Bryan-Bennett Library

Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

May 21, 2019

 Call to order

President Gaston called the regular monthly library board meeting to order at 6:50 pm with the following trustees present: Tom Champion, Jane Gaston, Lynn Larimer, Joyce Raver, and Ann Wilzbach. Trustees Jack McGuire, Jane Mordecai and Gayla Wilkerson were absent. Also in attendance were Library Director Kim Keller and Library Assistant Director Kim Baldridge. Visitors were Joyce Hahn, Bob Hahn, Jr, Patti Hahn, Barry Hahn and Modern Woodmen of America Representative Jane Wayer.

Public Comment

Prior to the board meeting, the library board thanked retiring board member Joyce Hahn for her years of service. Light refreshments were served. Jane Wayer, representative from Modern Woodmen of America, presented the library with a $2,500 grant for the purchase of new shelving. Most of the matching grant funds were provided by the Hahn family in loving memory of Robert “Bob” Hahn.

Secretary’s Report

The minutes of the April 2019 board meeting were approved as presented on a motion by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present approved.

Treasurer’s Report

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

The asset report for May 2019 was approved on a motion by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

The bills for May 2019 totaling $15,342.58 were examined and approved on a motion by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

Committee Reports

No committee reports at this time.

New Business

1. Selection of Library Board Officers for Fiscal Year 2019-2020-Board officers nominated were Jane Gaston for President, Joyce Raver for Vice President, Gayla Wilkerson for Treasurer, Ann Wilzbach for Secretary and Jack McGuire for Ethics officer. A motion to select those nominated for office was made by Trustee Champion with a second by Trustee Larimer. All present voted “yes” on roll call.
2. Non-Resident Card-A motion to continue to offer a non-resident card for the year beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 at a cost of $50 was made by Trustee Larimer with a second by Trustee Raver. All agreed.
3. Letter to City Manager for property taxes payable in 2019-A motion to send the annual letter to the city manager as it was presented was made by Trustee Wilzbach with a second by Trustee Champion. All present voted “yes” on roll call.

Unfinished Business

1. Proposed Fiscal Year 2020 Budget-A motion to approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 as presented was made by Trustee Larimer with a second by Trustee Wilzbach. All voted ‘yes” on roll call.

Director’s Report

Friends of the Bryan-Bennett Library donated $250 to be used toward the coffee hospitality. Due to abuse of the coffee hospitality by some patrons it is being recessed until fall. Then it will be offered limited hours to accommodate the library’s programs.

Staff has noticed an upsurge in the homeless transient population.

The building has been utilized by several groups among them a representative from Representative Wilhour’s office, Grace Church of the Nazarene, Seventh Day Adventists , Modern Woodmen of America, and a census program.  Domino and card games continue to meet. Plus the director has proctored several real estate tests.

Summer Reading Time will begin on June 7 with a preschool story time. Story time will be offered each Friday in June and July. Book Bingo for all ages will begin in July. Program Director Pullium has scheduled a giant Summer Reading Party on July 2 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The city will close Elm Street next to the library for this. A bouncy house and grilled hot dogs are among the festivities so far for this event. A therapy dog will be in the Library on Tuesdays from 11 to 12 in July. Each child who signs up will be able to read to the dog for 10 minutes. Elsenpeter Marionettes will be here on July 9 at 1 pm. The program will be “Famous Native American Stories”. Once again, children will be given a tour of the Community Garden on July 12 at 10 am. The Whip Guy will present a program on July 18 at 1 pm. The library will also be coordinating Summer Reading activities with Representative Wilhour’s office. Each community will compete to  see whose children will turn in the most reading logs. The winning community will be awarded a Pizza Party for turning in the most book logs.

Director Keller attended Reaching Forward South at SIU-C. She shared some of her thoughts and comments on the events she attended.

In staff news:

• Chris Watkins has been hired as the new maintenance person.
• Circulation Clerk Jennifer McConnaughhay’s last day is May 31. Jennifer has graduated from high school and will be attending college.
• Circulation Clerk Nick Waller’s last day in June 15. He has accepted a full-time position with the Maryville Public Library.
• Circulation Clerks Nick Waller and Juanita Ricker-Pitts have been doing double duty filling in the gaps left by the vacancy in the maintenance position.
• Staff held an Administrator’s Appreciation Day for Director Keller and Assistant Director Baldridge.

Carpets were cleaned and the gym floor buffed on April 27.

The board instructed Director Keller to replace only one of the staff positions that will be open due to staff resignations.

Board Members’ Reports

President Gaston expressed concern about letting church and/or religious groups use the library rooms for free or at all. She also expressed concern about Homeschool groups use of the library rooms to conduct group classes for free or at all. After a discussion, it was decided by the board to review the Room use Policy again and specify who may utilize the library’s rooms and who will be allowed to use a room for free. Director Keller will look into what other libraries do in the same circumstances. Trustee Larimer feels there may be some other “murky” areas in the Policy that need to be addressed as well.

Trustee Larimer would like to see the library “reach out” to new members of the community. Ideas were discussed.

Trustee Raver would like to by a large stone to be place on the corner by the flag pole. It would be engraved with the library’s name and established date. She would like to purchase it through funds donated in memory of James Raver. No one objected.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Trustee Wilzbach with a second by Trustee Champion. All agreed. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

 Kim Baldridge                                                                                                                                                             BBL Assistant Director