Public Library Board October 19
Public Comment
A resident named Cindy expressed concern there is not enough available access to the BCPL’s quilting machines. She indicated there is a group of quilters who are having trouble scheduling the required appointments. She volunteered to train library staff, as the problem appears to be that there are not enough qualified staff with whom to schedule. Executive Director Carrie Herrmann (CH) indicated they are trying to cross-train staff to alleviate the problem, and that Cindy can fill out a volunteer application on the BCPL website. Cindy said she would do so but was already told the BCPL wouldn’t accept volunteers for quilting machines.
Former Board member Don Trame returned again regarding the elimination of reciprocity by the Hamilton County Public Library providing free access to their collections. Don’s specific concern is electronic media and the BCPL’s deficient collection. He provided some documentation indicating that 81% of respondents value book and electronic media access; 90% indicated that cuts in collections would have a negative impact on their communities, with 45% indicating it would have a major negative impact. He looked at all annual reports for all Kentucky libraries with respect to their collections and tax revenue received, especially the percentage of expenditures devoted to electronic media, and BCPL was under in every case.
He specifically asked for the 2025 and 2026 annual reports, as he couldn’t find them on the website.
Director’s Report
The independent audit for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2026, is progressing.
BCPL has received $9,054 in grants for staff development and to update the A/V equipment at the Hebron branch.
The Chapin Memorial Library (CML) electronic sign was discussed. Although the sign has been purchased, installation is still pending, and it has yet to be determined who will manage the sign on an ongoing basis. There is currently no clear date as to when the sign will be installed.
BCPL now has a permanent hire as head of Business Services.
The BCPL foundation participated in Dolly Parton day on September 25.
CH made a specific request to the Board relative to sidewalks. The BCPL facilities manager looked at the surrounding sidewalks at each branch for any tripping hazards and found a couple branches will need some grinding done to reduce these. The main branch needs this grinding too, but apparently, for unknown reasons, no rebar was put under the sidewalk when the branch was built in 2007, so much more extensive work will be required that will require additional, unbudgeted funds. She therefore requested permission from the Board to request bids to do this work, the cost of which will be considered a mid-year budget adjustment. The Board approved the bidding process.
Accountant’s Report
The following numbers are as of August 31. The September report is to be emailed to the Board members for review ahead of the November meeting.
- Total current assets: just over $11 million
- Total assets: $71,935,000
- Fund Equity is $632,312.00.
- Revenue received in the month of August was $378,000.
- District expenses for August were $597,000.
Rich brought up the investment report. When did the Board vote to invest in multiple CDs outside of Kentucky? Apparently, funds were invested with Republic Bank, which purchased nine CDs that do not have a physical presence in the State of Kentucky and are therefore considered illegal under the Kentucky Revised Code (KRS). CH and the accountant said that when they met with Republic Bank regarding the CD investments, they were assured the investments were aligned with the County and in accordance with KRS. Rich recommended going back to Republic to ask for a return of the funds and then to invest the funds in a money market account; he submitted a motion to do so. He indicated this illegal CD issue would also cause a problem with the year-end independent audit.
After a lengthy discussion, it was determined that the Board needs to review the terms and conditions of each of the CDs to see if they can somehow be deemed compliant. A motion was passed authorizing the Board Treasurer, Patty Reisz (PR), to review and determine if the BCPL is either underinsured or if BCPL has a compliance issue. PR is to get back to the Board with her findings by October 30.
Going forward, PR was opposed to investing everything in a money market and wants to look at other options and have a discussion with the County. Rich’s motion was tabled pending PR’s findings. This topic with be a top priority to be addressed at the November meeting.
New Business
CH gave a presentation detailing staff benchmarking assessments across all Kentucky library locations. CH is adamant that the BCPL is not overstaffed. In conducting a thorough review, she also consulted the Kentucky Library Standards, which include information on staffing. She said she calculated that BCPL has 123.5 FTEs (full-time equivalents), compared to the lowest benchmark at other Kentucky libraries, 125. CH recommends the report be used during the budget process and indicated she would probably push for additional staff. Rich and other Board members complimented CH on the extensiveness of her report and suggested some modifications to more accurately determine FTEs in each staffing category.
Board Member Deborah Dutton-Lambert (DDL) provided a couple of samples of annual board assessment tools to use in CH’s annual evaluation. The Board decided to use one of those tools to provide their input for the evaluation.
CH discussed recently purchased software for collection analytics and performance reporting. This was already in the budget approved by the Board. Staff will be trained to use the software in managing circulation. The software shows daily what’s in circulation by branch location, both physical and electronic items; it can also assist in identifying over- and under-stocked individual series as well as identifying popular items circulating in other libraries.
The meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.