Public Library Board December 16
Highlights from the Boone County Public Library Board’s December meeting at the main library in Burlington.
Staff Presentation
A staff presentation was given by Cara Frank, Early Literacy Librarian, on the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. This is a national program started in 2021 and has seen a significant increase in engagement by the public. There is also now a pilot project involving a childcare center in the program. The BCPL hopes to increase childcare center participation by including more childcare centers on a step-by-step basis as subsequent budgets allow.
Public Comment
No members of the public attended, so no comment period was held.
Director’s Report
The Archive & History Center received a $2,000 grant. Director Herrmann is working on the mid-year budget update for the Board’s review at the January meeting. The Chapin Memorial Library (CML) has resumed full staffing. There was one book challenge: “You Be You!: The Kid’s Guide to Gender Sexuality.” The book remains in the library’s collection.
The BCPL has also instituted awareness programs. For example, October highlighted awareness of pancreatic cancer, and December’s awareness program will focus on diabetes. The program will be expanded in 2025 due to its popularity with the staff and patrons.
Treasurer/Accountant’s Report
Briefly, for the four months of the fiscal year through October the library generated revenue of $4,242,000, with $2.9 million received in October due to new tax revenues coming in.
Policy Review
The Staff Code of Conduct was approved, as was the Internet Use Policy relative to what internet sites staff may visit, etc. Also proposed by Director Herrmann was a Drug Free Policy for the library due to the fact that medical marijuana, which will be legalized January 1, 2025, is still considered a Schedule 1 drug under federal law. However, the Board felt the policy needed tweaking to determine whether there should be some discretion for mitigating circumstances vs. a zero-tolerance policy and elected to table this until the next meeting. Although this meeting will technically occur after the new marijuana laws go into effect, the library doesn’t anticipate having a problem with the policy being tabled for discussion after the effective date.
There will be two trustee appointments expiring June 30, 2025: Dr. Eric Jackson and Don Trame. Both can re-apply for a new term. The trustee application will be released on the library’s website December 18 and also will be pushed out on social media channels, blog posts, etc. An information session for applicants will be held February 3 at 4 p.m. in the main library. Applications will be due February 12, and the Board will review applications at their February 17 meeting.
Director Herrmann will distribute a Board assessment form to the Board members for each to assess, on an individual basis, the functions and scope of the Board itself. The form will be provided via electronic format as a Google form to be discussed by the Board in their January 20 meeting.
With regard to the CML ad hoc committee to be formed, Director Herrmann distributed an application form drawn up by the chair, Dr. Jackson, to be completed by board members applying for the committee. There is also an application for individuals from the CML community to apply. This application will be posted on the library’s website ASAP. Board member Deborah Dutton-Lambert felt this application represented yet another hurdle for community members, but regardless, the application was approved and is due back to the library by January 22. All applications will be reviewed by the Board at the January 27 Board meeting.
Foundation Report
The BCPL Foundation meets every other month so met November 21. The next scheduled fundraiser for the Foundation is March 27. The goal is to reach $15,000 to fund early childhood initiatives through several different venues, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. There is $8,833 invested on behalf of the Foundation, with another $47,000 in the bank. The next Foundation meeting is January 16. The Foundation’s Form 990 will be posted on the library’s website.