[0:05] [music]
[0:06] Well, it's five o'clock. We have quorum.
[0:09] We just jump into this and maybe we'll
[0:11] get a few more people walking in. We
[0:14] will see. But since we're all here, I'm
[0:16] going to call the meeting to order. Um,
[0:19] do we have approval of this evening's
[0:22] meeting agenda?
[0:24] >> I move we approve the agenda for
[0:26] tonight.
[0:27] >> We have second.
[0:29] John Wii, our minute taker, needs to
[0:31] know it. Okay. All those in favor?
[0:35] >> I I
[0:36] Okay, so let's move on. Anyone from the
[0:39] public here? Any cold souls? I don't see
[0:42] anyone unless our staff are wearing two
[0:44] hats and they want to be a public member
[0:46] tonight. [sighs and gasps] Um items we
[0:49] discussed. Let's jump into the bylaws.
[0:53] Okay. So, the draft before you the
[0:54] bylaws includes the draft changes and
[0:57] memo from the November packet. There's
[0:59] no changes from that. A couple of
[1:01] situational change. There are
[1:03] situational changes since November um to
[1:06] be aware of. So, the Iowa Supreme Court
[1:07] ruled on what was an appellet an appeals
[1:11] court decision about closed meetings
[1:14] especially related to the hiring of the
[1:16] library director or evaluating the
[1:17] library director.
[1:18] >> Okay. The new Iowa Supreme Court ruling
[1:20] at the end of November returns to the
[1:22] original understanding of what when a
[1:25] closed meeting is appropriate. The
[1:27] individual in those situations either in
[1:29] the high or the the um applicant or the
[1:33] library director asking for an or
[1:35] getting an evaluation must request a
[1:37] closed session and then you must vote in
[1:39] favor to do so.
[1:42] >> So that returns to our old
[1:44] interpretation of this.
[1:46] >> All right. Does that impact?
[1:50] We were really um trying to be careful
[1:53] with the last round
[1:56] calling things working committees or we
[1:59] have to go back or sub yeah committees
[2:02] or whatever there's some language in
[2:04] here that I think we're right to
[2:05] >> exact yeah okay
[2:06] >> and there might be something if you have
[2:08] questions too and we go on some changes
[2:10] we'll send them to legal to make sure
[2:12] that we perfect understanding but yeah
[2:14] every every change and how we understood
[2:17] um committees or close sessions
[2:21] um has gone back to yes the original
[2:23] understanding
[2:24] >> the original being the anti- status quo
[2:29] >> the the one that used to that a year ago
[2:32] >> back to yeah this
[2:34] >> not not the uh
[2:35] >> not the new
[2:36] >> not the one that we sort of
[2:37] >> right from the last year eras the last
[2:40] year
[2:42] >> so committees can still
[2:45] meet in private
[2:48] >> that's my understanding But
[2:50] >> okay, that wasn't what I understood from
[2:52] the city's note.
[2:54] >> So, I'm glad you're clarifying that.
[2:58] I thought the city was again saying that
[3:03] we needed to look at the difference
[3:06] between working groups and committees.
[3:09] >> It says concern whether or not
[3:17] » I didn't understand that one.
[3:21] Did anyone else have that interpretation
[3:23] that the attorney was still saying
[3:25] committees need to be public?
[3:27] >> I don't I don't have those that memo in
[3:31] front of me, but that was my
[3:33] interpretation as I read it.
[3:36] May be wrong, but
[3:38] >> Eric Oers's memo.
[3:40] >> Yeah. Okay.
[3:44] Then
[3:46] you
[3:50] So the Supreme Court has thrown
[3:51] everything out that all the revisions
[3:54] that had been made. So we're back to the
[3:56] place where you can have committees.
[3:59] Is that correct?
[4:00] >> That's what we're trying to clarify. The
[4:02] memo really spoke to going into closed
[4:04] sessions,
[4:05] >> right?
[4:07] >> Which was
[4:09] >> Yeah.
[4:13] » Um I can get a clarification from city
[4:15] attorney's office.
[4:17] not specific.
[4:19] >> Okay. It it feels to me like a lot of
[4:21] the changes to the bylaws had to do with
[4:24] interpreting that. So given the
[4:27] intervening Supreme Court decision,
[4:30] maybe we need to go back to the drawing
[4:33] board on this and see what needs to
[4:35] change and what doesn't anymore, which
[4:38] you know, now that we've delayed it for
[4:40] two months. However, we do we do need to
[4:43] approve a version of it tonight. whether
[4:46] it's the original version without
[4:49] um the adjustments
[4:51] >> because we we are hitting a timeline for
[4:54] accreditation that we need to look at
[4:56] our bylaws.
[4:57] >> Okay.
[4:58] >> So, we could follow your recommendation
[5:00] and even vote on keeping the bylaws as
[5:03] they originally were and then coming
[5:06] back to this to examine the
[5:08] recommendations from the bylaws working
[5:10] group as as an option. saying tonight we
[5:14] need to vote to have bylaws that we're
[5:16] operating out there.
[5:18] >> We could put um the policy say as
[5:20] reviewed at this date and then you
[5:23] wouldn't have to vote because you would
[5:24] be keeping the policy the exact same way
[5:26] and then we could put it back on an a
[5:28] future agenda. Okay. Who was in the
[5:32] bylaws working group?
[5:35] >> John and Corey. The working group.
[5:37] >> John and Cy.
[5:38] >> Yeah. I'm Yes.
[5:40] >> And Corey's not here tonight. Okay. So
[5:42] it' be hard to have the discussion
[5:44] without Corey. Also,
[5:46] >> I mean, do do you agree that a lot of
[5:48] these changes had to do with that change
[5:50] to the law or
[5:55] » Yeah.
[5:55] >> The only thing that I think has changed
[5:58] is the business of committees and open
[6:00] meetings
[6:02] >> and I think we can deal with that. Uh I
[6:05] don't think that's such an obstruction.
[6:07] The the idea of working groups, visav
[6:11] committees, it strikes me as totally
[6:13] specious. That would never stand up in a
[6:16] court. If you went in and said, well, we
[6:18] have working committees and we have
[6:20] working groups. We have committees and
[6:22] they don't do the same thing.
[6:23] >> Well, the working groups did not have
[6:25] the power that a committee had. They
[6:27] could not take action. Well, it says in
[6:30] the bylaws here that it tells you that,
[6:33] but of course the committees don't have
[6:35] the power to act in in lie of the board
[6:39] either. It can report to the board, but
[6:42] it can't act in lie of them.
[6:43] >> Okay. So, maybe what we should do this
[6:46] evening is get that confirmed
[6:50] um by the city attorney so that we have
[6:53] the interpretation. Are committees able
[6:55] to meet and are they do we need working
[6:57] groups? And then by the box club night
[7:00] they reviewed what the bylaws were
[7:03] because kind of in a no man's land.
[7:05] Yeah.
[7:06] >> I mean I I was going over them and three
[7:09] months since I I done my revisions I
[7:11] forgot
[7:12] >> and I feel bad that people put effort
[7:14] into this. I just feel like we're in a
[7:16] changing political environment and we
[7:18] didn't know what the court decision
[7:19] would be.
[7:20] >> Yeah.
[7:20] >> And now we're looking at the
[7:22] interpretation of that. So, I want to
[7:24] respect that the the work that was done,
[7:27] but at the same time, I don't want you
[7:28] to have to do it over and over and over
[7:30] again. So, I'm wondering if we should
[7:32] mark that we review these for this
[7:34] evening,
[7:36] get a clarification from the attorneys
[7:39] and then come back to this again. Does
[7:41] that make the most sense to people?
[7:43] >> I think Well, yeah, because I now I'm
[7:45] looking through this and some of these
[7:47] probably don't need another review.
[7:49] Mostly the things about
[7:51] >> But we could review it all in one body.
[7:53] Yeah, that's what I'm saying is that a
[7:54] lot of this stuff probably doesn't need
[7:56] Taylor revision, but like it looks good,
[7:59] but stuff about committees and
[8:02] groups then
[8:04] >> that would be article 4 section two,
[8:09] article five, section three.
