International Falls Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
August 14th, 2024
Present: Diane Adams – Library Director, Maggie Horning, Mona Johnson, Will Frank, Sasha Moss, Dick Peterson, and MaryJo Winkel
Meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Frank.
Minutes – Johnson moved and Peterson seconded to approve the July 2024 minutes. All approved.
Bills – Peterson moved and Winkel seconded to approve the August 2024 bills. All approved.
Director’s Report – July circulation was quite a bit better than June, but physical circulation is still 3% below 2023 year to date. When we add the digital items we are 3% above year to date. Program participation for youth has definitely dropped off. Libratory has had one different family each week for the last four weeks. Storytime has decreased from a high of 38 to 28 last week followed by 35 for our last week. Big Play only had 19 on August 2 after a high of almost 50. Adult participation has been a bit better, we had 51 at the Peregrine falcon program with 32 being adults and teens. We gave out 132 books at Smokey Bear Park during the National Night Out event. Saturday I will be going to Northome and the Koochiching County Fair to meet up with the Arrowhead Library System Bookmobile and promote our library.
Budget preparation continued and proposed budget is included in your packet. Discussion and approval will take place at the meeting. I will present the proposed budget to the council on Monday, August 19th.
Old Business: Summer reading about done. We will continue to accept reading forms until the end of the month. Fall programming includes storytime on Thursday mornings, monthly Libratory take-home bags, Crafters’ café every other week, Silent book club monthly and a monthly takeout craft for teens and adults. Olivia is also interested in trying a weekly Wednesday program for elementary students.
Courtyard benches are in place and have donation plates attached. Still waiting for city crew to attach to the concrete. They are being regularly used already.
Staff completed armed intruder training and we will be looking at changing some of the door locks to better enable anyone to hide if needed.
The 2025 budget was presented as it will be presented to the city council on Monday, August 19th. Johnson moved to accept the budget and Horning seconded. All approved the budget as presented.
New Business: Peterson moved and Frank seconded to accept two $20 donations from Darrell Schmidt in memory of John Talsness and Ivan Stewart. All approved.
Friends of the Library book sale is Friday, August 23rd from 12pm – 4pm.
What are you reading? – Maggie is reading The Accused by Lisa Scottoline, Dick is reading David Housewright’s Man in the Water while Mona is starting California Golden by Melanie Benjamin and Will is reading Red Famine by Ann Applebaum. MaryJo read The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams and The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin for the reading challenge and Sasha is enjoying Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow also by Gabrielle Zevin while Diane is reading Finding Your Third Place by Richard Kyte.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11th, 4:30 pm
Meeting adjourned at 5:05pm.