LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Monday, January 15, 2024
Central Library
6:00 P.M., Workshop

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Seyring called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Theresa Seyring, President; Carole Pye, Vice President/Secretary; Emily Gilbert, Treasurer; Jillian Bernas, John Caporale, Anita Forte and Amy Mueller.

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

None

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES PRESENT

None

OTHERS PRESENT

Julie Doren, Jessica Harren, Paul Piraino, Tom Pritchett, Jason Santos, Molly Scheibler, Hollis Sienkiewicz, Beth Valenziano and Kristin Wunder.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public comments were heard.

BOARD COMMENTS

Trustee Mueller commented on her hopes for the new year and appreciation for the Library’s progress in 2023.

Trustee Forte commented on attending the Library’s Noon Year’s Eve Celebration, her appreciation for Executive Director Miskewitch’s Director’s Report and Deputy Director Scheibler’s Public Service Report.

Trustee Pye commented on attending the One Book, One Community’s (OBOC) kick-off and the Village of Hoffman Estates’ Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. Trustee Pye shared a favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quote. 

Trustee Gilbert commented on the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom blog and the attacks that continue to happen on queer people and people of color, and book bans in 2023. She thanked Library staff for the diverse selection of books for children.

Trustee Caporale commented on attending the Village of Hoffman Estates’ Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and the importance of the Library’s acceptance of all communities.

Trustee Bernas commented on her appreciation for the attendees’ public comments, her positive impression of the second-floor renovation and her interest in learning more about the integrated library system (ILS) and automated material handling (AMH). Trustee Bernas inquired about the future status of the canceled Pop-Up Library at a high school basketball game and the importance of the Library remaining open during recent cold temperatures.

RAILS – Trustee Mueller

None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Trustee Bernas moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded that: 

The December 11, 2023, Art Committee Meeting minutes; the December 18, 2023, Library Board Meeting minutes and the January 8, 2024, Art Committee Meeting minutes with the addition of a motion be approved.

Discussion included adding a motion by Trustee Forte at the January 8, 2024, Art Committee Meeting minutes.

The motion passed unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF BILLS

Trustee Pye moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that:

The Library Board approve the December 2023 Bill List.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

Discussion included clarification of two invoices from Town Square.

The motion passed unanimously.  

TREASURER’S REPORT

Trustee Gilbert reviewed the financial reports, making note of balances in the various funds. On the balance sheet, the General Fund increased by approximately $4.4 million due to revenues exceeding expenses. She also highlighted a few line items and discussed why they are above or below budget at this time, and gave an update on the status of various Library investments. 

Discussion included the healthy status of the budget.

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

There will an Executive Session under Section 2(c), (11).

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEE REPORT

None

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Trustee Seyring commented on the excellent speaker at the Village of Hoffman Estates’ Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and her attendance at the Schaumburg Business Association’s State of the Village Breakfast with Mayor Dailly. She commented on Schaumburg’s AAA rating, its levy, rebates residents received and grant money provided to small businesses. Trustee Seyring enjoyed her tour of the second-floor renovation. 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Miskewitch shared highlights from the December 2023 Director’s Report.

Discussion included Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Find More Illinois, the
ILS systems and AMH. Also discussed was pre-COVID and post-COVID staffing statistics from the Urban Libraries Council and future Library staffing plans, the ILA Trustee Forums workshops and plans for an update in progress to the Strategic Plan. 

DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Deputy Director Scheibler shared highlights from the December 2023 Deputy Director’s and Public Services Report. 

Discussion included the role and purpose of the Assistant Implementation Managers (AIM) group, the ALA article on Spirit Free Spaces and the impact of loneliness. Also discussed was the 34% increase of participation in the OBOC events, appreciation for the Pop-Up Library at Friendship Village and the Library’s Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce Celebration of Excellence award nomination. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Art Committee – Chair Seyring
Committee members met with Mr. Friedman, of Friedman Fine Art, virtually to discuss plans and designs for the donor wall  

SAT Committee 
Committee members received eleven SAT applications and conducted ten interviews. The Committee will provide their recommendation at the February Board meeting for approval.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Review of Social Media Policy

The Board reviewed and discussed the Social Media Policy.

Discussion included efficacy of the policy, review of the language and a request for a revised/updated Social Media Policy, for review at the February Board meeting. Also discussed was a training piece for staff with specific examples of managing social media at government institutions.

Approval of Dissolution of SAT Committee

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Mueller seconded to dissolve the SAT Committee.

Discussion included the reason for dissolving the SAT Committee and moving the SAT report up the agenda when requested.

The motion passed. 

Approval Employee Handbook Updates

Trustee Mueller moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded to approve the updated Employee Handbook with removal of the Video/Photograph Release form.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

Discussion included a small grammatical change and correction to the number of weeks of the Parental Leave policy, the source of the Employee Handbook updates and clarification of the Video/Photograph Release form. Trustee Forte questioned if the Board was provided enough time to review the form before the Board meeting. 

The motion passed unanimously. 

Approval of Illinois Public Library FY2024 Per Capita Grant

Trustee Mueller moved and Trustee Caporale seconded that the Board approve the Illinois Public Library FY2024 Per Capita Grant.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

Discussion included minor grammatical and punctuation corrections, the need for a Public Services Reader’s Advisory policy and the status of the Disaster Plan.

The motion unanimously passed.  

Approval of Payment to Interiors for Business, Inc. in the amount of $94,134.50

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Caporale seconded that the Board approve payment to Interiors for Business, Inc. in the amount of $94,134.50.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

Discussion included the vendor’s terms of payment. 

The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Invoices as Presented by Featherstone, Inc.

Trustee Mueller moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded that the Board approve payment to La Force, LLC in the amount of $26,824.90; Krueger International, Inc. in the amount of $71,090.40; Diverzify Pro, LLC in the amount of $28,617.68; Integrated Specialty Contactors, LLC in the amount of $47,250.00; Commercial Specialties, Inc. in the amount of $36,525.60; Jensen’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc. in the amount of $71,552.80; Airport Electric Company in the amount of $401,380.51 and Featherstone, Inc in the amount of $61,455.60.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

The motion passed unanimously. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Trustee Forte moved and Trustee Bernas seconded that:

The Library Board enter into Executive Session under Section 2(c), (11) at 7:44 P.M.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

The motion passed unanimously. 

Trustee Bernas moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that:

The Library Board exit Executive Session at 8:04 P.M.

Roll Call Vote: 

Trustee Gilbert	Yes
Trustee Bernas	Yes             
Trustee Caporale	Yes
Trustee Forte	Yes
Trustee Mueller	Yes
Trustee Pye		Yes
Trustee Seyring	Yes

The motion passed unanimously. 	


ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Forte moved and Trustee Mueller seconded that:

The Library Board adjourn regular session at 8:06 P.M.

The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.