A highlight of the meeting was the report on the library’s summer reading program, “Color Our World,” which concluded on August 3. The program distributed 503 reading logs and achieved a return rate of 38%, consistent with last year’s statistics. Notably, attendance for youth programs increased significantly, reaching 1,115 participants, up from 844 in 2024. This surge in participation was attributed to high attendance at the Monday morning story times and robust outreach to local daycare programs. The library exceeded its circulation goal, checking out 30,789 items, which surpassed the set target of 25,000 and last year’s total of 27,000. The inclusion of Libby circulation contributed to these figures. The Friends of the Library were acknowledged for their donations, which funded final prizes and incentives for the program.

The board also expressed gratitude toward the Traverse Due Regional Library for grant funding that supported the Riff and Griffin and Mix Nuts programs and to the Optimus Club for financing the movie license, allowing the library to screen movies on Fridays. Katherine, the youth services librarian, and Amy, the youth services aide, were commended for their dedication, which received positive feedback from participants and parents. Personal connections to the library’s offerings were shared, with one member reminiscing about their niece aging out of the program and others appreciating the children’s programs.

Another focus of the meeting was the library’s online series, “Tales of the Town,” available on the library’s YouTube page. This initiative, a collaboration with the Brown County Historical Society and State Street Theater, features historical stories relevant to New Ulm. Narrated by the programming technology services librarian, Leroy, the series includes actors portraying historical events. Enthusiasm was expressed for the quality of the series, and it was noted that a board member’s child had participated in some stories.

Looking forward, the board discussed upcoming programming, noting that August is typically a break period for children’s programs to allow staff time for rest and preparation for fall activities. However, ongoing programs like the chess club and teen pathfinder continue. An author event featuring Ken Nurburn is scheduled for August 19, and a presentation by historian John Haymon on the Dakota War Trials of 1862 will take place on August 20. These events are part of the Brown County Historical Society’s commemoration of the U.S. Dakota War, funded by an arts and cultural heritage fund grant.

On the operational front, the board discussed the purchase of shelving budgeted at $25,000 for 2025. This includes replacing children’s room browsing bins with traditional bookcase shelving and adding shelving next to the service desk for newer collections, such as board games and Spanish language books. The vendor, Library Furniture International, has successfully completed past projects for the library, and the new shelving will match existing models and colors. The board appreciated being under budget and clarified that only acknowledgment, not formal approval, was needed for the purchase.

Additionally, the board considered a resolution to close the library for a staff training day on October 24, 2025. The training will cover topics such as homelessness resources, safety, technology, and workplace communications, with participation from trainers at the New Ulm Police Department and Brown County Human Services. There was a favorable response to dedicating a full day to training, which contrasts with the usual brief monthly meetings.

Financial updates included the acceptance of an arts and cultural heritage fund grant of $750 from the Traverse Due Regional Library Board for John Hammond’s presentation on the Dakota War Trials. The event is anticipated to attract significant interest. Another resolution passed to accept an $800 honorarium for covering costs associated with attendance at the Minnesota Library Association conference in October. This conference, themed “Cultivating Connections,” will feature a presentation by the programming and technology services librarian on partnering with local television stations. The board expressed enthusiasm for the event and the learning opportunities it presents.

Operational updates also covered repairs and maintenance. The library’s parking lot pothole issue has been resolved, and Minnesota Elevator has scheduled a technician to address issues with the children’s room elevator keypad. The retirement of maintenance technician Jay Hughes after 18 years prompted a search for his replacement, with interviews underway. Training for staff from the Brown County Historical Society on the mobile memory lab equipment was noted, and Traverse Due’s hiring of a new technical services manager was announced following the passing of their previous manager.