[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]

Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting of January 22, 2026

Transcript