Board Meeting Minutes 9-20-21

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING 
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 
Central Library Workshop (or view online via Zoom) 
7:00 P.M. 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 

President Bernas called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT 

Jillian Bernas, President; Julie Wroblewski Bosshart, Vice-President/Secretary; Theresa Seyring, Treasurer; Anita Forte-Scott, Emily Gilbert, Amy Mueller, Carole Pye 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT 

None 

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES PRESENT 

Araha Uday, Ameenah Zawahir 

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES ABSENT 

None 

OTHERS PRESENT 

Jennifer Hunt, Blake Kindl, Annie Miskewitch, Jason Santos, Joanne Schultz, Hollis Sienkiewicz, Gail Tobin, Beth Valenziano, Kathy, Lori, Joe 

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

None

BOARD COMMENTS 

Trustee Pye attended the attorney general’s OMA webinar and the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon. She also complimented librarian Jane Rozek on her presentation for the Township Historical Society’s bus tour. 

Treasurer Seyring reintroduced Student Advisory Trustee Araha Uday to the Trustees. She also attended the Schaumburg Township Historical Society’s bus tour and enjoyed her experience. 

Vice President Wroblewski Bosshart asked if patrons who come to the Library but don’t come through the doors might be counted in some way. For example, patrons who use the lockers and drive-up window. 

Trustee Forte-Scott attended the OMA and FOIA webinars. She is enjoying reading the One Book, One Community selection. Ms. Forte-Scott welcomed back Student Advisory Trustee Araha. 

Trustee Mueller is excited to hear highlights from the teen department based on a recent experience learning about teen services in a smaller library. She was glad to see the increase in foot traffic at the Library in the statistics. Ms. Mueller appreciated the word cloud in the board packet to help better understand challenges of items and censorship. 

Trustee Gilbert attended the FOIA and OMA webinars, as well as a webinar about equity for LGBTQ older adults. 

RAILS - Ms. Gilbert 

None 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Vice President Wroblewski Bosshart moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that: 

The August 23, 2021 Regular Board Minutes be approved. 

Discussion included correction of typos. 

The motion passed unanimously.  

 

APPROVAL OF BILLS 

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Pye seconded that: 

The Library Board approve the August 2021 Bill List. 

There was no discussion. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes  

Mrs. Seyring Yes  

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes 

Ms. Gilbert Yes 

Mrs. Mueller Yes 

Mrs. Pye Yes 

Ms. Bernas Yes  

The motion passed unanimously. 

 

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO AGENDA 

President Bernas noted a correction to the agenda: the ordinance number for item three of New Business should read 2021-2022-4. 

Additionally, she noted there would be no Youth Services department report at the meeting and no Executive Session, but there will be committee reports from the Student Advisory Trustee and Personnel committees. 

TREASURER’S REPORT 

Treasurer Seyring reviewed the financial reports, making note of receipt of replacement taxes and grant funds. She also reviewed expenses, highlighting a few line items and why they are above or below budget at this time.  

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 

President Bernas reminded the board of the Strategic Planning session for the board at the Hoffman Estates branch on October 23, 2021. She commended the Library on hosting the 9/11 exhibit. President Bernas also added to Trustee Pye’s comments about the Schaumburg Township Historical Society’s bus tour, which included a presentation from Local History Librarian Jane Rozek, noting she heard lots of positive feedback about the event. 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT 

Executive Director Annie Miskewitch highlighted a few areas from her written report, including annual costs for electronic resources that occurred, and some incremental increases in various statistics, indicating a little more traffic at the Library.  

She noted that the Library is aggressively hiring across departments, including in Youth Services, Reference Services, Access Services and the Hoffman Estates Branch. Ms. Miskewitch encouraged Trustees to share employment opportunities with their connections. 

Ms. Miskewitch congratulated Deputy Director Jennifer Hunt on her one-year anniversary at the Library and thanked her for all the work she has done in a short time. 

Trustee Forte-Scott asked for the website to be updated to reflect the October board meeting location of the Hanover Park Branch. 

Trustee Pye asked if the Strategic Planning session in October is open to the public. Ms. Miskewitch confirmed that it is an open meeting. 

Vice President Wroblewski Bosshart asked if minutes are needed for committee meetings. Ms. Miskewitch stated that minutes are only needed for approval for open meetings and relies on oral reports from the committees to report out.  

DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S REPORT 

Deputy Director Jennifer Hunt thanked Executive Director Miskewitch and the Trustees for a great first year with the Library. 

The strategic plan community survey closed with 1,520 survey responses. Our Fast Forward Libraries consultant, Amanda Standerfer, conducted five in-person focus groups and has more scheduled to continue gathering feedback from the community this week. Next steps include reviewing a learning report that brings all this data and information together. 

Ms. Hunt is excited about a new partnership with District 211 transition services, which includes two adult student interns working at the Library. She also noted some month-to-month changes in statistics and called out some highlights from the Youth Services written report. 

President Bernas asked about the Emergency Broadband Relief. Ms. Hunt noted this is still available and that she applied for a grant for more laptops for community checkout, as well as attends digital alliance partnership meetings in the community. 

Trustees Gilbert and Pye complimented staff in various departments for their great work. 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS 

None 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

The Student Advisory Trustee Committee noted that selections have been made and Student Trustees Araha Uday and Ameenah Zawahir are on board for the year. 

The Personnel Committee met virtually to discuss finalizing the employee handbook and exploring benefits to assist with recruiting new hires. Additionally, the Library has a new HR Source consultant helping with HR needs. The goal is to bring the employee handbook to the board for review in November and approval in December so it can be implemented in the new calendar year. Finally, interviews are beginning soon for the open HR Director position. 

President Bernas asked if the library industry is experiencing recruitment issues like other industries. Trustee Wroblewski Bosshart clarified that the handbook will draw attention to benefits available that they may not be aware of. Executive Director Miskewitch added that the Library is not immune to the recruitment challenges many industries are currently facing. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

None  

NEW BUSINESS 

Approval of Internet Use Policy 

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Vice-President Wroblewski Bosshart seconded that the Board approve the Internet Use Policy. 

There was no discussion. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes  

Mrs. Seyring Yes  

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes 

Ms. Gilbert Yes 

Mrs. Mueller Yes 

Mrs. Pye Yes 

Ms. Bernas Yes  

The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Approval of Bid to Paulson Press in the amount of $52,000.00 for printing of the Library quarterly guide 

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Pye seconded that the Board approve the award of bid to Paulson Press in the amount of $52,000.00 for printing of the Library quarterly guide. 

Discussion included the variations in the bids and the change in the frequency of printing. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes  

Mrs. Seyring Yes  

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes 

Ms. Gilbert Yes 

Mrs. Mueller Yes 

Mrs. Pye Yes 

Ms. Bernas Yes  

The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Approval of 2021 Property Tax Levy Ordinance No. 2021-2022-4 

Trustee Mueller moved and Trustee Pye seconded that the Board approve the 2021 property tax levy ordinance no. 2021-2022-4. 

Discussion included clarification of the ordinance number. 

Roll Call Vote: 

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes  

Mrs. Seyring Yes  

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes 

Ms. Gilbert Yes 

Mrs. Mueller Yes 

Mrs. Pye Yes 

Ms. Bernas Yes  

The motion passed unanimously. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that: 

The Library Board adjourn regular session at 8:02 P.M. 

The motion passed unanimously.