LIBMIN 10-27-2020Meeting of the Elk River Public Library Board
Held at Elk River Public Library
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Members Present: Chair Mary Keifenheim, Commissioner's Mary Eberley, Rita Dreissig,
Carole Boelter, Michelle Hegarty
Members Absent:
Council Liaison: Garrett Christianson
Staff Present: Brandi Canter, Patron Services Supervisor — GRRL
Robbie Schake, Library Services Coordinator - GRRL
Dawn Larson, Recording Secretary, City of Elk River
Cal Portner, City Administrator, City of Elk River
I . Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Public Library
Board was called to order at 5:33 pm by Chair Keifenheim.
2. Consider January 28, 2020, Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Dreissig and seconded by Commissioner Boelter to
approve the January 28, 2020, agenda.
3. Consent Agenda
3.1 Secretary's Report
■ November 26, 2019 Meeting Minutes
3.2 Treasurer's Report
■ November and December 2019 Revenue and Expense Reports
■ Commissioner Dreissig asked about the budget if we are over by the $19,000
that she sees on the report. Mr. Portner explained how to read the reports.
On page 1 that is the accounting for the December expenditures.
Moved by Commissioner Boelter and seconded by Commissioner Dreissig to
approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
4. Open Forum
No one appeared for open forum.
3.1
Elk River Public Library Board
January 28, 2020
S. General Business
5.1 New Business
a. Election of board positions
Page 2
i. Moved by Commissioner Dreissig and seconded by
Commissioner Eberley to appoint Commissioner
Keifenheim Chair. Motion carried 4-1.
ii. Moved by Chair Keifenheim and seconded by
Commissioner Eberley to appoint Rita Dreissig as Vice
Chair. Motion carried 5-0.
iii. Moved by Commissioner Dreissig and seconded by
Commissioner Boelter to appoint Mary Eberley as
Secretary. Motion carried 5-0.
b. Re-examine by-laws and meeting date changes for 2020
■ Chair Keifenheim asked the board about their opinion on scheduling
fewer meetings for 2020.
■ The board discussed the decision to change of the number of
meetings per year from 6 to 4. At the November meeting it had been
decided to drop to the 4, January 28d, April 28th, July 28', and
October 27'''. The board discussed going back to 6 meetings now
with a new purpose etc. Ms. Schake pointed out that she would have
scheduling conflicts, if the board decided to do that since she had
already adjusted the library's calendar. Mr. Portner also pointed out
that there can be special meetings if called or having smaller
subcommittees of 2 members would be fine. The board decided to
stick to the 4 meetings they approved in November and will continue
to work on the bylaws at the next meeting.
■ Mr. Portner gave some recommendations for changes in the bylaws,
but it was unclear if these recommendations were on the correct
current version or the incorrect version that was sent with the packet.
Mr. Portner said that page 3 of the bylaws, that top paragraph can be
struck. The secretarial duties will be appointed annually by secretarial
staff and to move all of E. into article 3. Under annual part article 9
in the bylaws the board would report on activities of the previous
year and state goals of the next year. A board member should
present the work plan and accomplishments. Under library fund -
change to annual budget. Make any recommendations of the work
plan and adopted goals.
c. Define Purpose of board and mission statement
Commissioner Dreissig brought to attention that the bylaws
included in the meeting packet were not current. Ms. Canter
[01f0EI 11
FNATURE
Elk River Public Library Board Page 3
January 28, 2020
made copies of the correct ones last dated 10-4-17 and passed
them out. Ms. Larson said she would correct this error with
records at City offices.
Mr. Portner passed out a packet of the MN State Statutes related
to public and multitype libraries. Mr. Portner referenced MN
State Statute 134.07 Public Library Service, 134.11 Organization
of Board; duties, 134.13 Annual Report, 134.20 Regional Library
Systems, 134.201 Regional Library District, 134.34 Regional
Library Basic System support aid: Requirements. Ms. Canter
explained that the rules Cal read covers the Great River Regional
Library but do not directly correlate to the Elk River Library
Board. Mr. Portner explained that his point is that the board is
under supervision of the City Council and not the statute. Mr.
Portner suggested to strike the authorization on the bylaws of
the MN Statute.
