MINUTES
March 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, and Polly Synk. Trustees Shawn Nicholson and Amy Zaagman excused. Also present were Friends Representative Toba Kaplowicz, COEL Library Liaison Kerry Ebersole-Singh, Library Director Kevin King, and Executive Assistant to Director Shori Teeple. 7 guests present.
3. Consent Agenda
3.1 Approval of the following
a. Current Meeting Agenda
b. February 19, 2025 Meeting Minutes
c. Communications
Asante moved
Synk 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:
- Regular Council meeting last night.
- City income tax presentation available online.
- Albert El Fresco updates shared.
- Budget season - more discussion to take place going forward.
5.2 Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
Kaplowicz reported:
- Update shared for Friends involvement with preparations for Books, Bites and Bids (BBB) fundraiser event planned for Friday April 11 5:30-8pm.
- Friends will match up to $15,000 of total BBB funds raised.
6. Committee Reports
6.1 Budget and Finance Committee - no report
6.2 Personnel Committee - no report
7. Old Business
7.1 Collection Development and Intellectual Freedom Policy and Form -- Action
Synk moved
Asante seconded
All in favor
8. New Business
8.1 Board Informational Timeline -- Discussion
8.2 FY2026 Budget Presentation -- Action
Synk moved
Asante seconded
All in favor
9. Library Reports
9.1 Financial Report
- Printed financial report shared.
9.2 Director's Report
- Teen Initiatives - Storm Hawthorn (Teen Services & Schools Liaison Librarian)
- 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
