Library Board Approved Minutes - September 5, 2019

DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    • President Kathy Van Iten called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
    • Present: Englesby, Gorres, Lowery, Runez (arrived at 6:12), Van Iten
    • Absent: Lawrence, Zeimet
    • Also present: Library Director Berg.
  2. Approval of Agenda
    • Motion to Approve as presented: Gorres
    • Second: Englesby
    • Discussion: None.
    • Action: All approved
  3. Approval of Minutes of August 1st Library Board meeting.
    • Motion to approve minutes: Gorres
    • Second: Englesby
    • Discussion: None
    • Action: All approved with Lowery abstaining.
  4. Public Presentations / Communications
    • None.
  5. Approval of Bills
    • Motion to Approve the Bills: Englesby
    • Second: Lowrey
    • Discussion: Berg noted there were many more bills this month due mostly to the fact that last month’s meeting was on the 1st of August and it has been 5 weeks between meetings. She noted that on the bottom of the bill run for approval are utility bills that arrived soon after the August 1st meeting and which she moved on to the village for payment in a timely fashion. The American Girl Fund for Children grant is getting slowly spent out. Berg explained that processing supplies were items used to wrap and label books in preparation for circulation.
    • Action: All Approved
  6. Reports
    1. Director's - The HVAC replacement has been scheduled. It will begin tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. Director Berg reported that she has given NAMI a key to the library for the duration of the installation. NAMI will work to keep the building comfortable by bringing in outside air to help with the cooling. They predict they will be able to start the air conditioning up on September 16th. So the library will be 10 days without the HVAC fully functional. Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of going live on Linkcat. Berg verified that a quorum of the board would be present at the September 30th meeting which has been moved since she will be gone on vacation from October 2nd to October 20th. This meeting will act as the October meeting. Utility bills will be handled as they were after the library board’s August 1st meeting.
    2. President's - None.
    3. Village Update - Lowery noted that the upcoming Saturday was Yaharafest. She noted that from now until November The 2020 budget would be on most village board agendas. There was discussion at the village board meeting about unauthorized dumping of yard was by non-DeForest citizens. There was talk about purchasing a vac truck and splash pad or pool in Fireman’s park.
    4. School - School has started. It is very busy with school start-up and the design process for the new buildings continues.
  7. Old Business
    1. 2020 Budget Update
      • Library Director Berg has heard nothing from the village.
  8. New Business
    1. Review of Library General Policies – Part 1
      • Most of the early Roman numerals are cut and paste from other libraries or SCLS circulation policies. Where the local decisions are is in length of loan and fines. Berg noted that there is a trend towards going fine-free. This was discussed in some detail with the board supporting the continued use of low-cost fines with library staff having the ability to negotiate payment so that no one is denied access. A second chunk of the general policies will come to the board in November as the September meeting will be very brief so that the bills are approved in a timely fashion.
  9. Future Agenda Items
    1. Review General Policies and use DPI Inclusive Services Assessment Guide
    2. 2020 Budget
  10. Adjournment
    • Motion to Adjourn: Lowery
    • Second: Gorres
    • Action: All approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

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