MINUTES
November 15, 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 4:31 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Trustees present: Amy Zaagman, Pamela Smith, Ameenah Asante, Shawn Nicholson and Polly Synk. Also present were Councilmember Liaison Mayor George Brookover, Friends Board Representative Toba Kaplowitz, Interim Library Director Angelo Moreno, and Executive Assistant to the Library Director Shori Teeple. Ten guests from public were present.
3. Opening
3.1 Approval of Current Meeting Agenda as amended
Item 10 Library Reports moved to become new Item 7.
Synk moved
Smith seconded
All in favor
3.2 Approval of October 11, 2023 Meeting Minutes
Nicholson moved
Synk seconded
All in favor
4. Communications
4.1 None
5. Audience
5.1 Public Comment - limited to five minutes per person
- None
6. Reports
6.1 City Council Liaison Report
Mayor Brookover reported:
- Board and Commission liaisons will be changing soon.
- Pending proposal to redo gas station on corner of Saginaw and Abbot Roads.
6.2 Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
Kaplowitz reported:
- Friends website and social media promoting $100 for 100-years appeal.
- Sales of Friends stickers at service desk and holiday gifts in Friendshop continue.
- 100-year t-shirts available soon for purchase.
- More donations needed for children's picture books for Friendshop.
7. Library Reports
7.1 Financial Report
Moreno reported:
- Printed financial report shared.
7.2 Director's Report
- Two new library staff introduced.
- Written report shared.
7.3 President's Report
- None
8. Committee Reports
8.1 Subcommittee report - Permanent Director Search -- Discussion
Zaagman and Smith reported:
- Deadline for applications Friday November 17.
- Applications to be reviewed by Director Search Committee during two meetings.
- Zoom interviews planned for week of January 8, final interviews with board anticipated last week of January 2024.
8.2 Subcommittee report - Strategic Planning: Request for Proposals (RFP) -- Discussion
Nicholson and Synk reported:
- Draft RFP discussed with edits proposed.
- RFP for review and approval to be added to December agenda.
8.3 Subcommittee report - Survey -- Discussion
Asante and Synk reported:
- Survey emailed to former library staff members with 20 responses received.
- Committee will report out at December meeting.
9. Old Business
9.1 FY2023 Action Plan (Final) -- Discussion
- Written report shared.
9.2 FY2024 Action Plan -- Discussion
- Staff budget committee created to address future Action Plan needs.
- Consensus reached to update FY23 Action Plan for FY24 and build new FY25 items into plan based on budget build and strategic planning needs.
10. New Business
10.1 Code of Conduct typo correction -- Action
Motion to edit third line of opening paragraph of Code of Conduct Penalties and Appeals to replace '/or' with 'be'.
Zaagman moved
Synk seconded
All in favor
10.2 Resolution 02-24 to approve 2024 ELPL Board of Trustees Meeting Dates.
Asante moved
Synk seconded
All in favor
10.3 Resolution 03-24 to approve 2024 ELPL Holidays and Closures as amended.
Amendments to include additions of library closures for Monday December 23, 2024 and Thursday December 26, 2024.
Synk moved
Asante seconded
All in favor
10.4 Budget Presentation -- Discussion
- City Finance declined invitation to present library budget information at November meeting.
- Timeline, overviews and expectations for FY25 budget planning shared.
- Meeting attended for presentation of budget planning through a DEI lense. Slides will be forwarded.
11. Adjournment
Zaagman adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Board of Trustees
Amy Zaagman, President
Pamela Smith, Vice President
Ameenah Asante, Secretary
Shawn Nicholson
Polly Synk
City Council Liaison
Mayor George Brookover
Staff Liaison
Angelo Moreno, Interim Library Director
