Rock Island Today

City of Moline Library Board of Trustees met Sept. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRESENT: Diane Sommers

Dee Runnels

Regina Nelson

Franki Cunningham

Gary Koeller

Elaine Kaple

Bob Poor

Kate Schaefer

Wayne Smith

ABSENT:

STAFF: Bryon Lear, Library Director

Callahan Herrig, Library Development Manager

Christina Conklin, Children’s Services Coordinator

Deborah Shippy, Cataloging and Acquisitions Coordinator

Jan LaRoche, Adult/ Young Adult Services Coordinator

Jennifer Christiansen, Circulation Services Coordinator

Kristy Vermeulen, Administrative Assistant

Marta Timbrook, Library Associate- Children’s

GUESTS:

Call to Order

Library Board President, Diane Sommers, called the meeting to order at 12:00p.m. in the Library Silver/Bronze Room.

Roll Call

Roll call was taken with Cunningham, Kaple, Koeller, Nelson, Poor, Runnels, Sommers, Schaefer, and Smith present. Absent: None.

Items on Consent

Approval of the Library Board Meeting Minutes August 10, 2023.

Approval of the August 2023 Bills.

Approval of the August 2023 Trust Fund Report.

Omnibus Vote

Poor, seconded by Smith, moved to approve items on consent agenda by omnibus vote. Motion carried with unanimous approval.

Correspondence

Included in packet.

Director’s Report

• Lear shared positive feedback from the joint In-Service day on August 21st with Rock Island Public Library, with possible consideration for another joint in-service in the future.

• Lear noted the website redesign launch on August 26th, including new features and a chat bot. Administrative team members have been training and monitoring the bot questions.

• On August 31st the press release for the Moline Library Gardens went live. Lear shared that local newspapers and television stations covered the story. The City of Moline Facebook page post received over 325 likes, over 120 shares, and had 23,000 views. WQAD’s Facebook post received over 400 likes as well. Lear shared a few comments from the social media posts.

• The library purchased a new translation device rounding out the Bartlett World Languages grant. Lear showed the Board how the device works, noting the 120 different languages and various dialects. Discussion had on the features and uses of the device.

• Lear gave budget update noting that City Council approved the August budget amendments. The 2024-2026 budget projections were mentioned and will be going to City Council at the end of October.

• Lear noted that going forward all Library Board members will be copied on all committee meeting agenda emails.

• The annual Library Board walk though will be scheduled in the coming months.

• The Moline Library Gardens Fundraising Committee, consisting of Lear, Christiansen, Herrig, Kim Schimmel, Vermeulen, and Library Board member Nelson, met on September 12th. The committee discussed fundraising goals, committed funding sources, additional donor opportunities, naming opportunities, levels of donors, and promotional materials. The hope is to add additional community members to the committee. A campaign letter is being drafted and expected soon, in addition to an informational brochure. Lear will notify the Board when the letter is printed and ready for distribution.

• Lear thanked the current slate of officers, the nominating committee will report on new board positions.

Committee Reports

A. Executive Committee (Sommers, Runnels, Nelson)

No meeting.

B. Building and Grounds Committee (Koeller, Cunningham, Smith)

No meeting.

C. Policy Committee (Kaple, Schaefer, Poor)

No meeting.

D. Art Committee (Nelson, Runnels, Sommers)

No meeting, one to be setup soon.

E. Moline Library Gardens Steering Committee (Sommers, Koeller, Smith) A meeting was held prior to the regular Library Board meeting. The committee discussed the proposed contract from Shive-Hattery for the design development and engineering of the gardens project. Lear sent the contract to City legal for review. The hope is to call a special board meeting at the end of September to approve the contract to stay on track with the timeline and have the project go out for bid in January/February of 2024.

Unfinished Business

A draft timeline and job description for the Student Library Trustee members was shared in the packet. There was discussion on the wording of the job description and minor edits were made.

The board plans to proceed with the Student Library Trustee members and will schedule a Policy Committee meeting in the coming weeks to revise the Library Bylaws.

New Business

The Nominating Committee, having determined eligibility and consent, presents the following slate of officers for the 2024 term.

President Regina Nelson

Vice President Bob Poor

Secretary Dee Runnels

Smith moved to accept the nominated slate of officers as the elected slate of officers. The motion was seconded by Schaefer and passed unanimously.

Poor moved to approve the additional closing dates on December 23, 2023 and December 30, 2023. The motion was seconded by Nelson and approved unanimously.

Koeller moved to accept the Library Closing Schedule for 2024 as presented. The motion was seconded by Kaple and approved unanimously.

Other Library Business

None.

Public Comment

None.

Executive Session

None.

Adjournment

There being no further business brought before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 12:47p.m.

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9409