Rock Island Today

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

PRESENT: Regina Nelson

Bob Poor

Dee Runnels

Franki Cunningham

Gary Koeller

Elaine Kaple

Wayne Smith

ABSENT: Diane Sommers

STAFF: Jennifer Christiansen, Circulation Services Coordinator

Callahan Herrig, Library Development Manager

Jan LaRoche, Adult/ Young Adult Services Coordinator

Bryon Lear, Director of Library Services

Deborah Shippy, Cataloging and Acquisitions Coordinator

Kristy Vermeulen, Administrative Coordinator- Library

GUESTS: Alderperson Abdur Razzaque

Tari Weeks

Call to Order

Library Board President, Regina Nelson, 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, and Smith present. Absent: Sommers

Recognition of Tari Weeks, Friends Board President

President Nelson thanked Tari Weeks for her years of service as Friends President.

Items on Consent

Approval of the Library Board Meeting Minutes November 9, 2023.

Approval of Moline Library Gardens Steering Committee Meeting Minutes November 7, 2023.

Approval of the November 2023 Bills.

Approval of the November 2023 Trust Fund Report.

Omnibus Vote

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

Correspondence

In packet and Lear shared thank you notes from local 1st graders from the Tiger Tales event in November.

Director’s Report

• Lear shared various Holiday programs going on including Santa Coming to Town, Ballet Quad Cities, Moline High School Choir, Max’s Merry Christmas, and gingerbread house kits.

• The Friends of the Moline Library approved the Library’s annual budget request of $43,100.

• Lear share that on January 1st a new law will be put into effect allowing the part-time Library Pages to earn personal time off. City Council approved 1 hour PTO per 40 hours worked.

• Lear shared the City is in the early stages of a new Municipal ID card program. The library would help participate this service, more information to come.

• Lear reminded the board of the upcoming Holiday closing dates, December 23rd through December 25th and December 30th through January 1st.

• Lear thanked the staff and board for a great year and wished them Happy Holidays.

Committee Reports

A. Executive Committee (Nelson, Poor, Runnels)

No meeting.

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

No meeting.

C. Policy Committee (Kaple, Sommers)

No meeting.

D. Art Committee (Runnels, Poor, Sommers)

No meeting. An update on the sculpture for the Library Gardens was shared noting Zahn has taken the maquette to the foundry. A committee meeting will be scheduled to approve the maquette. Lear and Zahn met with Shive-Hattery and discussed details of implementation of the sculpture and the base dimensions. Additional input needed on the words Zahn will be incorporating with the full sculpture. Nelson appointed Poor to the committee, after the departure of Schaefer.

E. Moline Library Gardens Steering Committee (Sommers, Koeller, Smith)

The committee met prior to the Board meeting with Shive-Hattery to discuss the updated cost projections and recommendations. Koeller shared a sidewalk waiver has been issued with the City in regards to forgoing a sidewalk on the south side of the property at this time. Discussions had on changing the bridge in the original 3D rendering, fence height, lowering the stage height, and cooling of the new vestibule. An electrical engineer gave updates on power sources and electrical needs for the space. Shive-Hattery provided various options for amenities. The committee plans to review the information in January and meet with Shive-Hattery prior to the February board meeting to finalize some specifics.

F. Moline Library Gardens Fundraising Committee (Nelson)

The committee met December 12th to discuss various fundraising opportunities, grants, and campaign mailing updates. Herrig met with the Teen Library Council and they plan to do a fundraiser for the Gardens. A member from the Council will also be writing a letter of support for an upcoming grant. Over 300 campaign letters to local Moline business were sent out this week, raising the total letters sent to over 1,000. Herrig continues to apply for grants including ones from T-Mobile and Rock Island County Retired Teachers Foundation. Discussion on joint donations from the Library staff and Library Board to appear on the donor wall. No specific deadline has been set for the end of fundraising for this project. It was noted that Giving Tuesday went well and that current fundraising totals are being displayed in the lobby at the Library.

Unfinished Business

Lear shared a 4th quarter strategic plan update. He highlighted several accomplishments this year including going fine free, several new partnerships, a new marketing plan, a website redesign, securing funds for an outreach vehicle, and major progress on the Gardens project. Discussion about meeting room fees, will review more at a later date.

New Business

The Library Bills of Rights was included in the packet and reviewed by the Board members. The law conditions state grant funding (such as the Per Capita Grant and Project Next Generation) on adopting ALA’s Library Bill of rights, or a similar written policy that would protect books and other resources from being “proscribed, removed, or restricted” based on "partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” Runnels, seconded by Kaple, motioned to adopt the Library Bill of Rights from the American Library Association. Motion carried and was approved unanimously.

Lear reviewed the 2024 Per Capita Grant requirements and confidently fulfilled 163 out of 179 items on the check list. Discussion had on the requirements.

Herrig and Lear met with Pour Bro’s in downtown Moline about a fundraising opportunity. Discussion had about hosting an event there in the spring.

Nelson appointed Runnels to review the closed session minutes.

Schaefer resigned from the Board after taking a position at the Moline- Coal Valley School District. The Mayor is working on appointing someone new.

Other Library Business

None.

Public Comment

None.

Executive Session

None.

Adjournment

There being no further business brought before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.

http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/9650