[8:14] I'm assuming others
[8:19] um this is not specifically related what
[8:22] we're talking about but it's it's
[8:25] sort of tangential on article for
[8:28] section
[8:31] uh the second paragraph
[8:34] it talks about the search committee
[8:38] making an appointment
[8:41] and that the board is then authorized to
[8:43] affirm or deny the appointment. It seems
[8:46] to me that appointment should be changed
[8:48] to recommendation.
[8:50] >> Yeah. Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Maybe as as
[8:54] we have the city attorney's office look
[8:56] at the whole thing, we'll highlight that
[8:58] too.
[9:04] Now
[9:05] that article four says the board
[9:08] appoints committees makes appointments
[9:10] to the friends foundation board
[9:14] but not to
[9:18] not not on hiring decisions.
[9:22] >> Hiring decisions by full board
[9:24] [clears throat]
[9:25] >> by full board.
[9:25] >> Yeah. So, I mean, this is this is only a
[9:31] am I misreading this or misunderstanding
[9:34] what you're saying?
[9:35] >> I think she's looking at the last word
[9:37] in the paragraph.
[9:38] >> Uhhuh.
[9:39] >> Of which one?
[9:41] >> Of article four, section four.
[9:44] >> Section four.
[9:44] >> Yeah, it says in the event of choosing a
[9:46] new library director,
[9:50] >> which is why I made that connection. But
[9:53] so it's saying to make a recommendation
[9:55] and the board of trustees is authorized
[9:57] to affirm or well I guess the
[9:58] appointment is the correct word. They
[10:00] make a recommendation
[10:01] and the board makes the appointment.
[10:04] >> Why couldn't we just say the board of
[10:06] trustees is then authorized to affirm or
[10:09] deny the recommendation?
[10:10] >> That's that was my thought as well
[10:12] >> instead of the word appointment
[10:15] >> or recommended appointment [laughter]
[10:17] >> as if it were already made.
[10:19] >> Yeah.
[10:19] That that makes it clear.
[10:21] >> The recommendation. Yeah.
[10:23] >> Yeah.
[10:28] » The one thing that doesn't have to do
[10:30] with the law too, the other thing is the
[10:32] regular meeting schedule.
[10:34] >> They've been discussing whether we
[10:36] should continue with a regular meeting
[10:37] time.
[10:40] Um I think this is work over time, but
[10:42] I'd like to know what the working group
[10:43] was thinking about that.
[10:44] >> Well, it was Corey who was thinking
[10:46] about it, so I have to speak for him,
[10:48] but he said this gives more liberal
[10:53] control to the board every every year,
[10:57] right,
[10:57] >> to determine when they're going to meet.
[11:00] >> And this has to do with people with
[11:02] children. And you know, it's a it's a
[11:04] more complicated business than
[11:07] >> many of us thought of as as being years
[11:11] ago, but it just allows for some
[11:14] flexibility in this.
[11:17] And we might want to say that at the
[11:19] beginning first meeting of the of the
[11:21] year, well first meeting of the fiscal
[11:24] year that the the uh board then for the
[11:29] ne will up determine a meeting time for
[11:33] the next year.
[11:36] >> I mean I think that was the that's why
[11:38] he wanted that change. And then at first
[11:42] I I boked a bit but I think he was
[11:44] right.
[11:45] >> Yeah.
[11:47] I guess my only concern was the
[11:49] transparency of the community knowing
[11:51] this is when we always meet if they
[11:52] wanted to address us. However, you're
[11:54] right, we'd still be posting it.
[11:56] >> Yeah, it'll be
[11:58] >> um So, should we hold off that
[12:00] discussion? Should we have Corey to let
[12:01] us know what he's thinking too and just
[12:03] come back to this because I don't think
[12:05] it'll take us long to go through this
[12:06] next month if we have a clean version.
[12:10] >> Did the city attorney have an opinion on
[12:12] this? The meeting times? No,
[12:17] >> maybe city attorney review was also
[12:19] before the
[12:23] » but I can send that question to death
[12:25] meeting. I do think though that it is
[12:28] important for continuity sake to have a
[12:32] designated,
[12:33] you know.
[12:34] >> Yeah. I I mix because I've had other
[12:37] commissions for the city.
[12:39] >> They're not all topsyturvy, are they?
[12:41] >> They're not. They have explicit when you
[12:43] apply saying this is when the board
[12:46] meets. So that it's in the staff
[12:48] schedule. It's in everyone's schedule.
[12:51] So there's no negotiation. It's just
[12:53] like if you apply this is what the group
[12:55] meets.
[12:56] >> That's what I was as well. It would be
[12:58] noticed to people who are thinking about
[13:00] applying
[13:01] >> right about whether it would fit in
[13:02] their calendar or not. Now granted they
[13:04] could have input
[13:06] >> you know when the when the group decides
[13:08] for the coming year but
[13:10] >> in some ways as an applicant it's nice
[13:13] to know what the expectation would be.
[13:19] » So should we ask the city attorney? I
[13:20] can ask if that's what you
[13:22] >> maybe what other groups are doing.
[13:28] » Well, we've always discussed whether
[13:30] having the meetings at this time is a
[13:33] can create a barrier to parents or to
[13:35] other people
[13:37] and we've always come back this time but
[13:39] I don't know if rigidity is good or bad
[13:41] in this case.
[13:43] >> Pretty hard to just you know
[13:45] >> to figure out another time which works
[13:48] for you.
[13:48] >> That's what we did. We couldn't come up
[13:49] with a better time because parents are
[13:52] sometimes making dinner but they're the
[13:54] work day constrains them and evenings
[13:57] get difficult and there was no perfect
[13:59] time.
[14:02] >> So are we settled at this point? We can
[14:04] say we've reviewed the bylaws
[14:06] but we're going to ask the city attorney
[14:09] for clarification on the committee
[14:11] working group issue and maybe just what
[14:13] the pattern is for set meeting times.
[14:16] And is it okay to do you want to keep
[14:18] the bylaws as they are
[14:20] >> for now?
[14:20] not with these changes.
[14:26] » Yes.
[14:27] >> There are
[14:30] >> speak for myself is that there are some
[14:33] issues in this these bylaws that I have
[14:35] questions on. I think that I can save
[14:38] those until we actually vote on the
[14:40] revised bylaws.
[14:41] >> Okay. So bylaws as they are now with the
[14:44] with this there's a review date and we
[14:46] will put them on the February agenda.
[14:49] >> The February the best. Do we have time
[14:50] on the February agenda or should
[14:53] >> we look at the packets?
[14:57] >> You keep adding things to February's
[14:58] meeting. You don't want it to be a
[14:59] sleepover. Right.
[15:06] [laughter]
[15:09] [clears throat]
[15:09] >> So in February you have um currently
[15:13] scheduled a presentation on digital
[15:16] collection management which will be
[15:17] about 10 minutes.
[15:19] >> Appointing the nominating committee
[15:20] >> takes a moment
[15:21] >> um and setting the calendar for the next
[15:23] fiscal year.
[15:24] >> Okay. So we do and then we have maybe
[15:25] one more thing to add to that but still
[15:26] it's manageable. So we'll come back to
[15:29] in February.
[15:32] All
[15:32] >> good.
[15:32] >> Yeah.
[15:34] >> One more thing to the city attorney.
[15:38] Have them take a look at the consistency
[15:41] that we are using the terms search
[15:44] committee, nominating committee, working group.
[15:48] >> We've kind of got a mix of all there.
[15:51] They could check that
[15:53] >> because we're actually on that subject.
[15:55] We're actually
[15:58] the committee that looked at these
[16:00] bylaws. Looks like according to the
[16:02] memo,
[16:09] city attorney was saying something about
[16:12] in regard to that terminology, search
[16:14] committee working group that would then
[16:18] the city attorney say, well,
[16:22] >> I think the
[16:23] >> that should be called something totally
[16:24] like hiring committee or something. But
[16:26] I think the opinion was given before the
[16:28] court case.
[16:30] That's all part of that.
[16:32] >> Yeah. So it's part it's in the messy
[16:34] timeline. It's just
[16:35] >> all right.
[16:36] >> Well, I think this is the language
[16:40] should be
[16:41] >> right.
[16:42] >> Yeah.
[16:42] >> And says deputy. So only if the
[16:45] legislature in its wisdom revisits this
[16:49] to bring
[16:50] >> do this again.
