International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
February 8th, 2023
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Paul Nevanen, Heather Weaver, and Mona Johnson in-person, Ashley Kostiuk and William Frank remotely
Meeting was called to order at 4:28 pm by Kostiuk.
Minutes – Weaver moved and Johnson seconded to approve the January 2023 minutes. All approved.
Financial Report – Nevanen moved and Johnson seconded to approve February 2023 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – January circulation was significantly higher than December and almost identical to January 2022. Storytime attendance has been down a bit with less than 20 in attendance each week. Libratory bags have also been slow to go out even though interest has been higher. Book discussion attendance is about where it was last spring with 3 – 4 attending. Adult crafting time has been 2 on Wednesday mornings and no one on the cold January Monday night. Trivia night is a bust, but we expected that once we heard about Cantilever’s trivia night.
Summer reading preparation is just beginning (children’s librarians from all over the ALS were going to gather Feb. 3, delayed until 2/17). I am beginning to gather statistical details to complete the state mandated annual report. Weeding of the adult fiction collection continues, I am in the middle of the M’s, so six ranges done and five ranges left.
I met with Betty and will be meeting with Mike (Ted’s assistant, as Ted is helping his folks at the moment and is gone) on Monday, so should be able to make some progress on the Disaster plan. Betty also recommended we work with Willi Kostiuk, Koochiching County Emergency Manager and Adam Mannausau city emergency manager to see what their plans include and what equipment might be available to borrow in the event of an emergency.
City will be addressing the pay equity as a whole this next year, so we can expect to need to raise employee salaries in 2024. Pay step increases will also be created.
Old Business: Winter Reading with the schools is in progress with art projects handed out to teachers and students tracking reading. Elementary students will keep track over the Christmas holidays – the end of February. Each student who reads at least 60 of 70 days will get a yeti cookie by Sweet Living Bake Shop. Junior high students will track days read from January 3 – March 3. The class with the highest percentage of daily readers will get a pizza party. Storytime is in person and Libratory is a take-home bag.
Policy Manual – Have met with Mike and have asked all my questions, most of my needed information he will need to reach out to Ted and get back to me. Slow progress is being made.
Building updates – City staff have looked at the stairs and documented my concerns about patching already in place. Mike (and Ted) will need to reach out to the contractor about a time capsule. Doors have been ordered, were backordered and as of now, whenever they come in, work will be delayed until spring and the weather is warmer. Ted will present to the public works committee and then probably to city council about getting a library shed.
New Business: Ashley moved and Paul seconded to accept the George Hartmann donation in memory of Ruth Ritchie in the amount of $500.
Johnson moved and Weaver seconded to accept the current slate of officers for a second year with Kostiuk continuing as president and Nevanen as vice-president. All approved.
Next Friends of the Library book sale will be Monday, March 6th, 4 – 6 pm.
What are you reading? – Ashley is reading the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and lots of homework. She also read Verity by Colleen Hoover and gave it 1 star. Paul is reading Driftless by David Rhodes while Heather is reading Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard and Mona is reading Oracle by Clive Cussler. William continues to read Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt and read The Last Ronin a graphic novel by Kevin B. Eastman at his son’s recommendation and Diane finally got her hands on the new Louise Penny A World of Curiosities.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 4:30 pm.
Meeting ended at 4:50 pm.