HomeMy WebLinkAboutLBMinutes_2023_11_16BROOKINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
November 16, 2023
MEETING MINUTES
The Board of Trustees of the Brookings Public Library met on Thursday, November 16 at 12:00 pm in the Historical Room at the
Brookings Public Library.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Stephanie Carroll, Linda Richter, Kathy Miller
OTHERS PRESENT: Nita Gill, Shane Andreasen
1. Call to Order
Stephanie Carroll called the meeting to order.
2. Approval of Agenda
Stephanie Carroll approved the meeting agenda with no changes added.
3. Approval of Minutes
Stephanie Carroll approved the meeting minutes from October 12, 2023.
4. Old Business
4.1 Fine Free Discussion
The Library Board members discussed options for eliminating or altering daily fines. Kathy Miller proposed turning on automatic
renewals, including DVDs, in TLC. Kathy Miller proposed a one-year trial followed by a review. Stephanie Carroll agreed that a
phased approach to daily fine alterations is a good way to test things. Kathy Miller moved to approve automatic renewals with a
follow up evaluation at the end of next year. Linda Richter seconded. Motion carried.
5. New Business
5.1 Approval of Bills
The Library Board members reviewed the October 2023 bills, budgets, and expenditures. Linda Richter moved to approve.
Kathy Miller seconded. Motion carried.
6. Other Items & Reports
6.1 Financial Report
Nita Gill presented the review of the 2023 budget through October to the Library Board members. Kathy Miller noted that the
grant expenditures and computer services budgets are both overdrawn. Shane Andreasen explained that the grants base
budget has not been updated since the last grant was awarded and once the base budget is updated, the account will no longer
show as overdrawn. Shane Andreasen explained that the subscription services that are reflected in the computer services
budget have gone up anywhere from 3% to 5% causing an overage in that account.
6.2 Librarian’s Report
The children’s Costume Spooktacular had almost 100 people attend. Trunk-or-Treat was a success with 1,500 bookmarks
handed out. The Tween Book Club will be expanded to two monthly meetings thanks to the Friends of the Library. Eight teens
attended the horror movie keychains event. Halloween black light painting didn't prove popular but could be related to having
the event on Halloween day. Jenny Kluck recently spoke with 8th graders about library programs and services in hopes of
garnering fresh interest. Teens in the kitchen is a popular event and will continue. The Roll for Sandwich teen event is coming
up on November 22. Teens get to use dice to build their own unique sandwich. The Intergroup Dialogues program has ended
and six groups of around 47 participants and 12 facilitators attended. The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly
positive. Kathy Miller attended the Intergroup Dialogues and felt they were a great way of connecting college students and the
community. The Pie and Puzzles event had record breaking attendance (for that event) at 43 participants and all of the pies
were donated by the Valley restaurant. The VisABILITY Initiative continues to grow and evolve. There are more Native
American Heritage Month events coming up in November, including the “Bring Her Home” documentary screening and
discussion and the Braiding Sweetgrass book club discussion. The October Digital Literacy classes for iOS and Android were
more successful than previous classes and a Facebook basics class will be offered in the near future. The community submitted
library t-shirt designs that are now open for voting. Once designs are selected, the Friends of the Library will sell t-shirts through
a website called Bonfire. Programming staff are planning to do a couple of all-ages events in the first half of 2024. The new
library website is up and running.
7. Items not on Agenda
Kathy Miller wondered if more college students signed up for library cards following the Intergroup Dialogue sessions. Upon
reviewing the statics, it was noted that there was a rise in SDSU library card initiations in October 2023, suggesting there was
increased enrollment following the sessions.
8. Next Meeting: Thursday, December 14 at 12:00 PM in the Historical Room
9. Adjournment
Stephanie Carroll adjourned the Library Board meeting at 12:20pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashia Gustafson
Director of Library Services