Lawton Memorial Library Board Meeting

                 Regular Board Meeting           Tuesday, March 25, 2025

                                                                                               

*5:15 p.m. Chair Barbara Melvin called the meeting to order at the Lawton Memorial Library, 118 N. Bird Street. Roll call was taken with board members Melvin, Donna Niles, Gail Muller, Carol Persons (via phone), Georgia Everson, and Kimberly Walker present. Absent was Gwendolyn Hatfield. Also present was Librarian Lisa Ahler.    

    

*Verification of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on March 20, 2025, was given.  

  

*Niles moved, Everson seconded to approve the meeting minutes from January 28, 2025. (Carried).

     

*Financial report: Reviewed the report from 1/1/2025 thru 3/24/2025. The operating balance is $86,633.11.  We’ve received all our county aid payments (from Vernon, Richland, Monroe, and Crawford). Also have received $2,450 in donations ($1,500 from the Town of Whitestown, $800 from the Friends of the Library, and some miscellaneous). The savings account has $5,069.73, plus the 3 CDs of $26,228.47, $12,589.23, and $10,000.00. CD#2, for $10,000 matures on 5-5-2025, before our next meeting. Persons moved, Muller seconded to renew the CD when it comes due at the best interest rate we can. (Carried). Muller moved, Niles seconded to approve the financial report. (Carried).

 

*Director/Statistical Report:

**The new tables are in use and are much sturdier. The old ones are on the Wisconsin Surplus auction site. 

**Dana and Lisa took their first field trip to visit/tour nearby libraries. They came away with some ideas and are planning a second trip on April 4th.  

**An executive order was signed to defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Lisa passed out WRLS Director Kristen Anderson’s emails on this. It could affect us with the WISCAT service. Not sure of what’s going to happen yet.

**WAPL is April 30th – May 4th, in Oshkosh. Lisa’s not sure if she’s going or not yet.  

**Programming: Storytime started back up with Maddie (the dog). Page Turners and Cookin’ the Books are going. Winter Reading Bingo was a success, with 35 Adults, and 265 children with bingos. For “Library Lovers Month”, a total of 5 mugs were given away. At “Patron Appreciation Week” the patrons enjoyed the cookies. The Ethos program had a low attendance with 6. And Ben Johnston will be here March 31st, for “The Call of the Frog”.     

**Lisa passed out the statistical report for January and February, showing circulation numbers, Groups/ Program numbers, and revenue received.       

    

*Friends Update: Carol reported the Friends group gave $300 for the Summer Reading program. The “Spring into Chocolate” fundraiser event is tomorrow. The board is invited to attend. The Sip & Chat is going well, with 12 people last time, along with a couple of new ones.    

  

*Business:

**Annual Report: Completed and filed on time. Kristen, with WRLS, commented on the makeup of our board members. Two are to be officially appointed by the county. Discussed we haven’t heard from the county for years for appointing anyone. Lisa will check with the county, and we can discuss it again. Niles moved, Everson seconded to approve the annual report. (Carried).   

 

**Board Meeting Time: Last month, brought this up to discuss a possible change to meeting in the daytime. Lisa asked not to change the day from Tuesday, as she wouldn’t have Dana to work while she’s in the meeting. And Gwen is unable to get here before 4 p.m. Persons moved, Muller seconded to change the time to 5 p.m. from 5:15 p.m. (Carried).

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**Mileage Reimbursement: Carol inquired on this for Lisa, as she went to Minneapolis on her own to inspect the new tables and didn’t ask for any reimbursement. Persons moved, Muller seconded to approve mileage (IRS rate of 70 cents/mile) for Lisa for checking out the tables. (Carried).      

    

*Public comments: A letter was received yesterday from Ronald and Jill Stoltz offering feedback regarding the most recent book choices on display on the picture book section. Lisa explained she received a $500 donation for a certain book diversity, that’s why they were on display. They went on the shelves on Saturday. Books change fast. When new ones come in, they are put up for people to see. The board appreciated the input from Ron and Jill, but as this wasn’t on the agenda for discussion, it will be put on for the next meeting, and we’ll welcome them to attend if they’d like. Barb will send them a letter on this.       

 

*Georgia inquired about a list of who’s fine free in the library system. Lisa said everyone in WRLS pays 10 cents a day. This will also be added on the agenda for the next meeting to “Discuss fines”.  

     

*The next meeting was scheduled for May 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.  

                

*Everson moved, Niles seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:03 p.m.

 

                                                                         ___________________________________

                                                                        Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer