HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-2025 Library Board Packet
LIBRARY BOARD
Library—Community Room, 3939 Central Ave NE
Wednesday, May 07, 2025
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 271 987 908 772, Passcode T2uo3T8N. 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. Annual Election of Board Officers
3. Review/Approve Library Board Minutes from April 2, 2025
4. Review 2025 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.
NEW BUSINESS
5. Art Exhibit Application
6. General Discussion of 2026 Budget
DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
7. March Board Report
8. 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, April 2, 2025
Drafted
4/3/2025
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 271 987 908 772 and passcode T2uo3T8N 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 Melanie Magidow at 5:31pm.
Members present: Melanie Magidow; Olga Herrera; Theresa Strike. Members remotely present: Amáda Márquez Simula
(City Council Liaison). Members absent: Amina Maameri; Chris Polley. Others present: Renee Dougherty (Library Director);
Nick Olberding (Board Secretary); Sara Ion (City Clerk). Public present: N/A.
1. New members, Olga Herrera and Theresa Strike, performed their Oath of Office with Sara Ion.
2. Orientation: Sara Ion familiarized new members with the function of the Library Board, expectations, and
background on the City, Library, and Commissions. Both introduced themselves and Renee Dougherty asked them
how they see libraries changing in the next 5-10 years. Olga sees libraries as a community support and information
center and a resource to supply students with what their school library lacks. Theresa sees a continued shift
towards digital and alternative collections (eg. video/board games, tools, etc), a destination for cutting edge and
vintage technology, and other community needs.
3. A Motion to table the Annual Election of Officers until the next meeting, when all members are in attendance,
was seconded and approved.
4. The Meeting Agenda was approved as is.
5. The Minutes of the February 5, 2025, Library Board Meeting were moved and approved.
6. Review of 2025 Operating Budget: 24.66% of the year and 20.74% of the budget expended.
a. Telephone (43210): These costs are higher than anticipated for all departments; the city’s phone system is
nearing end-of-life so the IT Department is researching replacement options which could be implemented
later this year and into 2026.
b. Repair & Maintenance (44000): Prepayment on annual maintenance costs like AMH/Self-Checks.
Community Forum: Opportunity for public input. No correspondence and no public in attendance. The CHPL website
now has a contact form to submit questions or concerns: https://chplmn.org/board
New Business:
7. Consider Approving 2024 Minnesota Public Library Annual Report Submission: The Board was presented with the
2024 MNPLAR which was submitted to the state of Minnesota on the deadline of March 31. This is required each
year by state statute and includes various library statistics for the previous year. Key benchmarks are nearing pre-
pandemic levels, especially visitor count, number of programs, program attendance, and computer use; circulation
numbers are healthy with digital checkouts growing considerably from the year before. A MOTION to approve the
submission of the 2024 Minnesota Public Library Annual Report was made and approved.
8. Minnesota Library Association Legislative Priorities: State library advocates testified before committees at the
Minnesota State Capitol on February 20 to promote the important work that libraries do. An outline of the
Minnesota Library Association’s legislative priorities was included in the meeting packet, with three of them
having potential impact on our library.
a. Minitex Operational Funding: If Federal funding is cut and cannot be replaced, this could cause significant
impact to the inter-library loan program throughout the state. For a decade Minitex has not requested any
funding increases from the state, but this year when they were finally going to, they might also need to
devise a plan to make up for a federal fund shortfall or potentially scale back shared services.
b. eLibrary Minnesota Resources: A collection of e-books, newspaper archives, and databases shared
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amongst academic and public libraries throughout the state.
c. Legacy Funding: Provides funding, via MELSA in our area, for arts and cultural heritage programming to
libraries and other institutions, accounting for about $3000 for programs at CHPL.
