INDIANHEAD FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM Board of Trustees July 26, 2017 M I N U T E S The Board of Trustees of the Indianhead Federated Library System met on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Deer Park Public Library, 112 Front Street West, Deer Park, Wisconsin. Mike Norman called the meeting to order at 1:37 pm. QUORUM AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN MEETINGS LAW: Joanne Gardner established that a quorum was present and certified that the meeting had been properly noticed in compliance with the open meeting law. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Anderson (St. Croix County); Mary Ellen Brue (St. Croix County); Jan Daus (Eau Claire County); Pat Eggert (Dunn County); Marilyn Holte (Chippewa County); Chuck Hull (Chippewa County); Kate Isakson (Polk County); Mildred Larson (Eau Claire County); Lyle Lieffring (Rusk County); Ron McLaughlin (Price County); Robert Mercord (Pierce County); Mike Norman (Pierce County); Louie Okey (Barron County); Jackie Pavelski (Eau Claire County); Linda Thompson (Barron County). BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Judith Achterhof (St. Croix County); Sue Duerkop (Polk County); Robert Eierman (Resource Library); Mary Fayerweather (Pepin County); Jim Tripp (Dunn County). OTHERS PRESENT: John Thompson (Director); Juli Button (Business Manager); Joanne Gardner (Administrative Associate/Recorder); Barbara Krueger (Director of Deer Park Public Library); Kimberly Hennings (C.A. Friday Memorial Public Library-New Richmond, Advisory Council Representative for St. Croix County). APPROVE AGENDA: MOTION #29 (17) : To approve the July 26, 2017 Agenda as presented. Lieffring/Brue PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. - 1 -
ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE/INTRODUCTIONS: Barbara Krueger was introduced as the Director of the Deer Park Public Library. Barbara provided a brief visual presentation and then followed with a tour of the library. The Board thanked Barbara and the staff with a round of applause for welcoming the Board to their library. MINUTES: MOTION #30 (17) : To approve the Board of Trustees minutes dated May 24, 2017 (Doc. #028-17). McLaughlin/Mercord MOTION #31 (17) : MOTION #32 (17) : To acknowledge receipt of the Personnel Committee minutes dated May 24, 2017 (Doc. #027-17). Daus/Holte To acknowledge receipt of the Advisory Council of Librarian minutes dated June 5, 2017 (Doc. #029-17). Okey/Daus FINANCIAL REPORTS: MOTION #33 (17) : To approve the May/June 2017 Check Registers (Doc. #030-17). Lieffring/Holte Button welcomed questions and acknowledged there are several abbreviations and acronyms in the financial statements. Questions were asked about bulk purchase of paper rolls and the standup desks for several staff. MOTION #34 (17) : To approve the May/June 2017 Financial Reports (Doc. #31-17). Okey/Lieffring IFLS will start the revision of the 2017 budget soon and prepare the preliminary 2018 budget for Board approval at the September meeting. Questions were asked about the delivery charges including the fuel surcharge and courier bins; payment to L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library for a Collection Development Grant which is used for purchase of specialized materials and databases. MID-YEAR INVESTMENT REPORT: Button noted there was almost $2,300 over the budget in Interest Income. Currently, all funds are in the Select Investor Account which has an interest rate of.96% as of June. There have been no changes in how funds are vested. Button checked with Bank Mutual if they can do better since we have $200,000 with them. She hasn t heard back and may check around for better rates. - 2 -
AGENDA ITEMS & DIRECTOR S REPORT: Thompson did not have a lot to add to the written report provided. Jacquie Pooler, Director of the Plum City Public Library is moving and they are holding a reception at the library this afternoon from 3-6 pm. They did interview some candidates for the director position. Bruce Area Library had seven applicants for the director position. Thompson is not actively involved in their hiring process. Work will begin soon on the 2017 Revised and 2018 Preliminary Budget. Since the State Budget hasn t been finalized, it is not clear how much State Aids IFLS will received. IFLS received 5-6 applications for the PR/Communications position. Thompson, Falkenberg, and Welch will interview 3 of the applicants. Two librarians from the system are also involved in the interview process. A great deal of Thompson s time has been involved in the PLSR (Public Library System Redesign) process. Trustee Training Week will be held August 21-25 th with one hour webinars each day. A flyer with the information was provided. The webinars will be archived. Some libraries have invited their local trustees in to watch the webinars together as a board development tool. They are good sessions focused on library boards. Katherine Elchert (Rice Lake), Hollis Helmeci (Ladysmith-Rusk County Community Library), and Dawn Wacek served on a panel at the Lake Superior Symposium. There were about 90 in attendance. It is offered to a combination of Minnesota and Wisconsin academic and public libraries. The theme was Beyond Neutral. LIBRARY SYSTEM REDESIGN UPDATE: The Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) Steering Committee is overseeing the PLSR Process of how services will be provided to public libraries in Wisconsin. The appointment was made by the State Superintendent almost two years ago as an outgrowth of the LEAN study by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) looking at whether some efficiencies can be made by reallocation of state funding. There are seven workgroups looking at all system services including: technology, interloan, ILS, consulting, continuing education, as well as Collection Development and Electronic resources to assess if there are more effective models to provide equitable service across the state of Wisconsin. The PLSR process is entering Phase III which is the final process before issuing a report indicating new service models. The workgroups have until March 2018 to turn their reports over to the PLSR Steering Committee. The service models will be shared at the Fall Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) conference. There will be time to tweak and share the service models with the PLSR Steering Committee prior to turning the report in to the State Superintendent. - 3 -
