Fargo Public Library Board - September 21, 2021 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Board Members Present: Scott Beaulier, Carlos Hawley Jr., Rachael Steenholdt, Whitney Oxendahl, Kristen Schipper, Jenna Reno, Carrie Peterson
Board Members Absent:
Staff: Tim Dirks, Megan Richardson, Betsy Dauer
Others Present:
President Scott Beaulier called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and a quorum was declared. This meeting was attended virtually and in person.
Order of Agenda
A motion was made by Carlos Hawley Jr. to approve the Order of the Agenda. Jenna Reno seconded the motion; motion carried.
Minutes of August 17, 2021 Regular Meeting
Carlos Hawley Jr. made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 20, 2021 meeting. Scott Beaulier seconded the motion; motion carried.
Staff Report
Megan Richardson presented a few highlights of staff updates and events.
Community Engagement Events:
• Library card sign-up event – September 22, at the Livingston Lord Library at MSUM
• Library staff will be at the Red River Market – October 2, at Broadway Square
Programming:
Upcoming Featured Events & Programs (for a full list of all upcoming FPL activities, visit FargoLibrary.org). All programs are subject to change due to COVID numbers.
Children
• StoryWalk®: Fall 2021— Main Library Sodbuster Plaza
• Festive Fall Farm Storytime & Petting Zoo. October 2, 11am-12:30 pm
• Pumpkin Decorating. Make your pumpkin scary or make it nice.
-October 20, 6pm – Dr. James Carlson Library
-October 21, 4pm – Main Library
• Virtual Fall Storytime
Session One: October 4 – November 3
-Main Library – Mondays at 10am, 11am, or 6:30pm
-Northport Branch – Tuesdays at 10am or 11am
-Carlson Library – Wednesdays at 10am or 11am
Session Two: November 8 – December 8 (this may be virtual as well)
-Main Library – Mondays at 10am, 11am, or 6:30pm
-Northport Branch – Tuesdays at 10am or 11am
-Carlson Library – Wednesdays at 10am or 11am
Teens
• Teen Time. Tuesdays, October 5 – December 14, 3:30-5pm.
Adults
• One Book One Community. This year’s choice is Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask written by Anton Treuer, a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University. Copies of the book are available for checkout in several formats (physical and digital) as well as part of book club kits.
• Author Event with Anton Treuer. October 26, 7pm. At Concordia College and will be streamed live.
• American Indian Boarding Schools and the Doctrine of Discovery. September 29, 6:30pm.
• Book Clubs.
-History Book Club, September 28 – The Trouble with Taiwan by Kerry Brown
-Sense of Place, October 7 – It Would Be Night in Caracas by Karina Sainz Borgo
-Tea Time Book Club, October 11 – There There by Tommy Orange
-Diverse Perspectives, October 14 – Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer
-Senior Book Club, October 19 – Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
-Classics Book Club, October 20 – The Pasture of Heaven by John Steinbeck
• Go & Grow: Houseplants – October 11.
• Crochet Pumpkins
-September 23, 6pm – Northport Library
-September 25, 2pm – Dr. James Carlson Library
• Jazz into Fall Concerts. Sundays in October, 2pm
Multigenerational
• Design a Bookmark Contest. Entries are due at the end of September.
• Friday Movies at Carlson
October 8: Cruella (PG-13)
• ARTober Digital Showcase
Exhibit
• The library is hosting “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World” an educational exhibit that recounts the events of September 11, 2001
Director’s Report
Director Tim Dirks referred the Board to his written report in the Board Packet and gave a library covid update.
Currently no staff are out due to covid. Program adjustments are being made as numbers change. Masking is required by staff per city policy.
Unfinished Business
No unfinished business.
New Business
Naming Rights Policy Review
Director Tim Dirks referred the Board to the Naming Rights in the Board Packet. No changes were recommended for this review.
A motion was made by Carlos Hawley Jr. to approve the Meeting Room Policy as is. Jenna Reno seconded the motion; motion carried.
Outreach Policy Review
Director Tim Dirks referred the Board to the Outreach Policy in the Board Packet. No changes were recommended for this review.
A motion was made by Kristen Schipper to approve the Outreach Policy as is. Carlos Hawley Jr. seconded the motion; motion carried.
Statistical Reports
Usage
The Library had 29,528 registered patrons for the month of August. Program attendance was 2,558. Circulation was up 18.47% compared to August of the previous year. Overall circulation year to date is 567,148.
Financials
There was $3,095 of incoming donations. There was $1,720 expenditures of donations. The year is 67% lapsed while the budget is 64.99% expended. Revenue is at $11,962.22 year to date.
Friends of the Library Report
Friends President, Patrick Sinner, gave a brief overview of recent Friends activity and funding requests from the library. There will be a Friends book sale October 7th-9th.
Public Comment
Christopher Coen spoke about President Scott Beaulier not meeting with him and a records request for reasons why weeded picture books were deselected from the collection. He stated the explanation he got as to why the request couldn’t be fulfilled is because thousands of items are deleted each year and a reason isn’t selected on each individual item.
Next Board Meeting
The next regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 4 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 4:23 p.m.