Library Board of Trustees Minutes – May 15, 2019

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MINUTES
May 15, 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 4:35pm.

2) Roll Call

All trustees were present except Lance Wilkinson. Also in attendance were City Council Liaison Erik Altmann, Friends Representative Sheila Taylor, Assistant Director/Head of Customer Experiences Brice Bush and Director Kristin Shelley.

3) Opening
A) Approval of April 24, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Zaagman moved.
Goddeeris seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

B) Approval of Current Meeting Agenda
Dodgson moved.
Goddeeris seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

4) Communications
A) Audience: None

B) Written Correspondence:

Shelley shared that she received a nice note from the MSU Food Waste class thanking the ELPL for help with their project.

5) Reports
A) City Council Liaison Report:
Altmann reported:

  • There was a brief discussion regarding the scheduling of the collaborative meeting between the Library, City of East Lansing, and East Lansing Public School officials regarding teen issues. Shelley shared that there was a scheduling conflict with the June 4 date and new dates will be proposed. Shelley added that she recently attended a conference in Arizona which included a presentation by Pima County Library regarding their restorative teen program. ELPL will reach out to them for information and to take a closer look at their program.

B) Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
Taylor reported:

  • Revenue for April was $4,000 in shop sales
  • Friends received $1,817.43 as a designated charity from Whole Foods.
  • Two paintings were sold in April.
  • They are selling more valuable books on eBay and are also selling arts and crafts on Etsy.
  • Their Executive Committee met today to discuss the Ballot Committee and to strategize. New people will be added to the committee.
  • They are seeking new Board members next fiscal year. Currently there are eight Board members, however, their bylaws stipulate they may have 13.
  • New volunteers are needed who can commit to a regular schedule.

6) Old Business

A) Staff Update

Shelley shared that Caitlyn Stypa accepted the position of Youth Services Librarian. She will begin May 28. The new Adult Service Librarian, Angelo Moreno, started on April 1.  Andy Myers accepted the Circulation Customer Service Associate position and started May 7.

7) New Business:  

A)  2019 Summer Reading Program

Bush shared that the Summer Reading Program (SRP) will kick-off on Monday, June 17 with a family dance party in the ELPL parking lot from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  The event will include a variety of fun family activities, food trucks, WKAR book give-a-ways and an appearance by Sparty. The SRP will run June 17 through August 10 and will incorporate programs for all ages from birth through adult.

8) Library Reports
A) Financial Report
Shelley provided a written Financial Report.  Discussion included:

  • Eighty-three percent of the Library budget is spent at this time.
  • The Cochran family trust fund will be depleted within the next few years.
  • A quote for $10,000 was received for the installation/update of the three railings in the front of the Library. She has requested additional quotes.
  • There was some discussion regarding the possibility of including the Library’ boiler RFP with the City’s boiler RFP. Shelley will discuss with City Manager Lahanas.
  • The Board requested that the Library obtain an itemized list of intergovernmental charges the Library pays to the City. Shelley will request this information from Finance and report back to the Board.

B) Director's Report
Shelley provided a written Director's Report.  Highlights included:

  • April was National Poetry month and National Sexual Assault Awareness month. Polo Tate, author of “Deep Dark Blue”, did an author visit.  Fifty people participated.  The Library hosted a poetry reading with four local poets and a teen poetry workshop.
  • Books, Bites and Bids was a huge success with over 300 attendees and $18,000 raised.
  • Shelley and Bush attended the Library of Michigan’s Night of Notables on April 27, where 20 Michigan authors were honored.
  • Shelley testified in front of the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee on the Narcan bills on April 25.
  • The Seed Library Program launched on April 1 and is very successful.
  • The Library is partnering with Fresh Thyme Market to do a regularly scheduled story time.
  • The Library will be participating in the COEL Art Fair this weekend making planetary necklaces, bracelets and ELPL buttons.

C) President’s Report: none

9) Announcements
Shelley announced:

  • She was contacted by Jim Jennings at the Aquatic Center regarding installing a Little Free Library at the center. The Library team is eager to meet with him.
  • She will meet with the DPW to discuss the Pop-up Mobile Library and has also reached out to a company that can retro-fit the vehicle. There is no specific date projected at this time for completion of this project.
  • The President-elect of the Michigan Library Association has accepted a position in Colorado, therefore Shelley has been asked to continue to serve as President for another year.

10) Adjournment
Zaagman moved.
Dodgson seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

Cervenak adjourned the meeting at 5:17pm.