Call to order

President Gaston called the regular monthly library board meeting to order at 6:30 pm with the following trustees present: Tom Champion, Jane Gaston, Jack McGuire, Joyce Raver, Gayla Wilkerson, and Ann Wilzbach. Also in attendance were Library Director Kim Keller and Assistant Library Director Kim Baldridge. There were no visitors. Trustee Lynn Larimer arrived at 6:35 pm. Trustees Ed Dolbeare and Jane Mordecai were absent.

Secretary’s Report

The minutes of the July 16, 2019 meeting were approved as presented on a motion by Trustee McGuire with a second by Trustee Wilkerson. All present approved.

Treasurer’s Report

The treasurer’s report for August 2019 was presented. A motion to approve the treasurer’s report as presented was made by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Wilzbach. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

A motion to discontinue the library’s subscription to The Wall Street Journal due to lack of use by the patrons was made by Trustee Wilkerson with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

The bills for August 2019 totaling $23,346.87 were examined and approved on a motion by Trustee Wilzbach with a second by Trustee Wilkerson. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

Committee Reports

President Gaston announced changes in the committee assignments due to a board member retiring. The Finance Committee will now consist of Trustee Wilkerson as chairperson, Trustee Champion and Trustee Larimer. Newly appointed Trustee Dolbeare will be assigned to the Policy Committee. All other assigned committees will remain the same.

New Business

1. Holidays in 2020-A motion to approve the Holidays in 2020 as presented by Director Keller was made by Trustee Raver with a second by Trustee McGuire. All present approved.
2. IMRF-A discussion about IMRF and its impact on the budget occurred. No action was taken.
3. Property tax levy request for taxes payable in 2020-A motion to accept the tax levy request letter as presented by Director Keller was made by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Wilkerson. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

Unfinished Business

A motion to change the Bryan-Bennett Library Room Rental Agreement to include the section from the Carbondale Public Library Meeting Room Policies and Regulations labeled “Availability” to go into effect on September 1, 2019, was made by Trustee McGuire with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

Director’s Report

Program Director Shanafelt has pruned the rose bushes and taken a turn at mowing the yard. Circulation Clerk Waller will now take over mowing the yard and Circulation Clerk Ricker-Pitts has and will continue to do the bulk of the cleaning inside the building until a new custodian is hired.

Following up on a question from last month, Director Keller contacted Assistant Public Works Director Brushwitz about the watering of the library’s plants. The person assigned by the city is supposed to water every other day.

The cleaning and maintenance schedule has been revised to better reflect the duties and responsibilities of the custodian. A copy is included in the board packet.

The parking control devices approved by the board in July’s meeting have arrived. They will be installed after the parking lots are resealed, which should be in the first couple of weeks of September.

A networking opportunity is being sponsored by the Illinois Heartland Library System at the Effingham Public Library on August 27 from 4 to 5 p.m. There will be a special presentation about levies and taxation. A teleconferencing site will be at Mt. Vernon Public Library. Director Keller will make reservations for any board member wanting to go.

The budget for continuing education is over extended. Director Keller requested that $400 more be added to this line item to cover future expenses. The board instructed Director Keller to post future costs of continuing education to the misc line item.

Director Keller has a request from the Salem Adventist Church to use the Library’s Reference Room for a class beginning September 17 and running through December 3. She informed them that the Rental Agreement is in current review and she could not allow them to have the use of the room for free as with a previous class they held here. They thought a $50 per day fee was too expensive but were willing to pay a $25 per day fee. Director Keller said that any reduction in fee would be a board decision.

The preliminary notice for IMRF rate in 2020 has the rate at 14%. A final notice of the new rate will be released in November. The City of Salem is currently paying at the rate of 11.60%.

Director Keller participated in a webinar, Security for Rural Librarians, on August 13. The Illinois Heartland Library System organized this event.

Director Keller updated the board of the plans for the Fall programs, attaching a report to the board packets. The board discussed many ideas for programs and Director Keller will pass along their suggestions to Program Director Shanafelt.

Board Members’ Reports

Trustee Raver updated the board on the boulder being purchased with funds from the Jim Raver Memorial fund. It has been ordered and should arrive any day. It pictures a green bookworm holding a red book. The wording on the boulder will be in black and have the library’s name and established date. It will be place in front of the rosebushes by the flagpole. She gave her personal check for the deposit of $200 and requests the board approve the check for the balance of $309 to be available upon delivery of the boulder. A motion to have a check ready for payment of the balance upon delivery of the boulder was made by Trustee McGuire with a second by Trustee Wilkerson. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

President Gaston made a suggestion to Director Keller to pass along to the Friends of the Bryan-Bennett Library of a fund raiser ideal. A contest is being sponsored by the Daffy Dill Garden Club in regards to the planting of the downtown planters. First prize is $500.

Trustee Wilkerson suggested that the library post events on social media of upcoming events. Director Keller already posts on the library’s Facebook page and the website but will make greater effort to keep the website more up to date. The library currently does not have the means to create a Twitter account or other social media methods different from the ones currently being used.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Wilzbach with a second by Trustee Wilkerson. All were in agreement. The meeting adjourned at 8:02pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 Ann Wilzbach                                                                                                                                                              BBL Board Secretary