HomeMy WebLinkAboutLBMinutes_2025_04_17BROOKINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 17, 2025
MEETING MINUTES
The Board of Trustees of the Brookings Public Library met on Thursday, April 17 at 11:45 am in the Historical Room at the
Brookings Public Library.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mark Binkley, Kathy Miller, Allison Schmitt, Denise Hall
OTHERS PRESENT: Ashia Gustafson, Shane Andreasen
1. Call to Order
Mark Binkley called the meeting to order.
2. Approval of Agenda
Mark Binkley approved the meeting agenda with no changes.
3. Approval of Minutes
Mark Binkley approved the meeting minutes from March 13, 2025.
4. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda
5. Old Business
6. Other Items & Reports
6.1 Financial Report
Ashia Gustafson presented a review of the 2025 budget through March to the Library board members.
6.2 Librarian’s Report
Statistics: Stats are lower than 2024, but have improved since February 2025.
Programming:
Children: Spring programming is wrapping up and summer programming is being prepared. The egg hunt was a big success.
Teen: 9 teens attended an acrylic painting class. Teen Nostalgia Night had no attendees, but the program may be attempted
again this summer.
Adult: The craft swap was very successful with over 328 attendees and $1,179 in freewill donations. The event will be held
again next year with some restructuring to better manage the large amount of craft donations received. The American Sign
Language Class was very well attended and another ASL class is being considered for this fall. 30 people attended the Pie and
Puzzles event and the VisABILITY initiatives are wrapping up with future programs being considered.
Tech: A grant application was submitted with three funding options. The grant recipients should hear back by May or June.
Nancy Swenson and Katherine Eberline participated in the ALA webinar “What are obscenity law exemptions and what does it
mean to remove them?” They felt it was very informative and Ashia Gustafson will share a video link with the Library Board
members.
Other: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been shut down by DOGE. The future of IMLS, as well as the
LSTA Grant that pays for interlibrary loans and various databases, is uncertain. As a result, regional libraries in eastern South
Dakota are discussing possible ideas to continue interlibrary loans services through a regional courier system.
Other: The Friends of the Library book sale netted $6,787 in sales and $500 in membership fees. Ashia Gustafson reviewed
with the Library Board the steps that staff take to request funds from the Friends of the Library. The distribution of funds is
discussed and confirmed by the Friends of the Library and go to support various Library programs and materials.
7. New Business
7.1 Approval of Bills
The Library Board members reviewed the March 2025 bills, budgets, and expenditures. The South Dakota State Library
collaborates with libraries to offer the OverDrive application Libby. Due to budget cuts to the South Dakota State Library there is
discussion around transferring Libby oversight to the South Dakota Library Association. Hoopla continues to grow in popularity
locally and measures to reduce costs may need to be taken to insure continued operation of the service. Denise Hall moved to
approve. Kathy Miller seconded. Motion carried.
7.2 Donations CD
Ashia Gustafson reviewed options for the funds in the Central Bank CD that matures on April 28, 2025. Denise Hall motioned to
reinvest the current CD funds, plus an additional $2,500 in investment funds, into a 9-month CD. Allison Schmitt seconded.
Motion carried.
7.3 Community Bulletin Board and Pamphlet Policy
Ashia Gustafson reviewed the Community Bulletin Board and Pamphlet Policy with the board. Kathy Miller moved for approval.
Allison Schmitt seconded. Motion carried.
8. Items Not on the Agenda
Kathy Miller suggested adding information about the IMLS budget cuts impacting local services in the Library’s monthly
newsletter. Denise Hall recommended reviewing the Unattended Children Policy and the Acceptable Behavior Policy during
May’s Library Board meeting.
9. Next Meeting: Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:45 AM in the Historical Room of the Brookings Public Library.
10. Adjournment
The Library Board meeting adjourned at 12:35pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashia Gustafson
Director of Library Services