HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-2026 Library Board Minutes
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 4th, 2026
Approved
3/4/2026
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wished to attend could do so in-person, or via Microsoft Teams by entering Meeting ID 245 476 655 774 13 and passcode
bY2b8Mf7 at the scheduled meeting time. For questions, please contact Administration at 763-706-3610.
The meeting was called to order in the Library Community Room by Melanie Magidow at 5:33pm.
Members present: Melanie Magidow; Theresa Strike; Chris Polley; Olga Herrera; Amina Maameri. Members remotely
present: N/A. Members absent: Laurel Deneen (City Council Liaison). Others present: Renee Dougherty (Library Director);
Nick Olberding (Board Secretary). Public present: N/A.
1. The Agenda was approved as is.
2. The Minutes from January 7, 2025, Library Board Meeting were moved and approved.
3. Review of 2026 Operating Budget: 8.5% of the year completed and 6.95% of the budget expended.
a. (42183): Melanie mentioned the current legislation in Connecticut regarding e-book pricing for public
libraries, which in the future could lower e-book prices if enough states enact similar legislation.
Community Forum: Opportunity for public input. No correspondence and no public in attendance. The CHPL website
hosts the contact form to submit questions or concerns: https://chplmn.org/board
Old Business:
4. Staffing Update: After an employee resigned last month, we posted the position of part-time library supervisor.
Thirteen applications were received; seven applicants were invited to interview (six accepted). Two finalists were
extended offers of employment; both have accepted. One will begin February 17 and the other on March 2. Both
have advanced degrees and relevant experience.
New Business:
5. City Comprehensive Plan Update: The City will start drafting the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, which could take two
years to complete. This time around the City requests a member of each of the City Boards and Commissions join
the committee to bring their specialized knowledge to the process.
6. Community Messaging: A Board member asked whether we could post signs
communicating welcome to everyone and support for immigrants in the community.
a. A MOTION was made to approve the displaying of posters in support of our
immigrant neighbors and families; it was seconded and unanimously
approved.
7. Community Support: Included in the agenda, at the request of another Board
member, was a request to discuss how the Library might offer additional support to
community members who may not feel comfortable visiting in person due to the
actions of the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration & Customs Enforcement
in our city and state. The Board discussed whether we could increase our at-home
deliveries or offer any other services that may help impacted groups. Some families
may be sheltering in place and not have access to reading material. Are there
opportunities to work with mutual aid groups or the school district to distribute library
materials. Renee assured the Board that we will do what we can to help individuals and families who reach out
and ask for help.
a. Impacts: On a related note, the Mayor asked city departments how they, or the people they serve, have
been impacted by the ongoing federal immigration operations. These are some of the examples noticed at
the Library: patrons sheltering at home have called worried about overdue materials; visits to the Library
by Spanish speakers have noticeably decreased, as well as requests for Spanish language service. Seven of
fifteen Library staff members are people of color (all U.S. citizens, some teenagers) and have expressed
concern about ICE entering the building and what to do. Attendance at three weekly Conversation Circles
ESL Groups have been halved; programs celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year have been cancelled,
as well as school field trips. Multiple groups have cancelled room reservations due to fear of ICE
interfering with their events and attendees. Snatchings and attempted abductions have been witnessed
from library windows, and concerned citizens call to let us know when agents are lurking in the area.
Director’s Update:
8. December Board Report: Provided as an FYI.
a. The price of printing increased at the beginning of this year (B+W changed from 10¢ to 20¢); printing was
updated right away, but it took some extra time for IT to get photocopies to reflect the change.
b. A Board member noticed the mention of stolen sports section from the newspapers; we never figured out
who was doing it, but it has since stopped.
9. Board Books (what we’re reading, watching, playing, listening to, or simply recommend):
a. Theresa: Elatsoe Darcie Little Badger
b. Chris: The Summer I Ate the Rich Maika & Maritza Moulite; Green Room Jeremy Saulnier (streaming on Kanopy)
c. Melanie: The Ward Witch (Unholy Island series) Sarah Painter; The Man Who Wore All His Clothes (The
Gaskitts youth illustrated series) Allan Ahlberg
d. Amina: The Monk of Mokha Linda Åkeson McGurk
e. Olga: What Moves the Dead (Sworn Soldier series) T. Kingfisher
f. Renee: How to Let Things Go: 99 Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control and Free Yourself Up for
What Matters Shunmyo Masuno & Allison Markin Powell; If We Were Dogs (youth) Sophie Blackall
g. Nick: The Magicians and The Magician King and The Magician’s Land (The Magicians series) Lev Grossman
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:37pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Nick Olberding
Recording Secretary, CHPL Board of Trustees