Library Board Approved Minutes - October 1, 2020

DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    • Treasurer Lawrence called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. Neither the president nor vice president were in attendance.
    • Present: Gorres (arrived at 4:20) Lowery, Runez, Lawrence, and Zeimet
    • Absent: Van Iten, Englesby
    • Also present: Library Director Berg
  2. Approval of Agenda
    • Motion to Approve as presented: Zeimet
    • Second: Runez
    • Action: All approved
  3. Approval of Minutes of September 3rd, meeting.
    • Motion to approve minutes: Zeimet
    • Second: Runez
    • Discussion: None
    • Action: All approved
  4. Public Presentations / Communications
    • There were no communications.
  5. Approval of Bills
    • Motion to Approve the Bills: Zeimet
    • Second: Lowery
    • Discussion: Berg noted that this is a much longer bill run even though today’s meeting is as early in the month as it possibly could be. September’s meeting was also early in the month which resulted in more bills There are lots of books and the usual utility book. Unique Management is finally back to work and discovered a long overdue bill from last December which we are paying now. Lowery asked about a bill for pens for volunteers. Berg noted that these nice, imprinted pens are an inexpensive way to thank the library’s volunteers for their service and to stay connected through this pandemic. Gift bags with a few treats and the pens will be hand-delivered to our volunteers in the upcoming week or so. These volunteers do everything from managing the donations and watering plants to landscaping the library property and helping with the pick list.
    • Action: All Approved
  6. Reports
    1. Director's - Berg reported that the Association of Rural and Small Libraries annual conference is going on this week. It has a number of topics of interest and DPI is paying for it. The book study on Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram Kendi is underway and being very well received and much appreciated by those attending. Berg described the Fall Festival in some detail. We will be back to “normal” library hours before the November election. The library won’t close before the polls close. Sundays are still being used to process the quarantined books and get them out in delivery. The Demco app formally known as Boopsie has been sold to Solus which is the library app South Central Library System (SCLS)choose to replace their old app with. Once again, as the library was with the Beanstack app, we are ahead of the crowd. Our app will be customized and running before SCLS gets going with their version.
    2. President's - None.
    3. Village Update - Lowery noted that the budget process was starting with and would run through December. Easement rights had been approved by River Road and Fleet Farm. Well 5 is offline. She said that the Little Creek Development across from Woods Glen was coming forward with three-story apartments.
    4. School Update - None.
  7. Old Business
    1. Discuss and possibly approve an equity/ social justice/ inclusivity statement
      • A statement edited by Zeimet was sent out with the board packet for discussion. Edits were suggested and agreement reached. Berg had kept track of the edits and read back what would become the final edition.
        • Motion to approve the edited version of the statement: Gorres
        • Second: Zeimet
        • Discussion: Berg will send out final version with next month’s meeting information.
        • Action: All approved.
    2. 2021 Budget
      • Berg had received new numbers from Leggett at the village which reduces the overall budget increase to less than 2.7%. Berg noted that she had been asked to attend the Committee as a Whole meeting at 5 p.m on October 6th or the Regular Village Board meeting at 6 p.m. to answer questions about the budget. Berg is unable to attend and asked if any board members would be willing to go. None could attend. Berg indicated that then she would go to the October 20th meeting and that any members who were available were welcome. Final approval of the budget will wait until the final numbers are known.
  8. New Business
    1. None.
  9. Future Agenda Items
    1. 2021 Budget
    2. Discussion of including Zoom link on meeting agenda.
  10. Adjournment
    • Motion to Adjourn: Gorres
    • Second: Lowery
    • Action: All approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:16 p.m.

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