9. School Library Census Findings: The Board received the Executive Summary from the MN K-12 School Library
Census of 2024; this was included for informational purposes due to previous discussions about libraries in the
local school district. We have supplied digital library cards to our school district students, and now SORA access
(an age appropriate e-book collection hosted by Overdrive); hold yearly open houses for new district
kindergartners and their families (with a focus on ELL); field trips and library tours to introduce kids to the library
and its resources and collections; new teacher library orientation in the fall; Kanopy Streaming access for
classrooms (broadcast license included for all Kanopy titles). The Board asked if we could get analytics for the
district’s SORA usage and wondered whether we’ve been asked to or could assist teachers in constructing their
literacy curriculum, and if we could add a teacher and/or student focused page on the Library website?
Director’s Update:
10. January & February Board Report: Provided as an FYI.
a. Metro HRA Housing Choice Voucher Application Assistance: Application navigators from the Metro HRA
will be in-house at the library on April 9 (10am-1pm), and April 14 & 15 (1pm-5pm) to assist people with
the application process (the application window is from April 9-16).
b. MN Attorney General’s Clean Slate Program will visit CHPL on April 24 for an expungement clinic from
10am-5pm to assist with the process of expunging eligible convictions at no cost.
c. Hope-4-Youth will have an outreach coordinator here once-a-month (second Thursday in the afternoon)
to help homeless youth (ages 16-24) find services. This is in addition to office hours that the Salvation
Army and Guild Services also provide regularly at our location.
d. St. Thomas’ Ready to Run Nonpartisan Campaign Training for Women: Olga brought this event to our
attention which we will post on our bulletin board.
11. Board Books:
a. Melanie: The Last Light Over Oslo Alix Rickloff; The Philharmonic Gets Dressed (youth) Karla Kuskin
b. Renee: Nuclear War: A Scenario Annie Jacobsen
c. Amáda: Call the Midwife (BBC/PBS series) Jennifer Worth (streaming on Kanopy/available on DVD)
d. Nick: Mickey 7 Edward Ashton; Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger
e. Theresa: A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them Neil Bradbury; Careless
People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams
f. Olga: The Kissing Bug: A True Story of a Family, an Insect, and a Nation’s Neglect of a Deadly Disease Daisy
Hernández
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas P. Olberding
Recording Secretary, CHPL Board of Trustees
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Item 3.
Fund 240 - LIBRARY
2025 YTD ACTIVITY FOR
AMENDED BALANCE MONTH ENCUMBERED UNENCUMBERED % BDGT
ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION BUDGET 04/30/2025 04/30/2025 YEAR-TO-DATE BALANCE USED
41010 REGULAR EMPLOYEES 493,700.00 147,053.41 39,934.48 0.00 346,646.59 29.79
41011 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES 148,700.00 31,728.65 8,807.26 0.00 116,971.35 21.34
41020 OVERTIME-REGULAR 700.00 259.88 94.50 0.00 440.12 37.13
41050 ACCRUED LEAVE ADJUSTMENT 0.00 2,182.80 0.00 0.00 -2,182.80
41070 INTERDEPARTMENTAL LABOR SERV 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00
41210 P.E.R.A. CONTRIBUTION 47,400.00 14,340.07 3,629.68 0.00 33,059.93 30.25
41220 F.I.C.A. CONTRIBUTION 49,200.00 13,633.11 3,708.81 0.00 35,566.89 27.71
41300 INSURANCE 83,500.00 28,464.00 7,116.00 0.00 55,036.00 34.09
41510 WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PREM 2,500.00 697.37 174.74 0.00 1,802.63 27.89
41810 COLA ALLOWANCE 31,900.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 31,900.00 0.00
42000 OFFICE SUPPLIES 1,500.00 451.47 41.99 0.00 1,048.53 30.10
