March 15, 2023 in board-minutes

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

Monday, January 16, 20233

Central Library Workshop (or view online via Zoom)

7:00 P.M.

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

 

President Jillian 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

 

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

 

Trustee Pye

 

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES PRESENT

 

Muhammad Arshad

 

OTHERS PRESENT

 

John Caporale, Julie Doren, Dave Hardt, Jennifer Hunt, Annie Miskewitch, Kate Niehoff, Tiffany Nash, Paul Piraino, Dan Pohrte, Tom Pritchett, Bobbi Sloan, Matthew Smith, Beth Valenziano, Ron Wolek.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Public Comment was heard.

 

BOARD COMMENTS 

 

Vice-President Wroblewski Bosshart enjoyed volunteering for Feed My Starving Children. She finished the One Book,One Community (OBOC) selection This Tender Land book and is looking forward to the author event.

 

Trustee Seyring attended the American Library Association’s (ALA) Trustee Day, that had an excellent presentation on Student Advisory Trustees. She also attended the Library’s Personnel Committee, the pop-up book shop and Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly’s State of the Village address where he mentioned the Library’s 25th anniversary and upcoming remodeling project. The OBOC Depression era music program was excellent. She volunteered with Feed My Starving Children. She thanked those staff members who work behind the scenes and wants all staff to know that the board is aware of their contributions, especially during the peak of COVID. She apologized for her absence at the last board meeting due to illness. She wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

 

Trustee Forte-Scott attended Feed My Starving children and thanked organizer Allison Bies. She attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast at Hoffman Estates Village Hall. She acknowledged another banner year for the Library and is looking forward to another productive year in 2023. She is grateful to have been part of it and thanked everyone for their hard work including Executive Assistant Julie Doren for providing timely email communications about community events.

 

Trustee Mueller is excited about the opening of the time capsule later this year. She completed the OBOC selection This Tender Land, and will read the Young Adult selection next. Referring to a recent article about a library director resigning because of challenges, she confirmed the trustees’ confidence in the Library’s Executive and Deputy Directors.

 

Trustee Gilbert attended Feed My Starving Children, and the Death Café program at the Hoffman Estates branch. She highlighted the Library’s 3D printing service.

 

Trustee Bernas read into the record comments on behalf of Trustee Carole Pye: please note the RAILS article about the importance of essential digital literacy training.

 

RAILS - Ms. Gilbert

 

There will be an upcoming webinar on libraries and the First Amendment.

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Trustee Mueller moved and Vice-President Wroblewski Bosshart seconded that:

 

The December 19, 2022 Regular Board Minutes be approved.

 

There was no discussion.

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

APPROVAL OF BILLS

 

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that:

 

The Library Board approved the December 2022 Bill List.

 

Roll Call Vote: 

Mrs. Bernas                            Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Trustee Seyring reviewed the financial reports, making note of balances in the various funds. She noted that on the balance sheet the General Fund increased by approximately $3.2 million due to revenues exceeding expenses. 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. First property tax statements are due March 1.

 

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

 

Representatives of Product Architecture + Design, LLC presented materials and finishes selected for the second-floor renovation before the President’s Report. There will be an Executive Session under Sections 2(c),11 and 2(c),21.

 

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEE REPORT

 

The SAT updated the PowerPoint presentation and publicized some specific programs for teens with their schools.

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

President Bernas expressed a happy New Year to everyone. She thanked the Trustees for being available and out in the community sharing communications about Library events and updates. Trustee Bernas reminded Trustees of upcoming EDI training and Coffee with the Trustees in February.

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

Executive Director Annie Miskewitch highlighted items in her written report  and the creation of an Executive Team who will attend Board meetings. She highlighted the First Amendment webinar available on Library and Learning (L2). The Library applied for the Live and Learn construction grant to make the front East side entrance ADA accessible. A materials handler machine is under consideration for purchase in the future fiscal years. She appreciated attending the Feed My Starving children event. The Library will be hosting EDI Trustee training with Algonquin and Palatine libraries. She will be attending the public hearing for the Hopscotch restaurant project. The opening of Tony’s Fresh Market is anticipated to open before April 1.

 

 

DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

Deputy Director Jenn Hunt invited the Trustees to the Library’s In-Service day on March 10, with two keynote speakers and staff training sessions.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

Community Engagement: Programs and Outreach – Kate Niehoff

 

Program & Outreach Manager Kate Niehoff presented programming highlights of 2022. OBOC 2022 check outs were 70% above the previous year’s selection. The STEAM Fest program was attended by 500 people. The Summer Challenge saw an increase in registrations of 25%. Popular programs included the Day of the Dead and Community Ofrenda. Also, very popular and high in attendance was Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab exhibit. Large scale events, exhibits and adult programs are now hybrid, increasing accessibility with the majority of attendees demonstrating an online preference. Adult Program highlights include a sold-out storytelling night, with two professional storytellers and a birding expedition with Chicago’s own Bird Nerd. Adult Literacy highlights for immigrants and ESL speakers include Conversation Clubs, literacy tool instruction workshops and ESL book discussions.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Trustee Seyring reported that the SAT Committee interviewed three hHigh sSchool students for the selection of a new SAT. All applicants were excellent and will be notified of the decision.

 

Trustee Seyring reported that the Art Committee met in December. The next meeting will be January 23. They discussed the purpose of the committee, importance of aesthetics and creating welcoming spaces in the Library. The committee will incorporate art into the second-floor renovation, with available funds to support commissioned artwork. Consultants will evaluate the use of Library space. Reframing of the Martyl Langsdorf collection was discussed, as well as any cleaning requirements of Richard Hunt’s piece Open BookMan of the Future.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Upcoming Renovation

 

Product Architecture + Design, LLC representatives presented color palettes, materials, finishes and conceptual drawings for the second-floor renovation.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Review of Driver Safety Policy

 

The Board reviewed and discussed the updated Driver Safety Policy.

 

 

Approval of Employee Handbook

 

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Amy Mueller seconded that the Board approve the Employee Handbook.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Discussion included the changes to page six of the employee handbook under Reasonable Accommodations change “any woman affected by pregnancy” be changed to “any person affected by pregnancy” to be more gender inclusive. Trustee Anita Forte-Scott requested that page 38 of the employee handbook change the word “woman” to “any person” to maintain consistency.

 

Approval of Bill Payment to Product Architecture + Design in the amount of $95,212.76

 

Trustee Wroblewski-Bosshart moved and Trustee Forte-Scott seconded that the Board approve the bill payment to Product Architecture + Design in the amount of $95,212.76.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Approval of Waiver of Bid to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

 

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that the Board approve the waiver of bid to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in the amount of $30,000.

 

Discussion included the purpose of the waiver of bid language rather than an expenditure.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Approval of Bill Payment to Baker and Taylor in the amount of $28,575.00

 

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Wroblewski-Bosshart seconded that the Board approve the bill payment to Baker and Taylor in the amount of $28,575.00.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Mueller seconded the Library Board move into Executive Session under sections 2(c)11 and 2(c)21 at 8:40 P.M.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Mueller seconded the Library Board exit Executive Session at 8:588:40 P.M.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Trustee Gilbert moved to approve and release closed meeting notes from March 21, 2022 and May 16, 2022.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Seyring                                    Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Trustee Wroblewski Bosshart moved and Trustee Mueller seconded the meeting adjourn at 9:008:44 P.M.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Bernas                                      Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott                              Yes

Ms. Gilbert                                        Yes

Ms. Mueller                            Yes

Mrs. Pye                                             Yes

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart       Yes

 

The motion passed unanimously.

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