International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
March 8th, 2023
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Paul Nevanen, Heather Weaver, Mona Johnson, Ashley Kostiuk, William Frank and Dick Peterson
Meeting was called to order at 4:28 pm by Kostiuk.
Minutes – Peterson moved and Frank seconded to approve the February 2023 minutes. All approved.
Financial Report – Nevanen moved and Peterson seconded to approve March 2023 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – February was a disappointing month. Circulation was down 14% from January and down 4% from February 2022. Storytime attendance was up and down, families were very sporadic about picking up Libratory bags and overall lots of slow times in the building. Craft night and book discussion have had small turnout as well. As we talk with folks we are hearing enthusiasm and excitement for programs to begin again, but aren’t getting the engagement yet. Hopefully by summer.
So we spent the month tackling a number of projects. We have begun planning for summer and I finished the state annual report. We have gotten quite a bit of book mending done as well as some DVD and CD book disc repair. March we will be focusing on summer reading planning, and adding the digital Wall Street Journal and Comics Plus to the website. I think we’ve gotten our website figured out (we were having issues with being able to make changes, but I think it is all straightened out.)
CareerForce began holding open office hours here the week of February 6th. Someone from the office is here Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 2pm. They are getting additional visibility and we are hoping some of their clients will look at our materials and utilize them as well.
Old Business: Winter Reading with the schools has concluded. Working on gathering reading logs from teachers, getting cookies ordered and pizza party planned. 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. Hopefully by April meeting the Disaster plan can be approved.
New Business: A draft of the state mandated annual report was shared with Kostiuk signing approval form for submittal.
Next Friends of the Library book sale will be Friday, April 7th, 3 – 5 pm.
What are you reading? – Ashley is reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and The Bear & the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Paul is reading Cormac McCarthy’s Stella Maris while Dick is reading the latest CJ Box Stormwatch and The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. Mona read Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne and started Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and Heather is relishing All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot and C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, she also is reading Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. William continues to read Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, but has also been preparing for spring with Home Improvement and Home Repair and Outdoor Wood Projects, he also just picked up The Man in the Bunker by Rory Clements and Diane is reading the Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12th, 4:30 pm