42010 MINOR EQUIPMENT 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 0.00
42011 END USER DEVICES 13,300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 13,300.00 0.00
42030 PRINTING & PRINTED FORMS 1,000.00 72.00 0.00 0.00 928.00 7.20
42170 PROGRAM SUPPLIES 1,000.00 392.86 0.00 0.00 607.14 39.29
42171 GENERAL SUPPLIES 7,000.00 1,730.65 344.29 0.00 5,269.35 24.72
42175 FOOD SUPPLIES 100.00 18.33 18.33 0.00 81.67 18.33
42180 BOOKS 52,000.00 11,813.41 2,610.76 0.00 40,186.59 22.72
42181 PERIODICALS, MAG, NEWSPAPERS 8,000.00 4,441.51 2,108.00 0.00 3,558.49 55.52
42183 E-BOOKS 16,300.00 0.00 0.00 7,894.21 8,405.79 48.43
42185 COMPACT DISCS 1,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,000.00 0.00
42187 BOOK/CD SET 1,500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,500.00 0.00
42189 DVD 6,700.00 1,237.65 215.15 0.00 5,462.35 18.47
42190 DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO 3,000.00 0.00 0.00 1,068.00 1,932.00 35.60
42990 COMM. PURCHASED FOR RESALE 200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 0.00
43050 EXPERT & PROFESSIONAL SERV. 11,300.00 1,780.96 1,194.36 2,220.00 7,299.04 35.41
43105 TRAINING & EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800.00 0.00
43210 TELEPHONE 1,200.00 0.00 0.00 571.78 628.22 47.65
43220 POSTAGE 300.00 13.11 0.00 0.00 286.89 4.37
43250 OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2,800.00 643.49 0.00 0.00 2,156.51 22.98
43310 LOCAL TRAVEL EXPENSE 500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00
43600 PROP & LIAB INSURANCE 13,500.00 3,375.00 0.00 0.00 10,125.00 25.00
43800 UTILITY SERVICES 7,500.00 3,121.68 1,372.02 0.00 4,378.32 41.62
43810 ELECTRIC 39,600.00 8,237.57 3,160.37 0.00 31,362.43 20.80
43830 GAS 11,800.00 5,390.93 1,189.68 0.00 6,409.07 45.69
44000 REPAIR & MAINT. SERVICES 20,000.00 17,370.53 5,885.87 800.00 1,829.47 90.85
44010 BUILDING MAINT:INTERNAL SVCS 46,400.00 11,600.01 0.00 0.00 34,799.99 25.00
44020 BLDG MAINT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 30,700.00 11,877.59 6,390.27 0.20 18,822.21 38.69
44030 SOFTWARE & SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS 24,600.00 3,922.80 0.00 15,630.16 5,047.04 79.48
44040 INFORMATION SYS:INTERNAL SVC 90,900.00 22,725.00 0.00 0.00 68,175.00 25.00
44050 GARAGE, LABOR BURD. 0.00 81.69 0.00 0.00 -81.69
44330 SUBSCRIPTION, MEMBERSHIP 800.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 800.00 0.00
44375 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 0.00
47100 OPER. TRANSFER OUT - LABOR 19,300.00 4,824.99 0.00 0.00 14,475.01 25.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURES: 1,293,000.00 353,482.52 87,996.56 28,184.35 911,333.13 29.52
EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PERIOD ENDING 04/30/2025
Fiscal Year Completed: 32.88%
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Columbia Heights Public Library
Library Board Report – March 2025
BUILDING
• Northland Refrigeration continued to service malfunctioning heating and snowmelt boilers.
• An electrician repaired ceiling lights.
• There were multiple instances of the exterior doors not latching or locking with people in the
lobby or restrooms after closing.
TECHNOLOGY
• Service calls were made for two of the self-checks; one cooling fan was replaced.
• The computer at the north service desk was replaced.
COLLECTION
• New books were selected from reviews in the November and December issues of Booklist and
Kirkus Reviews. April and May publications by bestselling authors were pre-ordered. Adult and
youth DVDs were ordered. Juvenile requests and replacements included Wicked Darlings by
Jordyn Taylor, the Blight Harbor trilogy by Lora Senf, more Elephant and Piggie books by Mo
Willems, and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
• Weeding was completed in large print and adult nonfiction 000-350.
• Adult displays featured women’s history month, birding, brain health, and MN authors.
• Juvenile displays featured Ramadan, architecture and architects, basketball, Minecraft, Roblox,
and other video-game books.
PROGRAMS AND SELF-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES DATE INTENDED AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE
Storytime 3/3 Children (0-5) 44
English Language Conversation Circle 3/3 Adult 4
Winter Greenhouses and Seed Sowing 3/3 Adult 13
Highland Elementary Kindergarten Class Field Trips 3/4 Children (6-11) 86
EL Conversation Circle 3/5 Adult 5
Puzzle Contest/Exchange 3/8 Adult 35
Storytime 3/10 Children (0-5) 37
EL Conversation Circle 3/10 Adults 5
Tinker Time: Paper Squishes 3/11 Children (6-11) 32
EL Conversation Circle 3/12 Adult 4
Immaculate Conception 1st Grade visit 3/13 Children (6-11) 13
Daycare Storytime 3/14 Children (0-5) 12
Storytime 3/17 (Children (0-5) 46
EL Conversation Circle 3/17 Adult 16
Evening Storytime 3/18 Children (0-5) 28
Book Club: The Authenticity Project 3/19 Adult 11
Conversation Circle 3/19 Adult 6
AARP: Downsizing and Decluttering 3/20 Adult 21
Active Agers Book Club: White Chrysanthemum 3/21 Adult 8
Storytime 3/24 Children (0-5) 46
EL Conversation Circle 3/24 Adult 3
Immaculate Conception 2nd Grade visit 3/25 Children (6-11) 23
EL Conversation Circle 3/26 Adult 4
Spring Migration with Urban Bird Collective 3/26 Adult 11
Storytime 3/31 Children (0-5) 38
EL Conversation Circle 3/31 Adult 4
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Columbia Heights Public Library 2. Library Board Monthly Update – March 2025
STAFF
Elizabeth Ripley, Adult Services Librarian:
• Interviewed two
potential adult
volunteers.
• Met with the Friends of
the Library.
• Communicated with
staff at MetroNorth
Adult Basic Education
about spring field trips.
• Coordinated with new
staff at Personal Care
Senior Living for
institutional bulk loans.
• Weeded and shifted
the large print
collection.
Eliza Pope, Youth Services Librarian:
• Assisted children and caregivers in creating paper squishies at a Tinker Time program.
• Transformed the play space into a veterinarian clinic encouraging kids to role play as vets,
examine x-rays, and learn about animal care.
• Prepared multiple bulks loans for 1st-4th grades classes at Immaculate Conception School, the
Adventure Club after-school programs at Highland and Valley View Elementaries, and the Mini-
Adventures program at the Family Center.
• Continued to plan for the summer reading program including purchasing of prize books for
those who log more than five hours of reading.
Renee Dougherty, Library Director:
• Participated in meetings of city division heads, the Library Foundation, and the Anoka County
Libraries’ Public Service team.
• Attended the funeral of Nancy Rathbun, Friend of the Library, and the reviewal for former
Mayor Gary Peterson.
• Met with Gail Olson who is writing a history of Columbia Heights; and Kyle Kigan, regional
contact from Bibliotheca, about updated self-check and security equipment.
• Met with Page Yuliana Morocho Calderon for her annual review.
• Attended a webinar with Metro HRA in preparation for opening the waitlist for Section 8
housing. Metro HRA will send navigators to the library to assist those applying for vouchers
using library computers on April 9, 14, and 15.
• Conversed with an outreach worker from Hope4Youth, who will visit monthly to serve youth
(ages 16-24) experiencing homelessness.
• Compiled and input data for the 2024 Minnesota Public Library Annual Report by deadline.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Anoka County Law Librarian John Murphy held office hours on March 27.
• Seven adult volunteers donated 24.75 hours this month.
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