Lawton Memorial Library Board Meeting

                 Regular Board Meeting          Tuesday, May 23, 2023

                                                                                                 

*5:15 p.m. Chair Barbara Melvin called the meeting to order. Roll call was taken with all board members present: Melvin, Gail Muller, Carol Persons, Georgia Everson, Donna Niles, Gwendolyn Hatfield, and Kimberly Walker. Also present was Librarian Lisa Ahler. The meeting was held at the home of Georgia Everson, S4054 County Road SS, Viola. (Following the meeting, the board had a potluck retirement celebration to honor retiring Library Assistant Rebecca Hooker).  

       

*Verification of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on May 18, 2023, was given.         

  

*Hatfield moved, Everson seconded to approve the March 28, 2023, minutes. (Carried).   

    

*Financial report: Reviewed the report from 1/1/2023 through 5/23/2023. The balance is $66,668.04. Of this amount $3,522.75 is donations to use, leaving an operating budget of $63,145.29. The Vernon County aid payment has been received. The regular savings account has $21,011.05, after spending $1,149 to pay for the 3 cameras inside the building. CD#2 has $4,011.82 and CD#1 has $30,696.46, which has an interest rate of .45% and matures on 7-1-2023. The La Farge Bank has a CD special now for 18 months at 4.55% APY. The minimum balance to open one is $10,000. Not sure how long it will go. A penalty to switch it now would cost about $34. Niles moved, Persons seconded to approve the financial report and to approve moving the maturing 7-1-23 CD over now to the bank special to get the higher interest rate. (Carried).

 

*Statistical Report: Lisa inquired of the stats the board likes. Will continue with the Circulation count, community room use, and Storytime. Next year, Storytime will end in April, as it gets quite slow after that.  

     

*Friends Update: Carol reported they are paying $200 for John Armbruster on June 7th, donating $200- $300 to the summer reading program, donating $200 to the Vernon County Reads for Jeff Nania, paying up to $300 for mulch & plants, and paying $500 for part of Lisa’s ALA Conference in Chicago. The Friends have the Music in the Park on June 12th and June 26th, and for the 4th of July.   

    

*Directors Report:       

**Had a great turnout for the open house on Becky’s last day, Aril 7th.    

**WRLS is starting price negotiations for a possible new ILS (Integrated Library System).

**The cameras are installed and work great!

**John Armbruster will be here June 7th. The Friends are providing refreshments.

**Lisa is attending the ALA conference in Chicago in June.

**June thru the first week in August will be the summer reading program.

**Lisa found out through an admission of the guilty child of who broke the computer screen.

**Was asked about serving wine at library programs. The policy says no alcohol in the library. Don’t want to start this and have numerous groups asking.      

**Lisa gave an update on the programming activities.  

 

*Business:  

**Cleaning Position: Joan Carpenter was interested but requested to get paid cash, otherwise no. We can’t do this as our funds need to be documented for auditing. Carol will check with her again on the situation, and if not, will need to advertise again.           

 

**Library Sign out front-condition: The back is rotten, and the front is dull. It needs an update. It was agreed to contact Aaron Nemec, to get some samples and prices for the next meeting. Also, the flagpole behind the sign needs to be removed, as it’s falling apart and hasn’t been used in years. Contact the village to ask them to remove it. Also, the ends of the eaves around the building are smashed. They are long and could possibly be cut off some and put down splash pads to help the water run away from the building.

 

Also, ask the village about this. The price for concrete splash pads from C & C Landscaping is $20 and rubber ones from the Agri-Center are $12. Can also check the local hardware store.      

 

*Public comments: None.                 

     

*The next meeting was scheduled for July 25, 2023, at 5:15 p.m.    

                

*Muller moved, Hatfield seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:12 p.m.

 

                                                                         __________________________________

Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer