HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-2024 Library Board Packet
LIBRARY BOARD
Library—Community Room, 3939 Central Ave NE
Wednesday, October 02, 2024
5:30 PM
AGENDA
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in-person, or by using Microsoft Teams Meeting
at columbiaheightsmn.gov/joinameeting: ID 258 492 181 742, Passcode GWnPxW. For questions, please
contact Administration at 763-706-3610.
Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the
request is made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administration at 763-706-3610 to make
arrangements.
CALL TO ORDER
1. Approve the Agenda
2. Review/Approve Library Board Minutes from September 4, 2024
3. Review 2024 Operating Budget
COMMUNITY FORUM: At this time, individuals may address the Library Board about any item not included on
the regular agenda. All speakers need to state their name and connection to Columbia Heights, and limit their
comments to five (5) minutes. Those in attendance virtually should send this information in the chat function to
the moderator. The Board will listen to brief remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if needed, request staff to
follow up or direct the matter to be added to an upcoming agenda.
OLD BUSINESS
4. Staffing Update
5. Preview of New Website
6. Update on Parking Lot Extension
NEW BUSINESS
7. Summer Adventures Reading and Learning Program Update
DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
8. August Board Report
9. Board Books
ADJOURNMENT
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A COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 4th, 2024
Drafted
9/5/2024
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wished to attend could do so in-person, or via Microsoft Teams at columbiaheightsmn.gov/join-a-meeting and entering
Meeting ID 258 492 181 742 and passcode GWnPxW at the scheduled meeting time. For questions, please call the library at 763-706-3690.
The meeting was called to order in the Library Community Room by Rachelle Waldon at 5:32pm.
Members present: Rachelle Waldon; Melanie Magidow; Chris Polley; Justice Spriggs (City Council Liaison). Members
remotely present: N/A. Members absent: Carrie Mesrobian; Amina Maameri. Others present: Renee Dougherty (Library
Director); Nick Olberding (Board Secretary). Public present: N/A.
1. The Meeting Agenda was approved as-is.
2. The Minutes of the August 7th, 2024, Board Meetings were moved and approved.
3. Review 2024 Operating Budget: 66.67% of the year and 58.59% of the budget expended.
a. 42183 (E-Books): Anoka County would like to change to how e-Book access is billed for Columbia Heights
cardholders. Renee would like billing to coincide with a single budget year. In the past, eBook charges
were billed on a July – June billing cycle based on a formula calculated from the previous year’s usage. No
invoice for 2024 e-Books has yet been received.
Community Forum: Opportunity for public input. No correspondence and no public in attendance. The City website
has a Contact Form for each Board/Commission for the public to submit questions or concerns:
https://www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/government/boards_and_commissions/index.php after clicking desired group,
scroll to the bottom of their page to find the contact form.
New Business:
4. Staffing Update: With two of the Pages in college we are having trouble covering shifts on certain days, so
advertised for an additional Page position which closed last week. Renee is in the process of reviewing and scoring
the 57 applications received. We hope to interview finalists starting next week.
5. Organizational Borrowing Policy Review: The Organizational Borrowing Policy was adopted back in 1999 and has
not changed much over the years. The Youth Librarian and Youth Associate believe the policy needs changes to
bring it in-line with Anoka County policy, to make it more cohesive with other borrowing policies, and to remove
outdated language. At CHPL organizational borrowers are school classrooms and elder care facilities who receive a
bin of books referred to as a “bulk loan.” Organizations may request certain genres or subjects for deliveries, but if
they want specific items, they must request and personally pick up those items. Bulk loans are selected by staff
from the Columbia Heights collection only. Previously staff manually extended the due date to 45 days since bulk
loans were distributed monthly and a standard 21-day checkout would result in overdue fines. However, since
Columbia Heights no longer charges overdue fines and ACL and COH have implemented automatic renewal, this
labor-intensive loan extension is no longer needed. The section covering deposit collections has never been
utilized and has now been removed (this was intended to be a small collection of materials sent to an institution
like a prison or hospital where items would then be loaned out to individuals in the facility). The Board reviewed
revisions and agreed with the reasoning behind the changes. A MOTION was made to approve the revision of the
Organizational Borrowing Policy, it was seconded and unanimously approved.