[16:51] >> Yeah. to find out to, you know, to write
[16:55] it up so that it'll pass muster with the
[16:59] Supreme Court.
[17:00] >> I think about the bylaw for every month.
[17:02] >> We can only do with the information we
[17:04] have available to us now, you know,
[17:08] but you're right. This could become an
[17:09] annual
[17:11] review.
[17:12] >> Well, they'll probably let it go. I
[17:13] mean, this is small potatoes for for
[17:16] them, but um
[17:19] >> All right.
[17:21] Are we ready to move forward everyone?
[17:24] Sorry. Next is to review the draft
[17:26] language for the strategic plan. There
[17:28] are two documents related to the
[17:30] strategic plan in the packet. U the
[17:32] first is that I'm asking review the
[17:34] language of our current strategic plan.
[17:36] Like the discussion around the
[17:37] director's job description, there are
[17:39] changes needed in library documentation
[17:41] to comply with 2025 legislation. To
[17:44] comply with the law, library staff
[17:46] suggest changes for review to our
[17:48] current strategic plan. That's on page
[17:51] 20.
[17:54] And this the strategic plan language for
[17:56] the goals and the objectives was voted
[17:58] on and accepted by the board in June of
[18:00] 2024. And this strategic plan is set to
[18:04] end in June of 2026.
[18:07] And included in the draft update to the
[18:09] strategic plan goals, we incorporated
[18:11] that language so you could see how it
[18:12] would fit. But we would make any
[18:14] modifications if you request them.
[18:23] questions, concerns.
[18:26] >> I've got a couple of stylistic things.
[18:29] Um,
[18:31] page 26
[18:35] of everything
[18:38] in the that first paragraph.
[18:41] I think the four and the second line fo
[18:45] that at the second line ought to be
[18:48] substitute
[18:50] for it. So it would read future support
[18:53] for early literacy needs at the new
[18:56] neighborhood centers.
[18:58] >> I think you're one step ahead of us
[19:01] because I think we're on 4B and that's
[19:03] in 4C. Is there anything? Let's just
[19:05] close up the first thing about the the
[19:07] draft language.
[19:08] >> Oh, I didn't realize
[19:10] >> that's okay. They're two different
[19:10] things. It's okay. It's the same
[19:12] >> third. It's like different items on the
[19:14] agenda. Do we have any concerns about
[19:16] how that language needs to be updated to
[19:19] meet current requirements, state
[19:21] requirements? That that's just page 20
[19:24] and 21.
[19:29] Um, with objective two, it uh it felt to
[19:34] me like the revisions narrow the scope.
[19:38] Um,
[19:40] and so I was
[19:42] uh wondering if it would be appropriate
[19:44] to say ensure service to all community
[19:48] members is central to all library
[19:51] services.
[19:56] Ensure service to all community members
[19:58] are central or is central to all library
[20:01] services that is to all services.
[20:04] >> Are we using services twice in the same
[20:06] phrase? The word services
[20:08] >> that is doesn't
[20:11] ensure access to all community members
[20:13] is central to all library services.
[20:15] >> Yeah.
[20:21] » Do you want repeated back?
[20:25] We're going to have to vote on this one.
[20:27] >> Ensure access to all community members
[20:30] is central to all library services.
[20:35] that an objective
[20:37] or is that a statement?
[20:45] I'm not sure if that's the format of an
[20:46] objective, is it? Well, the objective is
[20:50] the insure, right? Which is
[20:58] John's our grammar expert.
[21:00] >> Yeah, I kind of lost track of where we
[21:03] are. We're on page 20.
[21:05] >> We're under objective two.
[21:09] >> I'm trying to word smith and the
[21:11] recommendation is to change my second to
[21:14] get to it.
[21:16] >> Then the new proposed wording seems
[21:18] narrower to me than the original
[21:21] wording,
[21:25] » which is what I'm trying to get out
[21:26] there.
[21:26] >> Yeah.
[21:29] And so the recommendation is ensure
[21:32] access to all community members is
[21:34] central to all library services.
[21:38] >> Sounded good to me.
[21:39] >> Is that an object? That's a okay.
[21:41] Objective structure-wise when we look at
[21:43] the other objectives,
[21:44] >> I think it looks like just Okay.
[21:47] >> Okay. Okay.
[21:48] >> So with that adjustment,
[21:51] are there any other adjustments in this?
[21:58] » Did you need us to approve this first?
[22:02] >> Do we have a motion to approve the draft
[22:04] update with the adjustment to objective
[22:07] two?
[22:08] >> So move.
[22:09] >> Second.
[22:11] >> All those in favor?
[22:13] >> I Okay. Thank you.
[22:17] And then we will make the change in the
[22:19] strategic plan update the language to
[22:22] objective two.
[22:28] » So strategic plan update.
[22:30] >> Proud to present to you the January 2026
[22:33] update to our strategic plan. Um a
[22:36] couple things about style. The style of
[22:37] the report is very different than in
[22:39] past years. It normally was a chart. um
[22:43] we are looking through our website and
[22:44] our documents to make sure that all of
[22:47] our documents are ADA accessible um to
[22:50] screen readers and the chart the way
[22:52] that we were using it um would not have
[22:54] been um pleasant to listen to um or easy
[22:58] to follow. And so we did an outline um
[23:01] instead which seemed the easiest way to
[23:04] read both I mean for the person who um
[23:07] in in the screen reader but also just
[23:09] for flow. Um
[23:14] it's a rolling document so includes
[23:16] everything completed since FY24 and all
[23:20] bolded items are new this past month.
[23:25] Couple
[23:30] of highlights. Um, we launched an
[23:32] intergenerational story time at the
[23:34] senior center which is on page 24.
[23:37] We have a partnership with Johnson
[23:38] County Public Health to offer sen senior
[23:41] uh planet technology help classes. It's
[23:43] on page 26.
[23:46] versus our space study assessment for
[23:47] the architect to identify building
[23:49] facility needs and selecting a new
[23:52] backend computer system for the library
[23:55] which is page three I think.
[24:07] We'll make the update to the
[24:09] neighborhood center.
[24:11] Mhm.
[24:15] Now in this on page 24 we mention again
[24:18] the book by is that what's that
[24:22] measurement of success on that book like
[24:26] oh sap time used for I'm just wondering
[24:28] I think we're using it mostly for um
[24:30] there's a couple of things we mentioned
[24:31] that we go to festivals um I think we do
[24:35] some library cards and some discussions
[24:37] about library services and it gives us a
[24:39] little bit of being a little more agile
[24:43] to meet those um to go to those places
[24:46] and especially places where we cannot
[24:48] bring the bookmobile.
[24:49] >> Okay. So, it gives us physical access
[24:51] when the book mobile won't fit.
[24:54] >> The other um group that uses it is
[24:56] climate action. They bring it out and
[25:00] use it for um for their needs as well.
[25:02] So, it's kind of a joint departmental.
[25:04] >> It's the same bike.
[25:05] >> Same bike. Oh, I didn't know we were
[25:07] sharing it. Okay.
[25:08] >> Yeah, they helped us with the grant.
[25:10] >> Okay. They share with us. Okay.
[25:13] resources with some of this.
[25:19] » Other comments about the update
[25:22] >> on page 25 last sentence who work should
[25:25] be tours.
[25:30] » It's just a should
[25:48] We want more time or we ready to go
[25:50] forward. We'll make the corrections and
[25:53] the updates and we'll get it posted on
[25:55] our website.
[25:58] So, we need you said board action is
[26:00] needed on this. Do we need a vote to
[26:04] accept the update?
[26:07] Apologize for action.
[26:08] >> I think so. Okay, that's okay.
[26:11] >> Okay.
[26:13] ADA checklist, which is always a tricky
[26:16] thing.
[26:16] >> So, this document is specifically just
[26:19] for your information. So, there's no
[26:21] board action required. It's just uh the
[26:24] doing the checklist is a requirement for
[26:26] accreditation
[26:28] and the board needs to receive a report
[26:29] every three years on one of the
[26:31] checklists offered by the state library.
[26:33] They use the New England ADA checklist
[26:35] for existing facilities.
[26:38] The purpose, the state library sees the
[26:40] purpose of doing that is making sure
[26:42] that boards uh library boards review
[26:44] spaces and ensure that they're
[26:46] accessible. I um this document looks
[26:50] like we're checking a box and yes, we
[26:53] are checking a box on accreditation, but
[26:55] uh this is not the only time staff think
[26:57] about these things. We do a yearly
[27:00] assessment with the city manager's
[27:01] office. um we identify changing means or
[27:04] changing standards. An example is even
[27:06] just our website that we're reviewing
[27:08] and making sure that we comply um with
[27:10] the April 2026 changes. The strategic
[27:14] plan is an example. Uh we have moved st
[27:16] um signs on our stacks to make sure um
[27:19] that they meet requirements. Um
[27:22] and uh we also identify things that when
[27:25] we renovate the building that we need to
[27:27] ensure that we talk to the architects
[27:29] about. So the bathrooms are one of them.
[27:31] the mirror, the height of the mirrors,
[27:33] the height of the grab bars, they met
[27:35] standards in 2004. Things have changed.
[27:38] So, when we do renovate the um the
[27:40] bathrooms, we know that we need to make
[27:42] sure that the architect addresses that.
[27:45] >> It's amazing the the quantity of things
[27:48] that they can find to to I was impressed
[27:53] by this. You know, you we often think
[27:56] bureaucrats are are wasting our time,
[27:59] but they they obviously have thought
[28:01] about it and make and I I think of all
[28:05] the things that where you feel most
[28:07] vulnerable is in a bathroom,
[28:09] >> right? Yeah.
[28:10] >> And where you know something that goes
[28:12] wrong is really humiliating,
[28:15] >> right?
[28:15] >> And that that's what this is trying to
[28:18] >> make sure. Yeah. So,
[28:22] it was impressive to me
[28:25] >> and it's been one of our challenges
[28:27] particularly with bathrooms, making sure
[28:28] they're accessible here.
[28:30] >> Yeah.
[28:33] >> I just have one very basic question.
[28:35] There's a column of possible solutions.
[28:37] Are those provided by the institute or
[28:41] those things that our staff put in
[28:44] there?
[28:44] >> They're provided by the institute.
[28:46] >> Okay. I was going to say there was a lot
[28:47] of possible solutions where there wasn't
[28:49] a problem and I was very confused by
[28:51] that. [laughter]
[28:52] >> Yeah. The checklist is put to be access
[28:54] is accessible to people who might not be
[28:56] knowledgeable about ADA. So it's used
[28:59] for for the entire state.
[29:01] >> Okay. Yeah.
[29:09] » Any further discussion?
[29:11] Yeah. Brad Kirky and Joel Lane did a lot
[29:14] of work.
[29:16] reviewing that. We cross checked it on
[29:18] our the city manager's office review.
[29:22] >> Lot of detail.
[29:23] [laughter]
[29:25] >> Thanks for the work.
[29:27] >> Yes. Back to the direction of the toilet
[29:29] paper roll.
[29:34] » All right.
[29:36] Orderly financials and statistics.
[29:39] So, um, as I mentioned in our library my
[29:42] library expenditures memo, we're a
[29:44] little behind where we normally would be
[29:46] with expenditures. The first is in the
[29:48] materials budget. Um, we're several
[29:51] percentage points behind, which is can
[29:53] be quite a bit of money. Uh, that's
[29:55] because we're trying to catch up with
[29:57] the disruption of Baker and Taylor. The
[30:00] other um line that's uh involved with
[30:03] library materials is the processing
[30:05] line. we pay for processing services for
[30:07] jacketing of material of hard coverver
[30:09] books or the labeling. We don't have a
[30:11] vendor that's doing that right now
[30:13] except we did get one today signed and
[30:15] ready to go. Um so we will start seeing
[30:19] expenditures in that line um pretty
[30:21] soon.
[30:23] some kind [clears throat] of I guess
[30:25] going into third and fourth quarter
[30:28] um like some kind of bulk purchasing is
[30:32] that kind of the
[30:34] >> Yeah, if we have
[30:36] >> if there Well,
[30:38] >> yes, I think we'll be doing
[30:41] >> How are you doing though as far as
[30:42] finding vendors to buy from
[30:46] >> book? For books, we're actually doing
[30:48] okay. We have our secondary vendor which
[30:50] is Ingram. they they've kind of taken up
[30:52] the bulk of the materials that we
[30:54] purchased, but we're also starting to
[30:56] find some smaller vendors to make sure
[30:57] we diversify where we're getting them
[30:59] from. And they're the issue I think
[31:02] right now with some of the vendors is
[31:03] that they have to respond to the almost
[31:07] all of the United States moving over to
[31:10] them. Um, and we've been kind of
[31:13] leveraging some of those smaller ones
[31:14] because that's not where people are
[31:16] really trying to go to. Um so I think
[31:19] we'll we'll catch up. The other line
[31:22] that is personnel, we were understaffed
[31:26] um especially in the management
[31:28] [clears throat] um sector. So that um
[31:30] that kind of made that line. The one
[31:33] line that I am watching is the HVAC line
[31:36] uh HVAC repair and maintenance. We had a
[31:38] significant repair on one of our rooftop
[31:40] units that was leaking coolant both
[31:42] internally and externally. Cool. And
[31:44] coolant is very difficult to replace
[31:46] right now. It's very expensive because
[31:48] the EPA has moved over what um coolants
[31:51] can be used in really if you lose the
[31:53] coolant in in a unit that unit is done.
[31:57] Um
[31:58] >> uh so I'm working I've been talking to
[32:00] the city manager's office about that. Um
[32:03] and we're going to we have some other
[32:05] building lines that we haven't spent
[32:07] that we're going to utilize in the
[32:08] meantime, but if we have to do a budget
[32:10] adjustment, I will talk to the finance
[32:12] department to get that. Are the other
[32:15] lines of the same quantity? Because
[32:18] >> we've used all the money for this year.
[32:21] >> Um, and I'm just saying that like we
[32:22] can't take it from small lines. This
[32:24] HVAC system is not going to just
[32:26] spontaneously heal,
[32:28] >> right?
[32:28] >> It's going to get more more and more
[32:31] vulnerable.
[32:32] >> There's another line called other
[32:34] building repair and maintenance services
[32:36] which is funded at 65,000. Um, we've
[32:39] spent about half of it. Um, do we need
[32:44] the other half of that though?
[32:46] >> We will. You We Last year we were using
[32:48] it to pay for the HVAC system.
[32:50] >> Right. So, we can't keep right
[32:53] >> a normal pattern of stealing from other
[32:55] lines.
[32:56] >> Exactly.
[32:56] >> To repair a system that's aging out.
[33:02] » We had the CIP meeting um with council
[33:06] yesterday. um they were receptive to the
[33:10] HVAC system. We had another question.
[33:12] >> My concern is when the HVAC system
[33:14] falls, it will be an emergency.
[33:16] >> Yes, it will be.
[33:17] >> And it'll be very expensive to respond
[33:19] to where if we could anticipate it, we
[33:23] might have some savings.
[33:25] >> I'm hoping that some of those
[33:26] >> a huge problem.
[33:27] >> It's a huge problem and um and it's a
[33:30] million dollars to replace the rooftop
[33:32] units
[33:33] and
[33:37] I think there might
[33:38] >> that's planning dollars. If it's not,
[33:41] please do it immediately and then put a
[33:43] rush on this.
[33:44] >> It's hard to do that immediately. We're
[33:46] talking crane.
[33:47] >> We're closing the building is what we
[33:49] did.
[33:50] >> Well, the m and there's a 50 ton unit
[33:52] and a 40 ton unit up there. Um
[33:55] [clears throat] they need to be
[33:56] specially manufactured for us.
[33:59] >> So there's a real time.
[34:01] >> So it's Yeah. is getting the crane in
[34:02] after we've received the
[34:06] Yeah. So, um I'm hoping there might be
[34:08] some budgetary room with the lost
[34:10] passing that maybe we can move this up.
[34:12] And I've already had some discussions
[34:14] about how long. Uh we had an HVAC study
[34:18] completed in 2014. Um the schedule for
[34:23] replacement of the units was 2024.
[34:27] um they think that the rooftop units
[34:28] would last and so we're two years
[34:30] behind.
[34:32] [clears throat]
[34:32] >> This is probably a really crazy idea,
[34:36] but since they have to be custom made,
[34:40] >> is there any chance that we could place
[34:42] an order and have them hold it for us
[34:45] until we have our emergency or until we
[34:48] have the fund?
[34:49] >> But why would they take on that risk?
[34:51] That would be expensive. I said it's a
[34:52] crazy idea, but
[34:54] >> it'd be expensive for them to
[34:55] manufacture on a hold.
[34:57] >> Yeah.
[34:58] >> Or if we could
[35:00] >> card down or something like that.
[35:05] » I don't know that we have the authority
[35:09] to find the city to give money.
[35:13] >> That's probably true.
[35:14] >> That isn't in our budget.
[35:16] >> Yeah.
[35:17] That's right. Okay. So, we have we
[35:21] have some work to do on getting that
[35:23] project um expediated.
[35:26] >> I just I I guess the reason I want to
[35:28] keep bringing it up is because I don't
[35:30] want to wait for a crisis and I I think
[35:32] the city needs to understand we're very
[35:35] concerned
[35:37] about this and and you want to be
[35:39] fiscally responsible. It'd be better to
[35:41] do this
[35:43] a little bit ahead than an emergency.
[35:47] Anything else on this you'd like to
[35:48] point out to us
[35:50] >> in terms of statistics? Um,
[35:54] one thing to note on the on the output
[35:56] statistics is that we're having issues
[35:58] with the form for the bookmobile
[36:00] statistics and we'll get those numbers
[36:01] added to the spreadsheet. So, we did go
[36:04] out and we did do stops and people came
[36:06] on the bookmobile, but um it doesn't
[36:08] look like it. Uh, and one thing I want
[36:11] to point out is that we're up 3.5% in
[36:14] library card holders this year. And so
[36:17] outreach staff have worked hard um at
[36:19] events to get people signed up. We'll
[36:22] tell them about the library and
[36:23] >> book.
[36:24] >> We're shifting the numbers
[36:26] >> and meeting room use for um outside
[36:28] meetings for groups was up 12%.
[36:34] So, going back to the budget, the uh on
[36:36] the personnel side, and if you've been
[36:38] on the board long enough, you know, I
[36:40] I'll
[36:41] from time to time. The um so when you
[36:44] said you're you're under or understaffed
[36:47] in what category? Full-time, part-time?
[36:50] >> We we didn't have a managerial position
[36:52] for six months. It was replacing and was
[36:55] doing two jobs and when she was hired as
[36:56] a director, we had that opening that we
[36:58] needed to fill. All right. Is
[37:08] temporary employees. I always look at
[37:11] this one. So, we've spent about 45%
[37:15] of the budget on temporary employees.
[37:19] And then line down from that, we've
[37:22] spent about 65% of the budgeted overtime
[37:26] wages.
[37:29] >> Yeah. So, temporary employees, we've had
[37:31] um we've had a rolling uh there there's
[37:36] a lot of openings. uh people leave those
[37:38] positions especially we've been having
[37:40] several open positions in maintenance
[37:42] that we have not been able to fulfill
[37:44] and we've kind of have to think about a
[37:46] long-term strategy on making those
[37:47] positions a little bit more attractive
[37:49] because they just keep turning over the
[37:52] overtime wages um at this point of the
[37:54] year the majority of our holidays for
[37:56] overtime um we pay overtime for holidays
[38:01] and we pay overtime for uh Sundays
[38:05] and we Uh most a lot of our holidays are
[38:08] kind of frontloaded in the first half of
[38:10] the year. We do not pay a lot of
[38:13] overtime which is the Fair Labor
[38:15] Standards Act overtime which would be
[38:16] your over 40 hours. Th those are
[38:18] minimal. The only time that we really
[38:20] provide that is in case of emergencies.
[38:22] So if someone calls out on a sun a
[38:24] Saturday and somebody's already worked
[38:26] 40 hours but we need someone to cover
[38:28] that desk, we might offer overtime in
[38:30] that perspect that that's very rare. The
[38:32] other time is if maybe somebody's
[38:33] working a Friday night or a Saturday and
[38:35] they can't get people to leave. You
[38:37] know, they're long here longer than
[38:39] we're open. Maybe it takes a little
[38:40] longer to get people out of the
[38:41] building. We might be paying 15 to 20
[38:43] minutes of overtime.
[38:45] >> So, you think the overtime wages line
[38:47] item will stabilize that? It's not going
[38:49] to go
[38:51] >> right. I do. We are not paying overtime
[38:53] to cover for staff. Okay. All right.
[39:02] Other than that, I will say um I'm
[39:05] always happy to say this and I say it I
[39:07] think every quarter since I've been here
[39:09] is that how well this budget is managed.
[39:14] You know, um it's always
[39:19] directionally correct, I think. Um in
[39:22] other words, we're doing what we said we
[39:25] were going to do. When you're making a
[39:26] budget, you want you want that to be a
[39:29] positive answer. So, um you know, my
[39:33] kudos to the staff and to to you as well
[39:36] and as far as managing the budget and
[39:38] being good stewards of the funds
[39:43] >> and projecting appropriately.
[39:52] » Any questions about the usage statistics
[39:54] that she's provided?
[40:02] We're busy.
[40:10] All right. Um, we are going to be moving
[40:12] on to the judges report budget week. As
[40:15] I said, we had the capital improvements
[40:16] budget um presentation yesterday at
[40:19] council. Saturday is the operating
[40:21] budget presentation go in the morning
[40:24] before noon. Uh, one thing um that I
[40:27] wrote about is that we had this
[40:29] opportunity from the city to be a law a
[40:32] local option sales tax project and they
[40:35] looked at the carpeting and the
[40:37] furnishings project and asked if there
[40:39] were additional needs that we required
[40:42] um in the building and they've gotten
[40:45] projections for what um they'll get in
[40:47] FY27
[40:49] and we talked a little bit about what it
[40:51] would look like. So, we included
[40:52] painting, some more furniture
[40:54] replacement, and we have some ceiling
[40:56] tiles that really are in need of
[40:58] replacement. And they um they took
[41:01] they're offering or well, they've uh
[41:04] budgeted $1.2 million for the carpeting
[41:07] in the furniture project,
[41:10] >> which changes our whole plan.
[41:16] » It's wonderful. The other thing that I
[41:18] am very happy about is we were working
[41:20] at a clip to get that carpet installed.
[41:23] Um, and I think it'll allow us to make
[41:26] some addition more decision. It gives us
[41:28] a little bit of more breathing room, but
[41:30] especially it does not close it does not
[41:32] close some of the parts of the building
[41:34] during the summer.
[41:36] >> Um, so now we would start the project in
[41:38] January 2027.
[41:40] >> Uh, and it would not not disrupt our uh,
[41:43] biggest time for um, meeting the
[41:45] patrons.
[41:48] What's the reason why those lost funds
[41:51] cannot be used for our HVAC system?
[41:55] >> Well, that would be a a priority. Uh we
[41:58] can change if we can change the request
[42:00] for the priority, but we asked they were
[42:03] trying to fund the carpeting project as
[42:05] originally conceived.
[42:07] >> So, I think one concern may be the
[42:10] community needs to see the value of
[42:13] these funds. They're not likely to
[42:16] notice the HVAC system,
[42:18] but when we look at how it affects their
[42:20] experience receiving services,
[42:23] it's right under their feet, you know,
[42:25] it's right on the ball.
[42:28] >> Yeah, that makes sense.
[42:31] >> So, where are the funds? Did we already
[42:33] have the budget for the carpet?
[42:35] >> It was 805,000.
[42:37] >> Okay. Where are those funds going now?
[42:40] So those funds um they were using bonds
[42:44] for them
[42:46] >> and now it's moving over to a local
[42:48] option sales tax. I I don't know. Um it
[42:51] allows them the local option sales tax
[42:53] frees up the bond part a little bit for
[42:56] other projects. So I'm not entirely sure
[42:59] exactly where they went, but there was a
[43:01] large pool of projects. Um to give
[43:04] perspective, we're 7%
[43:08] of the projects for the CIP budget
[43:10] between 2026 and 2030. If you think of
[43:14] how streets, bridges, um Burlington
[43:17] Street Bridge is a big project. Uh
[43:19] trails, parks are getting upgrades. Um
[43:22] there's there's a lot of need throughout
[43:24] the city. Um and I'm not sure exactly
[43:28] where they moved the money, specifically
[43:30] those funds to, but
[43:31] >> Okay.
[43:33] So, if I understand correctly, this is
[43:35] still under recommendation level with
[43:37] the council. It's not finalized. So,
[43:39] it's not ours yet, but and we'll know in
[43:43] March.
[43:43] >> Yeah. A bunch of expenses.
[43:48] » So, you know, we've had a lot of
[43:50] conversations about a lot of expensive
[43:52] things recently, renovations to the
[43:54] building and HVAC and all of that.
[43:57] um how do you see all of these things
[44:00] fitting together in what kind of
[44:02] timeline and so on?
[44:06] >> So um I think in terms of starting with
[44:09] the carpeting, the carpeting project
[44:11] originally was introduced to city
[44:12] council in 2017.
[44:16] Um so we have been waiting for at least
[44:20] an upgrade to our furniture as well as
[44:22] the carpet for a significant amount of
[44:24] time. Um,
[44:26] I I'm hoping that the carpeting project
[44:28] will show the community that we're
[44:30] investing in the facilities and so that
[44:31] if we do decide to make some significant
[44:34] changes, which could be about 5 to 10
[44:36] years depending on how um how you know
[44:40] what projects we decide to prioritize,
[44:42] how we see the future of the building
[44:44] going, um it will show that we have
[44:47] we've made an investment in the space in
[44:49] between renovating um or doing any major
[44:53] renovations.
[44:54] and the car so the carpeting project and
[44:56] any major renovations we're going to
[44:57] have that HVAC system
[45:00] hope right now scheduled for 2030 I'm
[45:02] hoping it'll be a little sooner
[45:05] >> okay
[45:06] did that answer your question I can
[45:09] elaborate more
[45:10] >> are you thinking about this in terms of
[45:11] the next like 15 months how is it going
[45:13] to be
[45:15] >> no I I was thinking more like the next
[45:17] 10 years because the other thing that
[45:18] I'm thinking about right now is you know
[45:20] I live in the south district and there
[45:22] the area south of the south district is
[45:26] about to get redeveloped. Like that's
[45:28] before planning and zoning right now. So
[45:31] there's going to be a whole lot more
[45:32] housing units down there. We were
[45:34] already talking about how maybe we need
[45:36] to be building additional
[45:38] >> right
[45:39] >> another satellite location out there. So
[45:42] >> or two
[45:43] >> I I'm you know thinking very long term
[45:47] here because that's going to be a
[45:48] 10-year project. I think at our next
[45:51] we're ending this particular strategic
[45:53] plan. We'll do a community assessment in
[45:55] the next year.
[45:56] >> Um and then we'll be developing a
[45:58] strategic plan to decide like what the
[46:01] priorities are. Is it investing in the
[46:03] building? It is it um looking outside of
[46:07] the downtown area? Um is it re like
[46:10] repurchasing a bookmobile? Um there's a
[46:13] lot of different decisions that we're
[46:14] going to have to make and we'll just
[46:17] have to make them in terms of what the
[46:19] realities are and how we can do staffing
[46:21] and what funding is coming through and
[46:24] but that yeah that's conversations we'll
[46:26] have as a that you will have as a board.
[46:29] >> Okay.
[46:37] Richard,
[46:40] >> we did we went to the Johnson County
[46:42] Board of Supervisors yesterday. Um
[46:45] received positive feedback on our
[46:47] bookmobile stops and hills and loan tree
[46:50] um children's services and as well as
[46:52] how important a library card is.
[46:55] >> Yeah. And
[46:57] >> very warmly received. Yeah.
[47:00] I think the board of supervisors is very
[47:02] supportive in concept of our work.
[47:05] They're very appreciative. Doesn't mean
[47:07] it comes to more money, but they're very
[47:09] appreciative.
[47:13] They told personal stories about how
[47:14] much the library has meant to them.
[47:18] All right. Um, department reports.
[47:28] >> Yeah.
[47:31] I know. I maybe I may I was a little
[47:34] confused by the photo in the adult
[47:36] services.
[47:37] >> Oh,
[47:39] I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking
[47:41] at.
[47:42] >> That is the walkway um between um
[47:47] the graduate they call the graduate
[47:49] walkway. Oh,
[47:52] >> it's to South.
[47:55] >> Okay.
[47:55] >> Often where late at night there's
[47:58] shenanigans,
[47:59] >> right? unpleasant
[48:03] from the city to revitalize that space
[48:06] through art project through less less
[48:10] just spotlights and more like this is a
[48:12] supposed to be an entryway into the pet
[48:15] mall from
[48:15] >> right
[48:16] >> a major thorough fair
[48:18] >> and not a bathroom or
[48:19] >> yeah [laughter]
[48:22] >> and it has a lovely children's mural
[48:24] along one wall that ended up getting
[48:26] played with so the photo was That's um
[48:29] the artist Hannah who used the digital
[48:32] media lab
[48:33] >> to create the
[48:34] >> Got it now. Okay.
[48:37] >> Yeah. The idea was she was inspired by
[48:40] the for the fireflies we researched fire
[48:44] the libraries.
[48:46] She used the auto software to design
[48:51] the layout the spec layout for a wedding
[48:54] collab.
[48:55] >> Right. Your description was right there.
[48:56] Somehow I
[48:59] Yeah,
[48:59] >> it sinks back to my mind when I read it.
[49:01] I'm sorry.
[49:06] » Everyone else probably got it. I was
[49:07] probably the only like
[49:11] » which actually is not
[49:14] in the link there. It should be
[49:19] uh but yeah, it's been busy couple
[49:21] months. Um, I didn't have I should have
[49:24] looked at the win numbers for today, but
[49:27] I I have only January 7th because I
[49:29] wrote this actually a week early. So,
[49:32] it's not for me, but if you get old
[49:35] data,
[49:38] but we've given away I think
[49:42] we've given away at least probably I'd
[49:43] say 50 prizes
[49:47] yet.
[49:49] So, and not
[49:52] so yet I think
[49:54] I said we had 40 there or so 50
[49:59] and it's a tote the book people have
[50:02] been excited by the bingo
[50:09] » here
[50:12] the bingo.
[50:14] [laughter]
[50:17] » All right. It was a It was an
[50:18] experiment. So, it's fine.
[50:21] >> No.
[50:26] Um, anything in the community access
[50:28] services report anymore?
[50:30] >> I didn't have a designated shenanigan
[50:31] space to take a photo of. I apologize.
[50:34] >> There's no photo, right? There's
[50:34] nothing.
[50:40] You had stats left.
[50:45] Um,
[50:46] >> extend a thank you to Jason for
[50:48] collaborating with us on the vocal bill
[50:49] and doing earbuds approach during the
[50:52] cold time of the year and kudos to Jason
[50:54] on that.
[50:55] >> How well attended was that?
[50:57] >> Um, we've had two each had five uh
[51:01] trumpet walkers. Uh, but I've been to
[51:04] Terry Troublet since
[51:06] uh and people walk it all day long. Um,
[51:10] so
[51:10] >> yeah,
[51:11] >> we don't we won't always be at Terry
[51:13] True, but in fact, this next month we're
[51:16] just going to go downtown because Bill
[51:19] has a new schedule and um so we're just
[51:22] going to start here and do a walk. U
[51:27] so it's sort of early days too. It's a
[51:28] thing that need to build.
[51:30] >> It's winter
[51:31] >> and um we did have repeat people. The
[51:34] second event had, you know, the gamut of
[51:37] it was like a repeat person who just
[51:39] loves walking, didn't really even walk
[51:41] with the group, just was so fast, walked
[51:43] like us probably.
[51:45] >> That was a fast book.
[51:46] >> Yeah. [laughter]
[51:47] >> Other person was new to the community, a
[51:51] young 20s something professional who was
[51:53] just wanted to meet people, had been
[51:55] here a week, had already gotten a
[51:56] library card and looking to make
[51:59] friends. So it was good to invite them
[52:03] all on the mobile afterwards and Coco
[52:05] and the staff. I was sort of ready to
[52:08] give the spiel about adult services
[52:10] staff are like we have this trouble.
