MINUTES
January 18, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
East Lansing Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Library Large Meeting Room
950 Abbot Road
The East Lansing Public Library occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg Three Fires confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.
1. Call to Order 4:34 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Trustees present were: Polly Synk, Amy Zaagman, Pamela Smith, Ameenah Asante and Diane Goddeeris. Also, in attendance were Friends President Maureen McCabe-Power, City Council Member Liaison George Brookover, Director Kristin Shelley, Head of Customer Experiences/Assistant Director Brice Bush, Executive Assistant to the Director Shori Teeple, and City Attorney Anthony Chubb. There were twenty-five attendees from the public.
3. Opening
3.1 Approval of Current Meeting Agenda
Zaagman moved
Goddeeris seconded
All in favor
3.2 Approval of December 21, 2022 Meeting Minutes
Goddeeris moved
Zaagman seconded
All in favor
4. Communications
4.1 Public Comment - limited to two minutes per person
- Eleven attendees shared public comment
4.2 Board discussion regarding media and public communications pertaining to incident involving police called to ELPL on January 11
- Agreement that intentional and long-term changes are needed.
- Need for review and changes to Code of Conduct and exclusion letter.
- Questions discussed related to whether threats were made that warranted need to call police.
- Further questions asked whether calling police should be reserved for bodily harm to patrons or staff.
- The creation of a subcommittee is supported for discussing needed changes and improvements.
4.3 Discuss existing Code of Conduct and use of exclusion letters
- Bush shared timeline of events since last fall that have resulted in distribution of exclusion letters. Strategies also reviewed for assisting with management of behaviors.
- Work of subcommittee to address details of Jan. 11 event, updates needed for Code of Conduct and exclusion letter, additional staff training and assistance, research responses from other libraries to teen after school programs and security.
- Board approval to offer additional public comment opportunity to gain more input from citizens.
5. Audience
5.1 Public Comment - limited to two minutes per person (as approved by Board)
- Additional attendees shared public comment.
6. Reports
6.1 City Council Liaison Report:
Brookover reported:
- City Council will review deliberations and actions.
6.2 Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
McCabe-Power Reported:
- Revenue is increasing.
- Purse sale to take place February 25 from 10am-5pm in large meeting room.
7. Old Business
7.1 Intellectual Freedom -- Discussion
- Challenges to libraries and schools continue.
7.2 Resolution 04-23 to approve Board Bylaws -- Action
- Changes discussed related to public comment, increasing public comment time limit to 5 minutes with additional public comment time of 5 minutes with board approval. To be presented on February agenda.
Synk moved
Goddeeris seconded
All in favor
7.3 Subcommittee to discuss Director's contract and performance.
- Subcommittee will include Synk and Smith. To be added to February agenda.
8. New Business
8.1 FY2023 Action Plan 6-month Update
- Progress and outcomes of written update reviewed.
8.2 Resolution 04-23 to authorize application for special liquor license for Books, Bites & Bids on April 28, 2023 -- Action
Zaagman moved
Goddeeris seconded
All in favor
9. Library Reports
9.1 Financial Report
Shelley Reported:
- Printed financial report was shared.
9.2 Director's Report
- A written report was shared.
9.3 President's Report
- None
10. Adjournment
Synk adjourned the meeting at 6:03 p.m.
Board of Trustees
Polly Synk, President
Amy Zaagman, Vice President
Pamela Smith, Secretary
Ameenah Asante
Diane Goddeeris
City Council Liaison
George Brookover
Staff Liaison
Kristin Shelley
Amended 3/1/23
