International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
July 10th, 2024
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Maggie Horning, Mona Johnson, Will Frank, Heather Weaver, and Sasha Moss
Meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Frank.
Minutes – Johnson moved and Horning seconded to approve the June 2024 minutes. All approved.
Bills – Weaver moved and Johnson seconded to approve the July 2024 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – I was very disappointed in June physical circulation. We were 9% lower than June 2023. Digital usage was higher so physical and digital total is a bit higher than 2023. Attendance at programs has been hit or miss. Libratory has ranged from 5 – 20, storytime has had 15 – 30 and Big Play has 30 – 50. The Traveling Lantern Theater Company only drew about 20, the juggler brought in 60 and the Minnesota authors had 21. I had three for the June book club, crafters’ café has had less than 10 and two came for the history walk.
The focus this month has been on summer reading and staffing as it is summer and everyone wants some time off and we are still training our newest staff member. Anyone around has had to step up and provide assistance as needed.
Old Business: Summer reading continues. We have not given out many more free books than last month. Weekly programming for youth is Libratory, Wednesdays at 11, storytime Thursdays at 10:30 and Big Play on Fridays from 10:30 – noon. Silent book club continues monthly, crafters’ café meets alternate Tuesdays. Special programming includes Will Hale and the tadpole parade on July 16th, Peregrine Falcons on Tuesday, July 30th. We will be participating in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th and giving out free books with funds from United Way of NE MN.
The new benches haven’t arrived yet, but soon. The library staff will participate in an armed intruder training session on Monday, July 29th.
New Business: Horning moved and Moss seconded to accept the donation from Scott and Cindy Adams of $1200 for the benches on the new steps. All approved.
The director presented a preliminary budget for conversation. She included 3% raises for staff but hasn’t heard from city hall what other departments will be providing, nor has she heard a timeline for this year’s process.
Friends of the Library book sale is Wednesday, August 7th from 5pm – 7pm.
What are you reading? – Will is reading Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson while Sasha is reading another Anthony Doerr book About Grace after loving Cloud Cuckoo Land. Maggie is reading the William Kent Krueger prequel to his Cork O’Connor series Lightning Strikes and Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson and loves the setting of Hawaii. Diane is enjoying the playing with Korean folktales in The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim, Heather is still reading The Stones Cry Out by Randall Price and Mona started River’s End by Nora Roberts and Craig Johnson’s To Hell and Back.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 14th, 4:30 pm
Meeting adjourned at 5:20pm.