DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
- Call to Order and Roll Call
- The meeting was called to order at 6:01 by President Kathy Van Iten
- Present: Englesby, Gorres, Landgraf, and Zeimet. Runez attended via phone
- Absent: Lawrence
- Also present: Library Director Berg
- Approval of Agenda
- Motion to approve as presented: Zeimet
- Second: Englesby
- Discussion: None.
- Action: All approved.
- Approval of Minutes of the March 3rd, Meeting
- Motion to approve the minutes: Zeimet
- Second: Landgraf
- Discussion: None
- Action: All approved as presented.
- Public Presentations / Communications
- None.
- Approval of Bills – Berg had emailed out the bill run prior to the meeting
- Motion to Approve the Bills: Englesby
- Second: Landgraf
- Discussion: This month most of the bills are for books and monthly utilities. Berg pointed out that the 20th anniversary tokens will be handed out at the open house on Saturday. She had examples to show board members
- Action: All Approved
- Reports
- Director's - Library staff has been focused on preparing for the 20th Anniversary Open House. Berg has been focused on finishing up the long-range plan and doing staff evaluations and writing up notes from those conversations. Figuring out work flow to handle our technical services librarian’s sudden departure. The Candidates Forum for both the school board and village of DeForest board were much appreciated and the posted videos have been well watched.
- President's - Van Iten thanked John for chairing last month’s meeting. She had a successful buying trip.
- Village Update - Landgraf noted that the going away party for Steve Fahlgren was well attended. It was a great sendoff with great cake too. The new financial person is now in place. Bill Chang is doing well as the new village administrator. He seems to have a vision. Committee appointments will happen now that the election is past. Landgraf would like to remain on the library board. ABS came to the village board to tell them about plans they have for consolidating their various labs and office to create world headquarters in this area. They have been in the area since 1941. The mountain bike trail committee is being facilitate by Bill Chang and is looking at various locations for it.
- Old Business
- Discussion and Possible Approval of Long Range Plan
- Motion to approve the Long Range Plan: Zeimet
- Second: Landgraf
- Discussion: Berg noted that the 5th goal about expanding the facility was added after reviewing the survey results again when going through the document with staff. Comments from board members noted that staff was the backbone of the library and how important communication and marketing the library brand was. More meeting rooms in the community are definitely needed. Berg was asked to thank staff for their input into this living document. It was mentioned that if planning for a improvements or a new facility got underway we should consider a coffee shop. This document still needs formatting and is still in search of a new tagline.
- Action: All approved.
- Discussion and Possible Approval of Long Range Plan
- New Business
- Discussion and Possible Approval of authorizing SCLS to submit adjacent county reimbursement requests.
- Motion to approve authorizing SCLS: Zeimet
- Second: Englesby
- Discussion: Berg explained that the board approves this annually. The payment for 2023 will be $36,607.45. Last year the total payment was $31,495.56. This is an increase of $5,111.89. This is still not back to pre-pandemic level when we received $39,932 in 2021.
- Action: All approved.
- Discussion and Possible Approval of authorizing SCLS to submit adjacent county reimbursement requests.
- Future Agenda Items
- Annual Meeting – Election of Officers, etc.
- Adjournment
- Motion to Adjourn: Landgraf
- Second: Englesby
- Action: All approved.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. Next meeting May 5th, 2022.