3.1 LIBMIN 10-24-2023.docxMeeting of the Elk River Library Board
Held at the Elk River Library Community Room
Tuesday October 24, 2023
Members Present: Chair Isaac Blaske, Commissioners Carole Boelter, Sara Soukup, Michelle Hegarty, Kelly
Voss
Members Absent: none
Council Liaison: Mayor Dietz
Staff Present: GRRL Patron Services Supervisor Jeannette Burkhardt, Library Services Coordinator Margot
Barry, Parks and Recreation Manager Michael Hecker, Recording Secretary Dawn Larson
I . Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Library Board was called to order at
5:29 p.m. by Chair Blaske.
2. Consider Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Boelter and seconded by Commissioner Soukup to approve the October
24, 2023, agenda with the addition of item 5.4, the report from the Mayor. Motion carried 5-0.
3. Consent Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Soukup and seconded by Commissioner Boelter to approve:
3.1 April 24, 2023, minutes.
3.2 April, May, June, July, August, September 2023 Revenue and Expense Reports.
Motion carried 5-0.
4. Open Forum
No one appeared for Open Forum.
S. General Business
5.1 Forecast a list of annual goals and projects
Commissioner Boelter shared that the last time the board discussed this the focus was going to be on doing
more outreach like Elk Riverfest. Chair Blaske said that he attended the library booth at Elk Riverfest this
past summer and he felt like it was busy and a good experience. Ms. Barry agreed that the event was well
attended, and the staff gave away many books, library card applications and information about programs.
Chair Blaske asked Ms. Barry if there were events coming up in the next quarter. Ms. Barry shared that while
she is doing a lot of networking with other organizations in the area to build relationships and create
opportunities the next events would not be until Spring. She recently attended an event called Community
Connect and had similar success to Elk Riverfest.
Library Board Minutes
October 25, 2023
Page 2
Mayor Dietz asked Ms. Barry about an update on the flooring that is replacing the cork flooring near the
teen area. Ms. Barry confirmed that the cork flooring will be replaced next year with tile like other areas of
the library.
5.2 Patron Services Supervisors Report
Ms. Burkhardt presented her report. The monetary total that will be given to the library in November from
the Marcile Carlson family is $154,897.12. As Ms. Barry requests money for specific things at the Elk River
Library, the Regional Library Board will review the request and approve or deny. The money will be kept
within the Elk River Library system.
Regarding the Collection Development Committee portion of the report, Mayor Dietz asked Ms. Barry if
any issues had come up with the Elk River library collection. Ms. Barry said that there has not been, but if
something did, they have a process in place to handle those inquiries.
Ms. Barry also clarified that the year-end campaign in her report is region wide and not just Elk River like
the locally growin' campaign.
5.3 Library Services Coordinator Report
Ms. Barry presented her report. She expressed that she would like to coordinate with the City on more visits
to the Elk River Farmers Market in 2024.
The library is planning to reconfigure the layout of the shelving and seating areas in both the adult section
and the children's section. Because of this they are going to hold off on purchasing new seating for the
children's area but are considering sturdy bean bag chairs as an option when the time comes.
Ms. Barry also explained more about the updates with the art currently hanging in the library. Some pictures
will be reframed and moved, while new art may be coming in soon with a rotating schedule of local artists.
City staff will assist in the hanging process.
The board briefly discussed the Friends of the Library book sale coming up on the 26, 27, and 28`''.
Commissioner Boelter asked how many people belong to the Friends group. Ms. Barry said there about
seven, but they could use more.
Ms. Barry mentioned that Library at the Capital Day is coming up. Some friends of the library usually attend
the event, but board members could go as well. She will get the information to Secretary Larson to disperse
to the board members.
Ms. Barry also mentioned that the seating in the teen area needs to be cleaned but she will reach out to City
staff about that separately.
5.4 City Council Report
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Library Board Minutes
October 25, 2023
Page 3
Mayor Dietz had a couple of discussion items he wanted to bring up to the board.
The lip on the curb outside the main entrance of the library needs to be fixed. He will speak to City Staff to
get this fixed.
The paintings above the fireplace were donated by Mayor Dietz's mother-in-law so he is happy to hear they
are being matted and framed. He also thinks moving them away from the fireplace will keep them in better
shape by avoiding the heat.
Mayor Dietz informed city staff that the signs around the outside of the building and parking lot are faded
and in bad shape. City staff will get those signs replaced in the spring.
Mayor Dietz mentioned the attendance policy currently in place for the members of the library board. The
library board members are scheduled to attend four meetings per year. They can miss one meeting without
penalty but if they miss more than that they risk losing their seat on the board. Right now, one of the library
board members have recently been placed in this situation. The City Council is reviewing the attendance
policy of all boards and commissions right now and will decide and get back to the library board with the
results. Once the attendance policy has been fully discussed and modified, that information will be given to
each board member, so they are aware of the requirements for attending meetings.
Mayor Dietz asked the library board and staff if they had an update on the status of the master gardeners
that in previous years had done work on the gardens on the library grounds.
Commissioner Boelter said she remembered that at one point the board discussed not having enough
master gardeners involved to do the work.
Ms. Barry and Ms. Burkhardt said they have not had any contact with the master gardeners, just the junior
master gardener program contacts. Ms. Barry said she could reach out to the contact she has to see if there
is an additional contact for the master program.
Commissioner Boelter mentioned that she thought Rita Dreissig, a previous library board member, was
involved with the master gardeners.
Secretary Larson will pull the minutes from previous library board meetings when the status of the master
gardeners was discussed.
Mayor Dietz also asked about the status of parking in the round bout in front of the library. He had been
asked about this by a library patron and wondered what happened with it or if there had been discussion.
Secretary Larson will put the minutes for him from previous library board meetings.
Mayor Dietz and the board also requested to move the yearly grounds walk through to April and then move
the indoor building walk through to July. Secretary Larson will adjust the standing agenda items list to reflect
this change.
6. Announcements
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Library Board Minutes
October 25, 2023
7. Motion to Adjourn
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Moved by Commissioner Voss and seconded by Commissioner Soukup to adjourn the meeting of
the Elk River Library Board. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Dawn Larson.
Michelle Hegarty, Vice -Chair
Tina Allard, City Clerk
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