[52:14] [laughter] So they're telling them all
[52:16] about my department. I was like you guys
[52:17] know everything. It's great. I'll just
[52:20] walk.
[52:20] >> I just sent your card to everybody. I'm
[52:22] like Dr.
[52:25] Yes. Great.
[52:26] >> Yes. I can't pull the numbers out, but
[52:29] AC since it's all ages, we have um 582
[52:33] people signed up for the winter reading
[52:35] program. So that's all ages andations.
[52:44] That's the most
[52:46] All right. Is anyone covering the
[52:47] development department reports? You can
[52:50] take any questions, Katie, if you have
[52:52] them.
[52:55] I know I was mentioned yesterday at the
[52:57] Friends Foundation finance committee
[52:59] which I'm on um they're at as of
[53:02] yesterday anyway 120% of their
[53:04] fundraising goal. So it's incredible.
[53:09] >> Yeah, they've gotten great responses to
[53:11] their year end campaign.
[53:17] All right. Hopefully everyone will get
[53:20] that bright future on their calendar. I
[53:22] know I'm traveling, but I hope everyone
[53:23] else gets it on their calendar and
[53:26] traveling, too. [laughter]
[53:28] Great.
[53:30] All right, we got the book referring
[53:33] live
[53:34] into
[53:36] media reports maybe.
[53:37] >> Oh, yeah. kind of fun story.
[53:39] >> We've gotten so much
[53:42] that's resonated with a lot of people as
[53:44] United of book being sent back to us
[53:47] from United Airlines.
[53:48] >> Actually, I saw that on a couple of
[53:50] libraries Ashley and I wondered if
[53:52] United just trying to do that the PR
[53:55] point. I don't
[53:59] um my report, president's report. So, we
[54:03] went to the Johnson County Supervisors
[54:04] meeting that went well. I want to remind
[54:06] everyone that the 2nd of February is
[54:08] lobbying day in De Mo. If you would like
[54:12] to attend and catch a ride with the
[54:14] staff, that's an option. Let Ann know if
[54:17] you'd like to drive yourself, that's an
[54:19] option. Um, [snorts] but it doesn't take
[54:23] it takes the day by the time you drive
[54:24] up there and back. But when you're
[54:26] there, it's a friendly environment. You
[54:28] can meet other trustees, other library
[54:30] directors. It it's a worthwhile visit.
[54:33] see a beautiful law library
[54:36] um and and get a sense really of how the
[54:38] activities work in in the capital. So,
[54:42] if you're considering it and the
[54:44] incentive of sharing a ride is
[54:46] important, please let and know. Um
[54:51] it's a fun day. It's a fun day. Um
[54:56] next month we're going to follow up and
[54:58] have a digital media report. I know
[55:00] we've been waiting about that for a
[55:02] couple months and postponing it. I just
[55:03] wanted to show everyone it wasn't
[55:05] forgotten.
[55:07] I wanted to follow through on the
[55:08] request that we had last meeting to be
[55:12] trained on advocacy um by a speaker that
[55:15] came to the staff retreat that was very
[55:17] powerful. We did price her for a Zoom
[55:21] session. It would be $400
[55:25] and I think we would have to discuss the
[55:27] value of doing that. the um speaker is a
[55:30] private entity now
[55:32] >> consulting
[55:33] >> a private consultant and would like $400
[55:35] to present the material. I think another
[55:38] option is we could have staff present
[55:40] some of that material. Um
[55:44] I think another option is to get
[55:46] involved with the ILA's GAP committee,
[55:49] their government affairs committee. It
[55:50] meets every two weeks over Zoom. You get
[55:54] an update of what's going on. They also
[55:56] have a great website that tells you
[55:58] bills that are of concern.
[56:01] Um, so what I would need tonight is to
[56:04] know, do people would people still like
[56:06] us to arrange for this speaker at the
[56:09] $400 cost?
[56:11] Would people like to be informed in
[56:15] another way by the staff bringing us
[56:18] information and and informing us or
[56:20] would you like this a slide at this
[56:22] time? Or do you have another idea?
[56:25] Unfortunately, our our lead advocacy
[56:28] working for Person Claire isn't here
[56:30] right now. Um, who's kind of led a lot
[56:33] of these initiatives, but where do
[56:35] people stand on this?
[56:43] » I would not be in favor of spending the
[56:46] $400
[56:48] for a session for us. I think there are
[56:51] other ways,
[56:52] >> other purposes, other ways to inform us.
[56:55] >> Yeah, I agree with that.
[56:57] >> That's a very pricey.
[57:00] >> I agree.
[57:04] Would you like the staff to prepare
[57:06] information for us on how those get
[57:09] through? Would you like us would you
[57:11] like to take it on yourself and
[57:13] participate in the gag committee? Um,
[57:16] what action would you like us to take at
[57:18] this point?
[57:22] We don't know what will come out of this
[57:24] legislative season. It's a little bit
[57:26] early. We could also buy time and look
[57:29] and see what comes through
[57:32] >> and have our own advocacy working group
[57:35] keep us updated.
[57:38] >> I think that idea is the best one.
[57:41] >> I agree. I like that idea.
[57:44] >> So, are we in agreement? So, at this
[57:46] time, we'll let we'll write it for a
[57:48] month or so. see what's happening with
[57:49] the legislative season. Um, ask the
[57:52] advocacy working group to keep us kind
[57:54] of aware and the staff to keep us aware
[57:56] and then we'll address it as the needs
[57:58] arise.
[58:00] Sound good? We we'll pass on the
[58:03] expenditure at this time. Okay. Okay.
[58:06] Um, the last thing I wanted to bring up
[58:08] is I've had a request that we look at
[58:11] the relationship and the history of the
[58:13] relationship between the trustees and
[58:16] the friends foundation. Um, look at the
[58:19] bylaws, look at how this has come so
[58:21] that we make sure we are working
[58:23] appropriately within our own missions as
[58:26] well as not duplicating or getting in
[58:28] each other's way. Um, and there's been a
[58:31] request to have an information session
[58:33] on that. Would you like that? one of the
[58:35] future meetings to look at the friends
[58:37] bylaws and our overall relationship. We
[58:40] could fit that in in February still and
[58:43] have Ann and however Ann would like to
[58:46] see that done put together an
[58:48] information packet on that and then
[58:49] present for a short period and I don't
[58:52] know if she wants to include other
[58:53] staff. We'll leave that to her about how
[58:55] this relationship
[58:57] um has evolved and needs to be reviewed.
[59:01] We haven't looked at the bylaws for some
[59:03] time, but we are responsible for their
[59:05] activity.
[59:06] >> We are their activity. I mean, isn't
[59:09] that right?
[59:10] >> I mean, I only found that out when I was
[59:12] redoing the bylaws, but we are the
[59:14] constituents of the
[59:16] >> We are, but I think I'm not sure there's
[59:18] clear understanding of that. That's why
[59:20] I think it's something we need to go
[59:21] back through and review.
[59:23] >> Who doesn't understand it? I I I think
[59:26] we need to see how the friends interpret
[59:28] those bylaws and how we interpret those
[59:30] bylaws
[59:32] and just make sure we understand that
[59:34] we're on the same page with this.
[59:37] >> So, it's a good time and maybe we're
[59:39] totally wrong and there's no confusion.
[59:42] Um, but I've heard from a few people
[59:43] that there's confusion.
[59:46] So, I think it's a good time to look at
[59:48] it and just try to get all straightened
[59:50] out before we have any
[59:53] anything significant that we need to
[59:55] resolve. Let's be proactive. If people
[59:57] are willing to spend 15 minutes at the
[59:59] February meeting going through this and
[1:00:01] reading through the bylaws in your
[1:00:03] packet in advance, um we've had concerns
[1:00:06] that have come up over the years just
[1:00:08] anecdotally and it's a good time to look
[1:00:10] at the whole relationship and the
[1:00:12] process.
[1:00:14] >> I would be in favor of that. I think
[1:00:15] >> and we're truly appreciative of the work
[1:00:17] they do. So this is not
[1:00:19] >> um in any negative sense. It's just
[1:00:21] looking at to an entity that works under
[1:00:24] us and we haven't really looked at
[1:00:26] >> whether we can strengthen the
[1:00:27] relationship in any way.
[1:00:29] >> Yeah.
