Minutes Library Board of Trustees Minutes 3.24.22 Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes March 24, 2022
The Board of Trustees of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library (C-SPL) met in the Lacy
Board Room at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022.
Present: President Pam Mullin; Vice President Greg Gorton, Secretary Rose Kramer,
Trustee Robert Armstrong, Trustee Christy Monk, Trustee Patty Poggemiller;
Director Nick Rossman, and Administrative Assistant Denette Kellogg.
Present Electronically: Trustee Victor Lieberman
1. President Mullin called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
"Moved to adopt the meeting agenda of March 24, 2022."
Motion: Armstong
Second: Kramer
Vote: Aye —7; Nay— 0
2. Approval of Library Board of Trustees' Meeting Minutes of February 24, 2022.
"Moved to approve the Board Minutes of February 24, 2022."
Motion: Poggemiller
Second: Armstrong
Vote: Aye —7; Nay— 0
3. Board President's Report:
— The Board reviewed the Communication with the Dubuque City Council for
February 2022.
"Moved to receive and file the Communication with the Dubuque City
Council from February 2022."
Motion: Monk
Second: Kramer
Vote: Aye —7; Nay— 0
4. Motion to Receive and File Informational Items:
A. Library Director's Report Summary and Update:
1
1) Library Financial Report Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 — Rossman reported that the
end of February marks 67% of the fiscal year. Expenditures were at 60%
and revenue generated was at 85% of projections. The Board reviewed
areas of the budget that expenditures are low and Rossman reported that
staff are spending out their budgets along with any equipment replacement
and year end contracts.
Rossman reported that at the Library's budget presentation held on March
3, 2022 the FY-21 Annual Report was provided and is included in the packet
for Board review. The City Manager is recommending FY-23 budget funding
for the Maker Space part-time position to become a full-time position.
Additional outreach opportunities with this new position will be planned
through the Programs to People Project funded by the Library Foundation
and the Dubuque Racing Association.
2) Library Use — Rossman reported February brought a 17% increase in
visitors and a 24% increase of computer and Wi-Fi use over 2021.
Circulation is down 10%. 61% of that decrease is due to a decrease in
DVD/Blu-ray checkouts. Decrease in downloadable materials usage makes
up 30% of the overall circulation decrease.
Rossman reported on a service called Hoopla that is a digital media
streaming service that is easily accessed that provides some different
options for patrons to use including six different mediums including older TV
series and shows, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, music, and movies.
Plans are to add Hoopla to the Library's collection with expectations that it
increase the library downloadable materials usage.
Curbside pickups were 131 in February.
3) Library Marketing Report— Rossman reported in In February, eBooks were
promoted across various platforms. There was no significant difference in
the circulation numbers from previous months. January 2022 had a 14%
decrease over January 2021 and February 2022 saw a 13% decrease over
February 2021. Library staff are investigating other services and methods to
boost digital material usage.
4) Project/Events/Programs Update — Rossman reported on the following:
- February saw many in-person programs cancelled due to COVID-19,
however, some smaller programs were still able to happen and there
were several virtual programs. Plans for March include the return of in-
person programming.
- Art Subcommittee met virtually and discussed ways to integrate the Art
@ your library® art and artists with other library programming. The
2
Subcommittee is continuing efforts to recruit artists from a wide variety of
ethnicity, race and socioeconomic status.
- The in-person movie screening on March 10, 2022 of the film Belfast had
48 people in attendance.
- One of the Library's FY-22 Capital Improvement Projects is removal of
the old oil tank that is underground outside of the Library with the second
project Library Landscaping to follow. Steve Sampson Brown, City
Engineering Department, is in the process of attaining a legal opinion to
see if the tank can be filled and left underground or would need to be
removed. Monk asked to be included this information and process as it
moves forward.
- Monk suggested, the Board members agreed, that the Board receive a
three to five bullet point list of the past month's accomplishments or
updates from the Library Departments in the Director's Summary for the
Board.
- The Student Library Card project is moving forward with students in
grades 6-12 having the ability to use their student identification card to
access the Library collections. Students who live in the County are also
eligible to use both Carnegie-Stout Public Library and the County
Libraries.
5) Strategic Plan Update - Rossman reported that the Planning Committee will
meet on Monday, March 28, 2022 with Rethinking Libraries Consultants
Kimberly Bolan Cullin and Rob Cullin to review what focus groups are
needed and form a draft schedule, and to review the statistical information
needed by the consultant. The Strategic Retreat Guidelines provided by the
consultant were reviewed by the Board. The retreat follows the focus group
meeting and takes place 2-4 weeks following the focus group meetings.
6) 28E Agency Library Services Agreement Update — Rossman reported that
the 28E Agency Library Services Committee met on March 17, 2022. The
Board was provided the Library Services Agreement and a copy of a letter
that goes out to Mayors of other local counties in the service area to invite
them to participate to receive library services. The Committee is assessing
cost of service and the future of this agreement and will meet again in April
to continue review.
7) Library Clerks Wage Discussion — Rossman reported on the new wage
schedule for Library clerks. A formal request to the City Manager to review
the proposed wage schedule will be submitted.
B. Comment Cards — No comment cards were received.
3
1
"Moved to receive and file the informational update from the
Library Director including the Library Expenditure, Revenue and Budget
Financial Reports; and, Library Use Report, Marketing Report, Library
Programs Report, Strategic Plan Update, 28E Library Services Agreement
Update, and, Library Clerks Wage Discussion."
Motion: Kramer
Second: Gorton
Vote: Aye - 7; Nay- 0
5. Action Items:
- Library Expenditures Month of February FY 2022 (Period Eight) - The Board
reviewed three reports for February FY 2022, period eight expenditures that
includes both purchase orders and purchase cards expenditures for review, and
the second detailed report that breaks down a sub-total of the operational
expenditures by account code. The Board also reviewed the Gifts Trusts period
eight report that includes both receipts and expenditures.
"Moved to approve the Library period eight expenditures for February
FY 2022; and, the Gifts Trusts period eight expenditures for February FY
2022."
Motion: Poggemiller
Second: Monk
Vote: Aye -7; Nay- 0
6. Library Board Adjournment-The Board adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
"Motion to adjourn.'
Motion: Monk
Second: Armstrong
Vote: Aye -7; Nay- 0
Rosemary Kramer, Board Secretary Date
4