5:10 pm.