[1:00:29] >> In some
[1:00:32] people feel about that being included in
[1:00:33] February. We would still have the
[1:00:35] digital media presentation which you're
[1:00:38] thinking is 15 minutes
[1:00:40] and
[1:00:40] >> 10 15 minutes and then we would have
[1:00:42] this session to go through also. Sound
[1:00:47] good. All right, that is all I have for
[1:00:50] the president report. Thank goodness for
[1:00:52] those in longer. Um, foundation updates.
[1:00:56] >> Like I said, like I yesterday the friend
[1:00:58] or the friends foundation finance
[1:01:00] committee yesterday.
[1:01:03] Um, it was a good meeting. Um the bulk
[1:01:05] of the meeting was uh for discussion of
[1:01:08] the second quarter budget results and uh
[1:01:11] their budget like the main library
[1:01:14] budget is directionally on track. Um
[1:01:19] maybe you know we were looking at a
[1:01:21] small dip in where revenue in the
[1:01:24] foundation should be but second quarter
[1:01:28] is very difficult sometimes for
[1:01:30] nonprofits and any nonprofit and so uh
[1:01:36] and a lot of it is just the timing of
[1:01:38] contributions.
[1:01:40] Uh so it's timing issue. It's not any
[1:01:43] other type of issue really. Nothing to
[1:01:45] be alarmed about. Um expenses were good.
[1:01:48] Um the investment account of the
[1:01:50] foundation um we have a good good
[1:01:53] sizable investment account. We talked
[1:01:56] about that last year actually when that
[1:01:58] was all kind of transferred over to
[1:02:01] Hills Bank. I think it was last year at
[1:02:04] some point. Um it's doing very well. We
[1:02:07] have funds now we can actually put back
[1:02:11] put into or add to uh the investment
[1:02:15] account. So um and I just cautioned the
[1:02:19] uh committee to be cognizant of market
[1:02:23] volatility in the short term
[1:02:27] uh because of things that are happening
[1:02:29] on the global stage. the markets respond
[1:02:32] up and down up and down but uh again
[1:02:36] it's nothing that I would be personally
[1:02:40] too concerned about as a person as a
[1:02:43] independent investor but also I don't
[1:02:45] think it's anything for the foundation
[1:02:47] to worry about too much. I would be more
[1:02:50] inclined to worry about inflation and
[1:02:52] where that's heading. Um but um as far
[1:02:56] as our investments go, but I think that
[1:02:59] financially the foundation is very
[1:03:01] strong. So uh they've done a good a good
[1:03:04] job also being good stewards of all of
[1:03:08] those donated funds.
[1:03:11] >> And is their second quarter also October
[1:03:15] through December?
[1:03:16] >> Coincides with ours. So yeah,
[1:03:19] >> starts in July, ends in June.
[1:03:24] Right.
[1:03:25] >> Yeah.
[1:03:28] >> Thank goodness too. That'd be confusing.
[1:03:30] Think who we're having [laughter]
[1:03:32] dates.
[1:03:35] » Yeah.
[1:03:36] >> Anything else from our foundation? Any
[1:03:38] questions?
[1:03:41] >> Advocacy. Do you I'm almost afraid to
[1:03:44] ask for an advocacy update because I
[1:03:45] don't think this would be good news. Um,
[1:03:48] as anticipated, there is a bill to uh
[1:03:52] get rid of the Iowa City requirement
[1:03:55] that is in the statute for the
[1:03:56] historical society. Um, it's introduced.
[1:04:02] I don't think it's made it out of
[1:04:06] subcommittee yet, but it's introduced.
[1:04:09] Um,
[1:04:12] and
[1:04:14] I don't have the bill number in front of
[1:04:16] me, but I can email it out to everyone
[1:04:18] if you want to know what it is.
[1:04:19] >> Are there competing bills or just one
[1:04:21] bill right now?
[1:04:22] >> I think there's just one.
[1:04:23] >> Okay.
[1:04:24] >> I think um there might be a bill that um
[1:04:27] that was introduced also to do the
[1:04:30] opposite to fully
[1:04:31] >> in the Senate.
[1:04:32] >> The Senate has an opposite bill. Yeah,
[1:04:35] there are competing bills,
[1:04:38] >> but the the one on in the House side
[1:04:40] does it's a bipartisan sponsorship. So,
[1:04:42] it's nice to see
[1:04:45] >> with the director with the uh majority
[1:04:49] leader. Yes.
[1:04:50] >> As one of the uh Yes. the Republican
[1:04:52] majority leader.
[1:04:53] >> Yeah.
[1:04:53] >> Interesting.
[1:04:54] >> Yeah. It seems more regional. Yeah.
[1:04:57] >> I mean, it's I I Yeah, I was surprised.
[1:05:04] All right.
[1:05:04] >> He's not shown a statesmanlike B before.
[1:05:08] >> Oh, I don't know about that. His
[1:05:11] father's a historian.
[1:05:13] >> Oh, is that right?
[1:05:14] >> Academically.
[1:05:17] >> That might sometimes, you know, the
[1:05:19] parents have hard to go home. [laughter]
[1:05:25] » So, is there anything you're asking us
[1:05:27] to pay particular attention to right now
[1:05:28] or is it just the update and then let us
[1:05:31] know? That is the only update I have
[1:05:33] right now. Um, I did,
[1:05:37] this isn't a bill at this point, but I
[1:05:39] did see I don't know if anyone else did.
[1:05:42] There was an article in the Mo Register
[1:05:46] um about
[1:05:48] uh quoted Sam actually um but it was
[1:05:52] about uh
[1:05:55] people having problems with public
[1:05:57] libraries allowing children to access
[1:06:00] books that they can't get at school
[1:06:03] especially through partnerships like the
[1:06:05] one that we have
[1:06:08] um for the cards. So, uh, there may be
[1:06:12] something that comes up with that. Was
[1:06:15] it a news story or like an opinion
[1:06:17] piece?
[1:06:17] >> It was a news story in the De Mo
[1:06:20] Register. Um,
[1:06:22] actually, it might have been from last
[1:06:24] month.
[1:06:25] >> It was
[1:06:26] >> I'm really bad at reading newspapers on
[1:06:28] time.
[1:06:29] >> Picked up from today.
[1:06:31] >> Okay.
[1:06:31] >> Yeah.
[1:06:33] Um, so I wouldn't be surprised if
[1:06:36] something comes up that would affect our
[1:06:39] ability to have a partnership with the
[1:06:41] public schools.
[1:06:45] » All right.
[1:06:47] Um, communications
[1:06:50] except for the great article in the
[1:06:51] return book.
[1:06:55] anything you want to comment otherwise
[1:06:58] do I'd like to have the uh minute go
[1:07:01] through the consent agenda and have
[1:07:03] approval of the minutes of the past
[1:07:06] meeting and the dispersements we have it
[1:07:09] together.
[1:07:11] Do we have um motion to approve the
[1:07:13] consent agenda?
[1:07:16] >> So moved.
[1:07:18] >> Second.
[1:07:20] >> All those in favor?
[1:07:22] Okay. Hi.
[1:07:23] >> Um before we adjourn, let's just take
[1:07:26] again look at that February meeting to
[1:07:28] make sure we know what we're up against.
[1:07:29] I will be appointing a nominating
[1:07:31] committee. I didn't want to speak too
[1:07:33] much about tonight since we don't have
[1:07:34] full attendance, but I'll send out a
[1:07:36] message to everyone saying if you'd like
[1:07:37] to be on there and and explain what it
[1:07:40] is, please just let me know because I'd
[1:07:42] love to have volunteers before drafties,
[1:07:44] but I if you don't volunteer, I will
[1:07:46] draft people. Um we're going to be
[1:07:50] setting the calendar year. We have a few
[1:07:52] department reports
[1:07:54] and we have the two items we've added
[1:07:56] this evening and well three items if we
[1:07:59] look at the bylaws also. Yeah. So we'll
[1:08:01] have the digital media, the bylaws and
[1:08:03] the the friends foundation structure.
[1:08:09] Do we have a motion to adjurnn?
[1:08:15] >> Moved.
[1:08:16] >> Second.
[1:08:18] All those in favor?
[1:08:20] We are adjourned. We can talk. That's a
[1:08:22] problem.
[1:08:30] » [music]