Fargo Public Library Board - December 17, 2019 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Board Members Present: Rachael Steenholdt, Mary Batcheller, Carlos Hawley Jr., Whitney Oxendahl, Carrie Peterson
Board Members Absent: Jan Ulferts Stewart, Scott Beaulier
Staff: Tim Dirks, Beth Postema, Lori West, Sunny Branick, Betsy Dauer
Others Present:
President, Rachael Steenholdt called the meeting to order at 4:03 PM, and a quorum was declared.
Order of Agenda
A motion was made by Carlos Hawley Jr. to approve the Order of the Agenda. Carrie Peterson seconded the motion; motion carried.
Minutes of November 19, 2019 Regular Meeting
Mary Batcheller made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2019 meeting. Carlos Hawley Jr. seconded the motion; motion carried.
Staff Report
Sunny Branick presented a few highlights of staff updates and events.
Staff updates and Staff development activities:
• Holiday Brunch – Thank you Friends!
• Library Associate II – Main will be hiring a new LAII.
Programming:
For a full list of all upcoming FPL activity visit FargoLibrary.org Upcoming Events & Programs (a partial and incomplete list):
Childrens
• Dec. 27 – Main Library at 2 p.m. LEGO Mania Design Contest. Show off your creativity at the Fargo Public Library's annual Lego Mania Design Contest! Kids 12 and under are invited to participate. Build an original creation at home, then bring it to the Main Library on Monday, Dec. 30 between 2 and 3 p.m. Judging will begin at 3 p.m. and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Games and other activities will take place in the Children's Room to pass the time while we await the judges' decisions. Pre-registration is required. To register: call Children’s Services at 701.241.1495. Before you begin to build, please check out the rules and guidelines. Good luck!
• Dec. 31 – Main Library at 11 a.m. Frozen New Year's Eve Party. Do you want to build a snowman? Come on let’s go and play! We know it’s cold outside, but the cold never bothered you anyway, right? Join us on New Year’s Eve at the Main library where we’ll be letting go of 2019 and sliding into 2020 with a Frozen New Year’s Eve Celebration! This will be a magical morning filled with Frozen themed activities, crafts, and snacks. Come test the limits and break through! We promise this celebration will be worth melting for. This event is open to families with children of all ages. All materials will be provided and no pre-registration is required to attend.
Teens
• Dec. 19 – Northport Library at 4 p.m. Origami Crane Mobile. Interested in Origami? Learn the basics of Origami and make an Origami Crane Mobile. Open to ages 10-18. All materials provided. Pre-registration required. Register online or call Sara at 701.298.6960 for more info.
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Dr. James Carlson Library at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. Escape the Library. Test your sleuth skills and solve clues with your team to “break-out” of the library. Grades 6-12. All materials provided. Pre-registration required. Registration opens December 9. Register online or call 701.476.5978 for more info.
Adults
• Dec. 17 – Main Library at 6:30 p.m. Mental Wellness Education Series- Battling the Winter Blues. This presentation by Jeana Scheffler, MS, LAPC, Therapist at Prairie St. John’s, focuses on effective ways to manage our emotions during the tough winter months. Learn what signs and symptoms to watch for in yourself and others and discover a more effective way to battle the winter blues.
Director’s Report
Director Tim Dirks referred the Board to his written report in the Board Packet.
Statistical Reports
Usage
The library had 37,001 registered patrons for the month of November. Attendance was down 4% year to date. Program attendance was up 26% year to date. Volunteer hours were down 13% year to date, Director Dirks noted the yoga volunteer hours had not been received yet this year so the decrease is not as significant as it looks as those hours will be recorded hopefully this year yet. Internet signups were down 13% year to date. Print circulation was up 2.08% year to date. Nonprint circulation was up 2.11% year to date. Total circulation year to date is 971,325 circulations.
Financials
The year is 92% lapsed while the budget is 87.11% expended. There was $25 incoming donations. Expenditures of donations totaled $1,459. Revenue is at $51,666.57 year to date.
Friends of the Library Report
No Friends report.
Unfinished Business
Computer Use Violation Procedure
At the November 2019 Library Board meeting the Computer Use Policy was revised. In that conversation the Board had asked for clarification of how violations were handled. Director Dirks brought the Computer Use Violation Procedure to the Board for review. This was an action though no action was recommended or taken by the Board.
New Business
Reference Services Overview
Deputy Director, Beth Postema, came to speak about the services that Reference offers at the library. She gave an overview focusing on how Reference focuses on connections and connecting patrons to services and materials. The Board thanked her for the overview and asked a few questions.
Board Orientation Ad Hoc Committee
President, Rachael Steenholdt spoke about creating an ad hoc committee for creating a Library Board orientation packet that would take a look at how we bring Board members on and what our Board needs to know.
A motion was made by Carlos Hawley Jr. to approve the formation of a Board Orientation Ad Hoc Committee. Mary Batcheller seconded the motion; motion carried.
Board members interested in joining the committee are Rachael Steenholdt, Mary Batcheller and Whitney Oxendahl. Rachael added Jan Ulferts Stewart to the list though she was not present.
Director Dirks will follow up with the City of Fargo attorney how to proceed if this committee has a quorum of Board members and will report back to the Board.
Public Comment
No public comment.
Next Board Meeting
The next regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2019 at 4:00 PM.
The meeting adjourned at 5:12 PM.