A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to personnel matters, where the board accepted the resignation of part-time staff librarian Cheryl, effective February 16, 2025, to appoint her as a full-time librarian in Adult Services with an annual salary of $64,694. The board also approved the hiring of two part-time librarians, Tammy Yeden and Kayla Glenn, at an hourly rate of $34.80, and part-time staff librarian Lauren Baron at $35.55 per hour. Discussions arose around Cheryl’s previous tenure of two years and the reasoning behind her transition to a full-time role. The conversation also highlighted the pay disparity between full-time and part-time roles, emphasizing the benefits that accompany full-time positions, which could create an imbalance in service compensation.

Financial transparency was a key topic, with the board approving the February 12, 2025, bill listing totaling $221,525.76. Concerns were raised about an invoice that increased from $188,800 to $222,000, prompting calls for greater transparency in large expenditures. A suggestion was made to include copies of significant invoices in future meetings.

In the realm of facility improvements, the board deliberated on renovating the library bathrooms with modern, safer features. Concerns were raised about the existing drop tile ceilings, which could conceal illicit activities, prompting proposals for flush ceilings. While no incidents had occurred, the board recognized the importance of future-proofing the facilities. They also discussed introducing family restrooms with changing tables and lactation spaces, aligning with trends in libraries to better accommodate parents visiting with children. The board tasked the architect with providing options to enhance these features, and a particular focus was placed on extending tile installations up to the ceiling to minimize maintenance and extend the bathrooms’ lifespan.

Another noteworthy discussion covered the upcoming transition to RFID technology for library collections, starting March 10th. This change is aligned with the approval of new equipment for self-checkout systems and reflects a shift in library operations. The board noted the financial savings achieved by not renewing an outdated self-check machine, which would save the library $500 annually, and instead investing in compatible self-check technology and training for staff.

The meeting also addressed outreach efforts. The board acknowledged the need to cater to underserved populations, including elderly residents, and considered participating in local community publications to increase library visibility and engagement. They reflected on previous marketing efforts and explored options like print mailings, radio ads, and targeted social media advertising to enhance community outreach.

Operational updates included the popularity of the library’s new document station for faxing and scanning, which provided more efficient services. Previously, patrons faced limitations with long-distance faxes due to shared phone lines, but the library has now dedicated resources to address this.

Concerns regarding patron data collection were raised, specifically about understanding visitor numbers from wards five and six. The board discussed plans to review collection categories and circulation reports to ensure data accuracy and clarity. Monitoring foot traffic and circulation numbers was deemed critical, especially since the library witnessed over 700 visits on certain days.