6. MakerSpace Discussion: MakerSpaces have been implemented in several libraries around the world. It is a space
that provides the tools, supplies, equipment, and staff expertise needed so that patrons can create various types
of crafts or useful items. MakerSpaces include equipment like sewing machines, 3D printers, engravers, Cricuts
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Item 2.
cutting machines, laminators, and other things. The Board asked how much demand there seems to be for this
type of space at our Library, to which Nick and Renee mentioned that there is an occasional inquiry about a 3D
printer, but not much demand generally. A MakerSpace can require a lot of support and staff time to implement,
keep supplies stocked, equipment maintained, space monitored, patrons trained/certified on equipment, etc. How
would a MakerSpace be hosted? Is it available all the time, at certain hours, or only for specific crafts with
coordinated programming? We already host an assortment of craft-related programming for various age groups. Is
a MakerSpace within our scope/mission? Something akin to MakerSpaces that would likely get more use is
specialty computer workstations for functions like online virtual meetings, video/photo editing, resume writing,
etc. We are tabling the MakerSpace discussion for the time being, but it will be revisited in the future.
Director’s Update:
7. July Board Report: Provided as an FYI.
a. OpenAccess: No new information from Renee, but Melanie offered to connect her with a first-hand source
with information about how this is working at a library that has implemented it.
b. Teen Trivia Night: Chris wanted to express his support for more of these in the future based on the
enthusiasm and interest from students who attended.
c. MN DNR Park Passes: This has been a very popular program and our three park passes are constantly in
use. The DNR expressed appreciation to library staff for encouraging survey participation which resulted in
a more diverse range of respondents in the 2024 summer survey than in 2023.
d. Transportation Safety Action Plan Survey: The city has created an interactive survey to gather input on
the safety of transit areas in the city; it should be available for at least another month, and can be found
at: arcg.is/0CjPT5
e. Penny Press: Chris mentioned how excited his kids were to see that we had the Minnesota Artist Press
Project penny press for the last couple months, it has moved on to its next location, but info can be found
here: https://cargocollective.com/alyssabaguss/Minnesota-Artists-Penny-Press
8. Board Books:
a. Chris: Earthdivers: Vol 1. (adult graphic novel series) Stephen Graham Jones; Slider Pete Hautman
b. Rachelle: A Study in Drowning Ava Reid
c. Renee: The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead
d. Justice: On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service Anthony Fauci
e. Melanie: The Spellshop Sarah Beth Durst; The Tea Dragon Society (youth graphic novel series) K. O’Neill
f. Nick: The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas P. Olberding
Recording Secretary, CHPL Board of Trustees
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Item 2.
Fund 240 ‐ LIBRARY
2024 YTD ACTIVITY FOR
AMENDED BALANCE MONTH ENCUMBERED UNENCUMBERED % BDGT
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION BUDGET 09/27/2024 09/27/2024 YEAR‐TO‐DATE BALANCE USED
41010 REGULAR EMPLOYEES 515,400.00 350,374.51 37,950.64 0.00 165,025.49 67.98
41011 PART‐TIME EMPLOYEES 144,300.00 72,079.75 6,397.75 0.00 72,220.25 49.95
41020 OVERTIME‐REGULAR 700.00 726.72 79.49 0.00 ‐26.72 103.82
41050 ACCRUED LEAVE ADJUSTMENT 0.00 637.50 0.00 0.00 ‐637.50
41070 INTERDEPARTMENTAL LABOR SERV 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00
41210 P.E.R.A. CONTRIBUTION 48,000.00 31,923.44 3,282.37 0.00 16,076.56 66.51
41220 F.I.C.A. CONTRIBUTION 50,500.00 32,174.20 3,376.79 0.00 18,325.80 63.71
41300 INSURANCE 82,800.00 61,555.56 6,831.90 0.00 21,244.44 74.34
41400 UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 0.00 22.18 0.00 0.00 ‐22.18
41510 WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PREM 5,000.00 2,127.01 158.99 0.00 2,872.99 42.54
42000 OFFICE SUPPLIES 1,200.00 1,037.23 0.00 0.00 162.77 86.44
42010 MINOR EQUIPMENT 100.00 917.50 0.00 0.00 ‐817.50 917.50
42011 END USER DEVICES 3,300.00 2,954.44 0.00 0.00 345.56 89.53
42012 OTHER TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT 0.00 2,337.94 0.00 0.00 ‐2,337.94
42030 PRINTING & PRINTED FORMS 700.00 772.00 0.00 0.00 ‐72.00 110.29
42170 PROGRAM SUPPLIES 1,000.00 590.61 0.00 0.00 409.39 59.06
42171 GENERAL SUPPLIES 7,300.00 4,849.78 774.43 0.00 2,450.22 66.44
42175 FOOD SUPPLIES 100.00 13.97 0.00 0.00 86.03 13.97
42180 BOOKS 55,000.00 34,065.88 2,134.89 0.00 20,934.12 61.94
42181 PERIODICALS, MAG, NEWSPAPERS 7,800.00 4,215.73 303.00 0.00 3,584.27 54.05
42183 E‐BOOKS 15,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15,000.00 0.00
42185 COMPACT DISCS 4,700.00 1,272.43 0.00 0.00 3,427.57 27.07
42187 BOOK/CD SET 800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800.00 0.00
42189 DVD 6,500.00 3,763.75 18.74 0.00 2,736.25 57.90
42990 COMM. PURCHASED FOR RESALE 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 0.00
43050 EXPERT & PROFESSIONAL SERV. 5,400.00 3,835.59 34.95 300.00 1,264.41 76.59
43105 TRAINING & EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 700.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 700.00 0.00
43210 TELEPHONE 900.00 805.41 0.00 0.00 94.59 89.49
43220 POSTAGE 200.00 12.78 0.00 0.00 187.22 6.39
43250 OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS 3,200.00 2,417.65 199.27 0.00 782.35 75.55
43310 LOCAL TRAVEL EXPENSE 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00
43600 PROP & LIAB INSURANCE 12,300.00 8,200.00 0.00 0.00 4,100.00 66.67
43800 UTILITY SERVICES 7,000.00 5,129.42 2,524.03 0.00 1,870.58 73.28
43810 ELECTRIC 46,300.00 25,344.79 1,074.23 0.00 20,955.21 54.74
43830 GAS 16,600.00 4,677.28 0.74 0.00 11,922.72 28.18
44000 REPAIR & MAINT. SERVICES 18,700.00 16,426.33 251.24 800.00 1,473.67 92.12
44010 BUILDING MAINT:INTERNAL SVCS 43,800.00 29,200.00 0.00 0.00 14,600.00 66.67
44020 BLDG MAINT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 29,000.00 20,483.62 134.00 4,985.20 3,531.18 87.82
44030 SOFTWARE & SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS 18,800.00 10,214.88 7,434.96 7,434.96 1,150.16 93.88
44040 INFORMATION SYS:INTERNAL SVC 87,800.00 58,533.36 0.00 0.00 29,266.64 66.67
44050 GARAGE, LABOR BURD. 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 0.00
44330 SUBSCRIPTION, MEMBERSHIP 700.00 411.00 0.00 0.00 289.00 58.71
44375 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 200.00 35.72 0.00 0.00 164.28 17.86
45180 OTHER EQUIPMENT 0.00 491.86 0.00 0.00 ‐491.86
47100 OPER. TRANSFER OUT ‐ LABOR 18,600.00 12,400.00 0.00 0.00 6,200.00 66.67
TOTAL EXPENDITURES: 1,262,000.00 718,513.67 71,071.55 20,955.12 522,531.21 58.59
EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PERIOD ENDING 9/30/2024
Fiscal Year Completed: 74.86%
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Item 3.
Columbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – August 2024
BUILDING
• Northland Refrigeration completed final repairs to the air conditioning unit on 8/8.
• Adams Pest visited for the regular monthly inspection and maintenance.
• Exterior windows were washed on 8/23.
TECHNOLOGY.
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the April and May issues of Booklist, Kirkus Reviews,
Library Journal and School Library Journal. Recent adult works on psychology and religion as well
as manga were added. Replacement copies of youth materials from popular series like “Dog
Man,” “Wings of Fire,” and manga were ordered. DVDs for youth and adults were purchased.
• Weeding was completed in adult nonfiction 800s-940s for condition, datedness, and lack of use.
• Adult slatwall displays featured dogs, summer, Olympics, back-to-school, and road trips. Larger
displays featured romance awareness month, including adult and young adult titles in science
fiction, fantasy, and graphics in addition to traditional mass-market romance paperbacks.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Daycare Storytime 8/2 Children (0-5) 20
Intro to Citizenship class with MetroNorth ABE 8/3 Adult 2
English Language Conversation Circle 8/5 Adult 1
Computers 101, 10 am 8/6 Adult 2
Computers 101, 11 am 8/6 Adult 2
Tinker Time: Perler Beads 8/6 Children (6-11) 15
EL Conversation Circle 8/7 Adult 3
Found Materials Windchimes 8/8 Children (6-11) 23
Saturday Scribes: Blue Delliquanti 8/10 Adult 7
Computers 101, 5 pm 8/12 Adult 3
Computers 101, 6 pm 8/12 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 8/12 Adult 5
Walk and Talk Book Club 8/13 Adult 1
DIY Teen: Japanese Book Binding 8/13 Youth (12-18) 8
EL Conversation Circle 8/14 Adult 4
Intro to Watercolor 8/14 Adult 15
EL Conversation Circle 8/19 Adult 8
Book Club: “The Underground Railroad” 8/21 Adult 16
Mystery Book Club: “Strike Me Down” 8/21 Adult 6
EL Conversation Circle 8/21 Adult 5
Clay Turtles for Families 8/24 Children (6-11) 19
EL Conversation Circle 8/26 Adult 4
EL Conversation Circle 8/28 Adult 6
STAFF
• Rin Gorman, Library Supervisor
o Facilitated the Mystery Book Club discussion on 8/21.
• Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian
o Met with the MELSA Jobs and Small Business Task Force.
o Made four deliveries to At-Home patrons.
o Attended the Monarch Festival on 8/8 to share library resources on pollinators
o Attended the city division head meeting on 8/14.
• Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian,
o Taught Tinker Time on Perler Beads which coincided with National Night Out.
o Hosted the Rum River Art Center for a “Found Materials” windchime program.
o Enlisted Erin Holt for a teen program on Japanese bookbinding techniques. One teen
told his parent that he love the program and couldn’t wait to attend another.
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Item 8.
Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – August 2024
o Contracted with eHolt Art for a family clay program focusing on turtles. Some turtles
were realistic, like a soft-shelled turtle, and some were fantastical, like a waffle turtle
with butter on top, but all looked amazing.
o Brought giant bubbles and sidewalk chalk to the Jolly Pops Music in the Park event on
8/14.
o Attended a new teacher meet and greet at Columbia Heights Public Schools on 8/20 to
share information about online library resources for students, families and teachers as
well as information about organizational cards and bulk loans.
o Provided similar information for teachers at the Immaculate Conception School.
o Attended an open house at the CHPS Family Center on 8/29.
• Renee Dougherty, Library Director,
o Participated in the monthly ACL public service team and weekly city division head
meetings.
o Met with Library Associate Farrah Briest for her annual performance evaluation.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Announced an opening for a Library Page with applications accepted through August 30.
• Staff attended the City Employee Picnic on 8/15.
• The Minnesota Artists Penny Press Project was removed in the final week of the month.
VOLUNTEERS
• Eight adult volunteers donated 28.5 hours.
• Seven teen volunteers contributed 82 hours of service over the summer. There were the same
number of volunteens as last year, but they worked 22 more hours. The teens were exceptional,
responsible, independent, with positive attitudes and adept at all assigned tasks.
Figure 1 Intro to Watercolor
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Item 8.
Columbia Heights Public Library 3. Library Board Monthly Update – August 2024
Figure 2 Found Materials Windchimes
Figure 3 DIY Teen: Japanese Bookbinding
Figure 4 Clay Turtles
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Item 8.