MINUTES
February 19, 2025 at 5:30 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 5:33 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Trustees present: Pamela Smith, Ameenah Asante, Shawn Nicholson, Polly Synk, and Amy Zaagman. Also present were Friends Representative Toba Kaplowicz, City Council Liaison Kerry Ebersole Singh, Library Director Kevin King, and Executive Assistant to Director Shori Teeple. Eighteen guests present.
3. Consent Agenda
3.1 Approval of the following
a. Current Meeting Agenda
b. January 22, 2025 Meeting Minutes
c. Communications
Asante moved
Zaagman seconded
All in favor
4. Audience
4.1 Public Comment - limited to five minutes per person
- None
5. Reports
5.1 City Council Liaison Report
Ebersole Singh reported:
- Budget presentation at recent City Council meeting.
- Challenges ahead for City with recent class action lawsuit and ongoing litigation.
5.2 Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
Kaplowicz reported:
- Top Friendshop sales for Black History Month have been children's books.
- Fiction sales have also been successful.
6. Committee Reports
6.1 Budget and Finance Committee - verbal report
6.2 Personnel Committee - verbal report
7. Old Business
7.1 Meeting Room Policy -- Action
Synk moved
Zaagman seconded
All in favor
8. New Business
8.1 ELPL FY 2026-2028 Strategic Plan -- Action
Nicholson moved
Synk seconded
All in favor
8.2 Service Animal Policy Review -- Discussion
8.3 Collection Development and Intellectual Freedom Policy -- Discussion
9. Library Reports
9.1 Financial Report
- Printed financial report shared.
9.2 Director's Report
- New staff - new Communications Intern Addie Walton introduced.
- Written report shared.
9.3. President's Report
Smith reported:
- No report
10. Adjournment
Smith adjourned the meeting at 6:26 p.m.
Board of Trustees
Pamela Smith, President
Ameenah Asante, Vice President
Shawn Nicholson, Secretary
Polly Synk
Amy Zaagman
City Council Liaison
Mayor Pro Tem Kerry Ebersole Singh
Staff Liaison
Kevin King, Library Director
