Library Board Approved Minutes - February 2, 2023

DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    • The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m.by President Kathy Van Iten
    • Present: Gorres, Landgraf, Lawrence
    • Absent: Toetz, Zeimet
    • Also present: Jan Berg, Library Director
  2. Approval of Agenda
    • Motion to approve as presented: Gorres
    • Second: Landgraf
    • Discussion: None.
    • Action: All approved.
  3. Approval of Minutes of the January 5th, 2023 meeting
    • Motion to approve the minutes: Landgraf
    • Second: Gorres
    • Discussion: None
    • Action: All approved.
  4. Public Presentations / Communications
    • None.
  5. Approval of Bills – Berg had emailed out the bill run prior to the meeting
    • Motion to Approve the Bills: Landgraf
    • Second: Lawrence
    • Discussion: Berg noted that there are still a few bills from 2022 in this bill run but that this should be the last bills for 2022. This month’s meeting is on the 2nd of the month so utility bills and some other bills will be coming in and get forward to the village for approval so that they get paid in a timely fashion. This month’s total is the largest that will be seen all year. It includes the ILS and technology costs from South Central Library System.
    • Action: All Approved
  6. Reports
    1. Director's - Once the annual report is completed, library staff will use that data to go through the strategic plan and see what was accomplished last year. Staff is also looking at what the plan says will be done this year. There has already been a fruitful conversation around the plan and doing some minor things to collect better feedback and input.  The strategic plan helps focus and prioritize activities.

      Berg continues to work on finalizing the annual report. Year-end financials were received from the village yesterday. A little over 96% of the budget was expended.  Programming shows the greatest gains. Circulation was down about 3% overall but we have identified multi-part items being checked out at self-check as a potential source of some of the loss in physical circulation.

    2. President's - President Van Iten thanked Secretary Gorres for presiding at the January meeting. She also reported an 
      email from Zeimet saying he was stuck in an ice storm in Texas with intermittent internet so would not be attending the meeting.
    3. Village Update - Landgraf that there was not much happening at the Village Board. Dinkman is proposing a building up by Little Potato, Livsey is looking at property north of the UW Health. There is some concern about the ability of the local fire department to fight hazardous material fires and electrical vehicle fires. Disk Golf at Western Green seems to be controversial. The village is looking for an area of 100-200 acres to have mountain bike trails, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, etc. to have nature close to Madison as an economic draw. 
  7. Old Business
    1. Staff Showcase – None.
      • Next month Jessica Svetlik will give a tour of the updated website
    2. Story Hour Room Flooring and Cabinet Update
      • The carpeting has been purchased and is being stored by Sergenians for installation later this year.
        The library is applying for a grant from the DeForest Area Foundation to lead the fund raising on this project.
    3. Discussion and Possible Approval of changes to Library employee parental leave policy to mirror policy recently adopted by the Village Board.
      • Motion to approve the policy with typos corrected: Gorres
      • Second: Landgraf
      • Discussion: None
      • Action: All approved  
  8. New Business
    1. Discussion and Possible Approval of Authorizing the Library Board President to sign the approved Annual Report prior to the next library board meeting.
      • Motion to approve: Landgraf
      • Second: Gorres
      • Discussion: None
      • Action: All approved
    2. Discussion of Possible Memorial to Honor John Englesby’s Legacy.
      • Berg has talked with the Historical Society president, Louise Valdovinos a couple of times about a fitting memorial. Naming the gallery for Englesby with a tag line “of local history’ would make their members happy. There was talk about getting a copy of the Norski Walk of Honor plaque that honored John a few years ago and hanging it in the gallery as well. Berg will get a design for the lettering. Costs would be shared with the Historical Society.
  9. Future Agenda Items
    1. Final version of the Annual Report for approval
  10. Adjournment
    • Motion to adjourn: Gorres
    • Second: Landgraf
    • Action: All approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:55.  Next meeting March 2nd, 2023. 

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