The board questioned whether to start over from scratch with
the bylaws or not. Mr. Portner said that the bylaws are very
general and creates a template to work with. Mr. Portner
explained he was there to help the board find their purpose,
mission, and redefine their bylaws. Mr. Portner asked the board
for ideas as he drew a table on the white board to summarize the
information. Some of the ideas that the board suggested are:
o Continue to monitor maintenance stuff they have done in
the past and Support Ms. Schake in choosing in CIP
items
o Continue making the library safe and welcoming.
Meeting user's needs, usability.
o Be more involved in the community, support the library,
its mission, and the needs of the people of Elk River.
Promote the library in the community and give feedback
from the community to the library regarding their needs.
This could include attending open houses with library
staff when available, the farmers market booth when the
library is there once a month, reach out to their
connections. There is nothing limiting the board if there
are not more than 2 board members attending at time.
Board members could attend events with the Friends of
the library as well. Mr. Portner pointed out that the board
is only restricted by the rules they make. Commissioner
Dreissig and Chair Keifenheim are both Friends of the
Library.
o Community surveys such as night to unite.
■ The board discussed the differences between a mission statement
and purpose. Mr. Portner clarified that a mission statement is
why they do what they do. Then Brandi read the GRRL mission
1IIIaI1 it
NAWR
Elk River Public Library Board Page 4
January 28, 2020
statement: The Neighborhood Gateway: Inspiring
Central Minnesota to shape the future through exploration,
knowledge and connection.
Commissioner Eberley asked if they have the benefit of the gift
to elk river. It amounts to approximately 12,000 per year. Brandi
clarified that it is GRRL is the one that allocates the gift the
money not the city. Library staff will sit down and roadmap how
to spend the money. Ms. Canter said that it would be a good
idea to gather ideas and input because the library really does need
help with advocacy.
The Board and Councilmember Christianson discussed that this
approach would be much more hands on. It would allow the
board to branch outside the walls of the library and bring people
in. It was agreed by the board that this discussion is not unique to
this board.
Chair Keifenheim expressed that she thinks that the board is.
starting to get an idea of what they want to do. Mr. Portner
suggested that they take these ideas and form a work plan. They
can then tweak the bylaws a bit. At the next meeting they can also
revisit Article 3 and 4 of the bylaws.
The board requested that they have the minutes earlier than the
next scheduled board meeting. Mrs. Larson confirmed that she
could have the minutes prepared and out to the board within a
week.
Commissioner Eberley asked about getting a detailed budget
report. Mr. Portner said that what the board received in each
meeting packet is the detailed report. Commissioner Eberley had
questions about the maintenance of effort money- Mr. Portner
said that is statutory. Commissioner Eberley asked about story
time. Ms. Canter explained that there are 3 sources of program
funding and that there can be programming above and beyond
what GRRL budgeted for. Review annual budget each year and
recommend expenditures consistent with approved work plan
and adopted board goals.
5.2 Old Business
5.3 City Council Report
• Councilman Christianson and Mr. Portner gave an update on the
construction of the multi-purpose facility.
5.4 Patron Services Supervisors Report
Ms. Canter presented her staff report.
5.5 Library Services Coordinator Report
rIIIIII Ir
NATURE
Elk River Public Library Board Page 5
January 28, 2020
Mrs. Schake presented her report. Ms. Schake received two
estimates from a local upholstery company, one to re -upholster
entire chairs for $1750 and one to re -upholster just the seats of
the chairs for $670. She is open to the boards input.
Commissioner Eberley and Chair Keifenheim said they think
that they should cover the whole chair. Ms. Shake will ask for a
board member to go with to choose the fabric.
Moved by Commissioner Eberley and seconded by Commissioner
Hegarty to approve Ms. Schake to choose fabric and spend the $1750.
5.6 GRRL Trustee Report
• GRRL trustee report: march campaign coming up- money will stay local to Elk
River. Commissioner Hagerty has a lot of books to give away due to her job as a
book editor. She explained that the Friends of the Library should be receiving
books from her suppliers. Commissioner Eberley talked about how nice it
would be to give a book to everyone that signed up for the summer reading
program.
6. Announcements
7. Adjournment
Moved by Commissioner Eberley and seconded by Commissioner Boelter to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:49pm.
Minutes submitted by Dawn Larson.
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Mary Keifenheim, Chair
R 1 f R E i ! 1
NA TUR