International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
November 12th, 2025
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Will Frank, Sasha Moss, Heather Weaver, Katie Winkel, Maggie Horning, Mona Johnson, Cynthia Adams
Meeting was called to order at 4:28 pm by Frank.
Minutes – Horning moved and Winkel seconded to approve the October 2025 minutes. All approved.
Bills – Johnson moved and Frank seconded to approve the November 2025 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – October physical circulation was better than September but 6% below October 2024 and adding in digital circulation we are just a fraction of a percentage point above year-to-date 2024. Overall, we are seeing more people in the building than in 2024, but fewer people checking out less materials.
I attended the Minnesota Power Information fair on October 14th, it was sparsely attended, but I was able to distribute program information about the library and gave out a dozen of the Minnesota Energy energy saving kits that we were asked to distribute. I only have 34 left to find homes for. I attended the ECFE haunted hallways program and handed out approximately 150 fall/Halloween board books to families attending. Headstart teachers were at the event as well and when I asked them how many of their students they saw, they said only a couple, so the next morning I stopped by headstart and let each of those students pick out a board book as well. Overall, 178 books were distributed to preschoolers in October. 18 attended the legacy concert by Caleigh and 12 attended the Timber tales program funded by Legacy and presented by Susan Hawkinson. Eleven elementary students attended Elementary Fun. Only 6 were at Saturday storytime in October and one family attended in November. 22 people, 8 families attended the bird feeder program. Only 1 attended the Minnesota Aging Pathways program on avoiding Fraud and Scams.
Storytime attendance is between 10 – 15 most weeks. A smaller group than we’ve seen the last several years. I continue to read to both Headstart classes and the Rainy River Rugrats toddler and preschool groups alternating weeks and the St. Thomas preschool and Kindergarten classes. So we are reaching about 45 – 50 kids ages 4 and under every month, or about 20% of that population. I’d love to have that number be higher but am unsure how to find them. I also am not sure what percentage of that age attends preschool at the public school.
The east entrance of the library has been repaired. They re-laid the top layer of concrete and then added a sealant. Supposedly the sealant will need to be replaced yearly, but the steps look nice again and aren’t dangerous with loose concrete.
Old Business: Upcoming programs include ‘Changes to Medicare’ by Minnesota Aging Pathways is tomorrow at 1pm and there are 10 or so signed up. Storytime continues on Thursday mornings, Elementary Fun is the 4th Wednesday of the month and monthly seems to be working better for attendance as Olivia has gotten 10 – 12 the first two months. ‘Songs of Mesabi’ with Greg Tiburzi will be next Wednesday, November 19th at 6:30 pm. All are encouraged to attend. Crafters’ Café has a nice group that meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.
We still need to present a second program with our Flight Path grant and will be working with Voyageurs Conservancy for a bird watching program in the new year.
The budget is still up in the air. No word from the County and the next city budget meeting is November 18 at 10 am. At this point, the city councilors do not seem to be cutting library funding.
New Business: Johnson moved and Frank seconded (with the addendum to have board sign a thank you as well) to accept the $1000 donation from Terry and Pat Coleman. All approved.
Friends of the Library book sale is Monday, December 8th from 4 – 6 pm.
What are you reading? Katie is reading The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, Sasha is reading Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune, Will didn’t finish Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown but will try again later, he did find a travel book about the St. Croix River Valley very useful for their trip to Stillwater. Heather is enjoying Julius Caesar by Shakespear and Cindy recommends America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and is finding comfort in Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie and M C Beaton’s Hamish series. Maggie is reading The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley, Mona just picked up A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara and Diane is reading The Untold Story of Books by Michael Castleman.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12th, 4:30 pm
Meeting adjourned at 5:15 pm.