Lawton Memorial Library Board Meeting

                 Regular Board Meeting           Tuesday, December 3, 2024

                                                                                               

*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, Gail Muller, Gwendolyn Hatfield, Georgia Everson, Carol Persons, and Kimberly Walker present. Absent was Donna Niles. Librarian Lisa Ahler was also present.    

      

*Verification of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on November 27, 2024, was given.  

 

*Everson moved, Muller seconded to approve the meeting minutes from October 15, 2024. (Carried).

     

*Financial report: Reviewed the report from 1/1/24 to 11/30/24. The operating balance is $12,932. The regular savings has $3,180, plus the 3 CDs of $32,078, $10,000, and $12,589. The $32,078 CD matured on 11-24-2024, but we have a 10-day grace period to renew. The Farmers State Bank has a special CD for 9 months, at 4.50%. We have a couple of big items to discuss later in the meeting to purchase. Persons moved, Hatfield seconded to approve the financial report and to renew the CD at this special rate, with the amount to renew being reduced after further (agenda item) discussions, to be decided by the end of the meeting. (Carried).  

       

*Director/Statistical Report:

**Lisa showed a new light recently installed above the sink in the meeting room.

**ILS Update: Transitioning has had challenges, but progress is being made. The new system has greater potential for errors, but an advantage is faster cataloging. Dana & Lisa are handling the database for now.  

**The website is live now. Lisa had it set up and gave a presentation on the new TV and cart stand. There are a few problems that still need to be worked out on the website.

**The People counter is currently down.

**The copier will be installed on Friday, pending board approval tonight.

**Lisa attended the WLA conference in November, which went very well. WRLS gave Lisa a $597 CE Scholarship to help with the cost. Lisa applied for this, to help with mileage and motel costs.

**Another table dropped 2 weeks ago during Mah Jong.

**The Friends of the Library have given us $2,000 towards books, $272 for 4 new stools, and are paying for the TV and cart, at $1,133.13. Much appreciated!  

**Programming is going well. Dana is helping with Storytimes, and Maddie the service dog is scheduled for once a month through next spring. The Vernon County Reads program on November 20th was well attended, and Marcy West’s book talk on October 28th had 34 people.  

**Lisa passed out the statistical report, showing circulation numbers, Groups/Programs numbers, and the revenue for October and November.     

  

*Friends Update:  

**Carol mentioned Joan Peterson and Jean Beck are working on projects to consider.     

 

*Business:

**Closed dates for 2025 (Holidays):

Wednesday, January 1st - New Years’ Day

             Saturday, May 24th and Monday, May 26th - Memorial Day

                  (Extra day for the Good Friday Holiday not taken)

             Friday July 4th - Independence Day

Saturday, August 30th and Monday, September 1st - Labor Day

                  (Extra day for Thanksgiving that always falls on Thursday, which is a closed day)

Wednesday, November 26th – closing at 5 p.m. for Thanksgiving 

Friday, November 28th – Thanksgiving

             Wednesday December 24th and Friday, December 26th – Christmas

             Wednesday December 31st and Friday, January 2nd, 2026 - New Years

*Hatfield moved, Everson seconded to approve the closing dates for 2025. (Carried).

 

**Table Discussion: We’ve had 4 or 5 situations with the meeting room tables dropping when being moved. At Mah Jong, they just moved them 2 inches and it dropped. Luckily no one was hurt. Lisa was hurt earlier in the year. This room is an area open to the public. Had discussion to replace these. Until that is done, we will put a sign out (If you need to move tables, please ask staff). Lisa has been looking at some commercial tables, but nothing for sure yet. She’d like 4 new ones, and to go a little wider than we have. The price range is around $600+ each. The Friends group may donate to them, too. Persons moved, Hatfield seconded to approve investigating/purchasing new tables, not going over $3,000, to be taken from the CD (discussed above), before renewal. (Carried).     

 

**Copier Discussion/Possible action: From last month’s discussion, Lisa talked with EO Johnson on the warranty questions we had. With the service agreement, everything’s covered (from the toner to machine care). To buy it outright is $3,600.33. The monthly service agreement is $53.30, which we budgeted for.  Persons moved, Hatfield seconded to take an additional $3,600 from the CD that’s to renew, to purchase the new copier. (Carried).  

 

*Public comments: Barb talked with Aaron Nemec for a bill on the new sign he did for us. He said there is no charge to us. The board felt we should give him something for the materials, as we didn’t expect him to do it for nothing. The board was very happy with how it turned out. Hatfield moved, Muller seconded to approve $300 for Aaron for the library gift of the sign. (Carried).               

    

*The next meeting was scheduled for January 28, 2025, at 5:15 p.m.  

               

*Persons moved, Everson seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

 

                                                                         ___________________________________

                                                                        Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer