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LIBRARY BOARD
MEETING
Monday, March 20,
2023
Central Library
Workshop (or view online via Zoom)
7:00 P.M.
CALL
TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Trustee
Bernas called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE
BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT
Jillian
Bernas, President; Julie Wroblewski Bosshart; Theresa Seyring, Treasurer; Anita Forte, Emily
Gilbert, Amy Mueller, Carole Pye
BOARD
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
STUDENT
ADVISORY TRUSTEES PRESENT
Muhammad
Arshad, Jamie Caracas
OTHERS
PRESENT
John
Caporale, Julie Doren, Dave Hardt, Annie Miskewitch, Paul Piraino, Tom
Pritchett, Jason Santos, Bobbi Sloan, Beth Valenziano
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Public
comments were heard.
BOARD
COMMENTS
Trustee
Wroblewski Bosshart reported that the One Book, One Community (OBOC) author
event was excellent. She will be representing the Library as a judge for the Village
of Schaumburg’s Volunteer of the Year.
Trustee
Seyring attended a busy and successful Coffee with the Trustees and the
Illinois Library Association’s (ILA) continuing educational session for
Trustees Get Ready to Advocate.
Trustee
Forte attended 14 events since the last board meeting, including Coffee with
the Trustees, where she spoke to 72 patrons. The majority of comments were positive and all
suggestions were shared with the Executive Director. Thank you to Bobbi Sloan
for sharing her love of the Library in the Daily Herald. Trustee Forte
appreciates the Library’s Departmental updates in the Executive Director’s
report, especially the Youth Services and Teen accomplishments. She expressed
interest in serving on the Decennial Committee.
Trustee
Pye attended In-Service Day and is still implementing the keynote speaker’s
takeaways. The Library Trustee candidate forums were well done and a great
partnership with the League of Women Voters. There are excellent renderings of the
upcoming remodel on Instagram and Facebook. She also attended ILA’s Trustee educational
session Get Ready to Advocate.
Trustee
Mueller received great feedback on the Library’s newest exhibit Some Assembly Required.
Trustee
Gilbert is looking forward to participating in the next Coffee with the
Trustees. She attended the ILA Trustee training and the Library’s In-Service
day.
RAILS
- Ms. Gilbert
None.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
Trustee Seyring moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded
that:
The
January 23, 2023, Library Art Committee Minutes be approved.
Discussion
included corrections to title and location.
The
motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Forte moved and Trustee Mueller seconded
that:
The
February 20, 2023, Library Board Meeting Minutes be approved.
Discussion
included correction to the number of followers on the Library’s YouTube page.
The
motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Forte moved and Trustee Seyring seconded that:
The
March 6, 2023, Library Art Committee Minutes be approved.
Discussion
included corrections to title and location.
The
motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL
OF BILLS
Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Wroblewski
Bosshart seconded
that:
The
Library Board approved the February 2023 Bill List.
Roll
Call Vote:
Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes
Mrs. Seyring Yes
Ms. Forte Yes
Ms. Gilbert Yes
Ms. Mueller Yes
Mrs. Pye Yes
Mrs. Bernas Yes
The
motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S
REPORT
Trustee Seyring reviewed the financial reports, making note of balances in the various
funds. On the balance sheet, the General Fund
decreased by approximately $950K due to expenses exceeding revenues. She also highlighted a few line items and discussed why they
are above or below budget at this time, and gave an update on the status of
various Library investments.
ADDITIONS
OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
No
additions; no executive session.
STUDENT
ADVISORY TRUSTEE REPORT
The
SATs updated their PowerPoint presentation and publicized some specific
programs for teens with their schools. Trustee Forte requested the PowerPoint
presentation be provided to the Trustees.
PRESIDENT’S
REPORT
Trustee
Bernas reminded everyone to please complete the Open Meetings Act (OMA) training
and Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) submission in a timely manner.
DIRECTOR’S
REPORT
Executive
Director Miskewitch highlighted items in her report, including that both
Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates branches are now open at 9:00 a.m.
Monday-Friday, as of March 6. The Library Public Services Team is looking into
extending service hours at the Central Library to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. Approximately
170 Library staff attended In-Service Day. The Executive Director will be
attending Directors University 2.0 on April 11-13 and will be on vacation April
2-April 9. She asked that Trustees participate in the Illinois Public Library
Trustee Survey to collect information for the Illinois Heartland Library System
(IHLS) grant that will support Trustee Training. For Trustees interested in
attending the 2023 ALA Conference, please respond by March 24 to capitalize on the
group rate. Included in the report is a letter Executive Director Miskewitch
wrote to Senator Dick Durbin for consideration of Congressional Directed
Spending for the Library. Also included in the report is the OBOC wrap up., A survey
went out to the community for the next OBOC book genre selection. The
In-Service keynote speaker’s information is shared in the report, as well as a SEI
fact sheet. Trustee Pye commented that she was impressed with the addition of
the Language Line and Community Engagement Librarian Claudia Baranowski’s
immigrant family work. Trustee Forte requested copies of the Departmental Mission
Statements be provided for Trustee viewing. Trustee Wroblewski Bosshart asked for
the status of the Deputy Director search, which is in progress through the end
of the month. Trustee Mueller requested a bidding process update. Bids came in
higher than expected. The Executive Team is strategizing to eliminate some elements
of the project to stay within budget. The Millwork is out for bid again.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Trustee
Seyring reported that the Library’s Art Committee met on March 6th. Discussion
included the selection and placement of a new Donor Wall. They are exploring possible
resources and vendors. Executive Director Miskewitch created an RFP for the
Donor Wall and is on the website for vendors.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
Confirmed dates
for Budget Meetings: Monday, June 5th; Tuesday, June 6th;
Thursday, June 8th
Official
start time is 6:00 p.m.
NEW
BUSINESS
Approval of Board
Agendas Policy
Trustee Forte moved and
Trustee Mueller seconded that the Board approve the Board Agendas Policy.
Roll
Call Vote:
Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes
Mrs. Seyring Yes
Ms. Forte Yes
Ms. Gilbert Yes
Ms. Mueller Yes
Mrs. Pye Yes
Mrs. Bernas Yes
The motion passed
unanimously.
Discussion included
questions regarding corrections or changes on posted agendas and compliance
with the Open Meetings Act. Trustee Forte asked when is the latest an update to
an agenda can be made. Executive Director Annie Miskewitch will confirm that
the agenda cannot be changed after 48 hours, as in compliance with the Open
Meetings Act.
Approval of Disposal
of Property Policy
Trustee
Wroblewski-Bosshart moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded that the Board approve
the Disposal of Property Policy.
Roll
Call Vote:
Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes
Mrs. Seyring Yes
Ms. Forte Yes
Ms. Gilbert Yes
Ms. Mueller Yes
Mrs. Pye Yes
Mrs. Bernas Yes
The motion passed
unanimously.
Discussion included
confirmation that Executive Director Miskewitch will bring a motion before the Board
for any item to disposed of that is valued at, or over, $1,000.00.
Approval of Donation
of Gifts Policy
Trustee Forte moved
and Trustee Pye seconded that the Board approve the Disposal of Gifts Policy.
Roll
Call Vote:
Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes
Mrs. Seyring Yes
Ms. Forte Yes
Ms. Gilbert Yes
Ms. Mueller Yes
Mrs. Pye Yes
Mrs. Bernas Yes
The motion passed
unanimously.
Discussion included
that the Library will no longer be accepting book donations, and the distinction
between restricted and unrestricted donations.
Review of Fund
Balance Policy
The Board of Library
Trustees reviewed and discussed the Fund Balance Policy.
Review of Library Values
The Board of Library
Trustees reviewed and discussed the Library Values statements. Discussion
included whether the ten-year-old statements require updating. The Trustees
requested an update on the Land Acknowledgement progress at the April Board
meeting.
Distribution and
Timeline of Executive Director Evaluation Form
The Executive
Director Evaluation Form is due by April 10. Trustee Bernas will not be in physical
attendance at the April Board Meeting, but will be able to join remotely and
still conduct business.
OTHER
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee
Wroblewski Bosshart moved and Trustee Mueller seconded
the meeting adjourn at 8:10 P.M.
The motion passed unanimously by
voice vote.