MINUTES
June 19, 2019 at 4:30pm
East Lansing Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
3/4 Room
950 Abbot Road
1) Call to Order
Cervenak called the meeting to order at 4:33pm.
2) Roll Call
All trustees were present except Diane Goddeeris. Also in attendance were City Council Liaison Erik Altmann, Friends Representative Maureen McCabe-Power, Assistant Director/Head of Customer Experiences Brice Bush and Director Kristin Shelley.
3) Opening
A) Approval of May 15, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Zaagman moved.
Dodgson seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.
B) Approval of Current Meeting Agenda
Wilkinson moved.
Zaagman seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.
4) Communications
A) Audience: None
B) Written Correspondence: None
5) Reports
A) City Council Liaison Report:
Altmann reported:
Thomas Yeadon was reappointed as the City of East Lansing’s attorney for three more years.
B) Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
McCabe-Power reported:
- The Friends purchased 30 copies of Evicted, the 2019 One Book, One Community selection to sell to patrons
- Revenues for the month of May were $3,898.07
- Friends received a donation from Whole Foods and met with the regional manager to thank her for the donation
- The shop continues to do well and receives many donations
6) Old Business
A) Collaborative Meeting between ELPL, ELPS and COEL
Zaagman reported:
The collaborative meeting was held on June 18, 2019. There was a good exchange among participants. At the meeting, Shelley provided an overview of the programs and initiatives the Library has implemented over the last several years to address teen issues at the Library. The school representatives shared their initiatives which included opening the high school cafeteria to students after school and providing pizza and access to computers. They will explore implementing a similar model at the middle school. Participants also discussed the need for better communication between all constituencies and will meet again on September 17, 2019. The Library’s Teen Services Specialist will participate in the school’s Activity Days in August and information will be disseminated through the school communication system regarding Library teen programs and policies.
B) Library Indirect Charges from Others
Shelley shared a COEL Finance Department memorandum which provided a breakdown of the City’s indirect charges for the Library Fund. A brief discussion followed. The City offered to have the City Manager and Director of Finance attend a future meeting if the Board had any additional questions.
Shelley also shared with the Board that she and Bush met recently with Tim McCaffrey and Wendy Longpre regarding including the Library boilers in the City’s RFP.
7) New Business:
A) Nomination of Officers for Fiscal Year 2020
Dodgson moved to nominate:
Amy Zaagman, President
Lance Wilkinson, Vice President
Diane Goddeeris, Secretary
Wilkinson seconded.
Motion carried.
B) Draft of Fiscal Year 2020 Action Plan
Shelley provided the Board with a draft of the Fiscal Year 2020 Action Plan for their review and asked if they had any items to add. After review, no additional items were added.
C) Resolution for Service
President Cervenak provided Trustee Carole Dodgson a resolution honoring her years of service.
Zaagman moved.
Wilkinson second.
Motion approved.
8) Library Reports
A) Financial Report
Shelley provided a written Financial Report. Discussion included:
- There could be a significant decline in penal fines next fiscal year
- Expenses are coming in where expected; some items are higher than anticipated because of factors such as Hoopla
- Periodicals are slightly higher than anticipated
- Shelley met with DPW and Civil Engineers from C2ae to discuss the ramp renovation. Shelley requested C2ae to draft a proposal for the sidewalk and ramps, the Children’s Garden as well as other projects in phases.
- Shelley and Bush met with Signature Ford and Cathy DeShambo regarding the Mobile Pop-up Library. Bush will meet with a Representative from Farber Specialty Vehicles at the upcoming ALA meeting. All parties will then regroup to discuss vehicle options. Once a decision has been made, it will take approximately 22 weeks to complete.
B) Director's Report
Shelley provided a written Director's Report. Highlights included:
- Teens painted with Bob Ross at the Happy Little Trees painting party.
- Thursdays with Chuck continued to meet. This program empowers teens by providing them with a safe environment to dialogue about stressors and receive peer support.
- Author Jennifer Harvey discussed her book Raising White Kids: Bringing up Children in a Racially Unjust America to an audience of 100 people on May 2.
- In May, Dale Rogers attended a training session hosted by NASA. The training was part of the NASA Glenn Grant the Library was awarded in the spring. The grant funds will be used to provide space-based programming this summer to upper elementary and middle school youth.
- Library staff participated in Priority Based Budget training through the City.
- Shelley did “The Director’s Cut” Podcast with Matthew Desmond author of Evicted.
C) President’s Report: none
Cervenak thanked Dodgson again for her service.
9) Announcements
Shelley announced:
- On June 24 there is a joint COEL Board and Commission meeting that will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Hannah Community Center. Shelley inquired if any Board members would be able to attend.
- The Narcan bills went through and are on their way to the Governor
- The MLA Director, Debbie Mikula, will start on June 24, 2019
10) Adjournment
Dodgson moved.
Zaagman seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.
Cervenak adjourned the meeting at 5:31 PM.