Thompson noted that the outcome of this process hasn t been decided and it may change how library systems are structured making it easier for libraries to access expertise. Currently, not all systems share the same expertise in each area of service mandates. The outcome of the study is to develop how best to provide services uniformly throughout the State of Wisconsin. The PLSR Steering Committee held a two day retreat in July where they received input from the workgroups and system directors and built a timeline framework. One of the outcomes was to provide more outward presentations in 10 different regions of the state this fall. This will be done in lieu of holding a presentation at each of the 16 systems. Additionally, every month the PLSR Steering Committee will hold a virtual Q&A session on a topic and receive feedback. All information received of the committee is posted to the PLSR website. The timeline of the PLSR Steering Committee is a living framework that will be adjusted as the activities are further developed. The committee provides regular updates to the DPI staff and also check in with the State Superintendent. Norman inquired if Thompson could provide a headline for where things are at this point in the process. Thompson responded it would be Wisconsin achieves equitable service to public libraries. Pavelski asked if one of the directives was to reduce the amount of state monies to systems. Thompson stated that no directive to reduce monies to systems was provided for the process. L. Thompson shared that she was impressed with the process and the team that is working on it. Thompson thought all team members are dedicated and working hard. Hennings felt the process was very transparent and information readily available. Brue commended Thompson for his involvement in the process. IFLS will continue to serve as fiscal agents for the process and WiLS will continue to be the project manager. If Board members have questions, they should contact Thompson who can address questions and pass along information. DIRECTOR ACCOUNTABILITIES: Thompson provided a progress update on the 2016-2017 accountabilities along with the new accountabilities for July 2017-June 2018 as part of the Director Evaluation. Personnel Committee Chair, Anderson, did not receive communication from Board members, staff, or librarians with issues or concerns on the Director s performance. MOTION #35 (17) : To approve the Director Accountabilities for July 2016-June 2017 and July 2017-June 2018 as presented (Doc. 034-17). Brue/L. Thompson - 4 -
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: There is still not a State Budget in place which was to be passed by July 1 st. Without a new budget in place, funding continues at the previous year funding level. There is language out there to eliminate the 13% indexing for system aids from the Statute. Systems have never even been close to the 13% indexing level. Currently systems are around 6%. By removing this language, it allows the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) more flexibility in requests for additional funding. REPORTS: Staff reports were included in the electronic board meeting packet. Thompson asked if there were questions. Advisory Council report: Kim Hennings was present to give a report on behalf of the Advisory Council of Librarians representing St. Croix County. She also provided information on the happenings at the New Richmond Public Library. The Advisory Council met on June 5, 2017 and received updates on Library Legislation and the Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) process. The Council provides updates from the libraries within each county. Hennings noted that the Advisory Council meeting date was the kickoff of events for the Summer Reading Program in New Richmond and today was the finale. New Richmond is in the process of working on a building project and have a site which is where a former middle school was torn down. The City and School District are finalizing the purchase agreement for the City to take over the 4 acre site in town. As part of the building project, MSR was hired as the architect. They are working on fundraising and conducting a feasibility study. Hennings noted that Thompson has been involved in the selection of the architect and working with the planning committee through the process. Hennings noted that New Richmond native, John Doar, was a civil rights and impeachment hero. New Richmond is celebrating the life and legacy of John Doar with the grand opening of the John Doar history trail and holding a community celebration in August. As part of the celebration, there will be an opportunity to meet Geraldine Hollis (civil rights pioneer and author). Board Member reports: L. Thompson announced that Rice Lake Library Board has agreed in May to go fine-free. Director Katherine Elchert made a strong rationale presentation showing that this would be the best for service to patrons. Thompson added that Rice Lake first started going fine free on children s materials. It was noted that this seems to be a trend nationwide. There has been some drawback in communities where fine money is part of their revenue stream. Hammond has gone fine free as well, but only for checkouts within their building. Brue noted that Baldwin will be holding a program entitled Immigration Myths and Facts on July 31 st. The program will look at common myths about immigrants and facts about why they come here and how they live. - 5 -
Motion to adjourn at 3:10 pm by Lieffring/Brue ADJOURNMENT: Joanne Gardner, Recorder/Administrative Associate These minutes of the Board of Trustees are approved: Presiding Officer as printed. with corrections noted. Dated - 6 -