Sauk County Library Board

saukcolibraryboard-20181127minutes.pdf (99 KB)

Minutes
Sauk County Library Board
November 27, 2019, 9 a.m.
Plain Public Library

Board members present:  David Wernecke, Pat Andreessen, Sue Meise, Peggy Heidenreich, Barbara Morford, Terry Slack, Craig Braunschweig, Terry Slack, Martha Van Pelt and Mark Jochem from South Central Library System.

Librarians present:  Nicholas Studnicka, Sue Kucher, Lauren White, Katie Schofield, Carrie Portz, Emily, Del W, and Cathy Borck, and Cully Shelton from the International Crane Foundation.

Wernecke called the meeting to order and verified compliance with the open meetings law at 9 a.m.
Morford moved and Andreessen seconded to approve the amended agenda, reversing items # 4 and 5. Motion passed.
Meise moved and Morford seconded to approve the minutes.Motion passed.
Cully Shelton, visitor program manager from the International Crane Foundation explained their Adventure Pass Program, to raise awareness of the services of the Baraboo Public Library and the Crane Foundation. Library users checked out a pass from the library to allow 2 adults and 4 children to visit the Crane Foundation at no charge, thanks to grant funds. The program was a success with 218 participants. Their plan is to open the program up to other libraries and community institutions in the future.
Van Pelt reported on the South Central Library Foundation funding, Sauk County libraries participating in the digitization of historic documents, and Monticello is joining LINKcat.  At the all directors’ meeting, Sauk County libraries, Reedsburg, Rock Springs, Mazomanie, Ashman, LaValle, Kilbourn, and Sue Kucher, received awards for all the help they gave to county libraries during the flood of 2018 to save and replace books. The Sauk County Board’s representative to the County Library Board is Chuck Witzel and Craig Braunschweig is the alternate.

In July the Libby App was added to make online borrowing easier.

PLSR update: ongoing surveys, meetings, ultimately, there are 7 recommendations to DPI to improve system services to libraries throughout the state. The Recollection Wisconsin website provides access to the libraries’ digitized historical documents.

The County Board approved the library budget as proposed. Discussion concerned the distribution of the technology funds.  Morford moved and Slack seconded to distribute the technology funds to the 9 Sauk County libraries, as in the past. Motion passed. Other budget line items will remain as proposed.
Board vacancies/ appointments: Wernecke resigned and the board needs 1 new member who will be appointed by the County Board.
Library Service Plan was rewritten in 2015, a full rewrite is needed in 2019 and will be approved by the county board. Surveys will be distributed to library staff.  Andreessen moved and Morford seconded to form a subcommittee consisting of Meise, Kucher, Andreessen, Borck and Schofield. Motion passed.
Librarians’ reports:

Baraboo report sent in by Jessica Bergin: We have been working hard developing our new 5 year Strategic Plan. We have hired Bruce Smith from WiLS to consult. We have completed a community-wide survey, which 1266 people completed. We are very happy with this level of participation- that is about 10% of the population of the Baraboo Area! Currently we are hosting a series of Community Conversation small focus group type meetings with representatives from various segments of our communityto discuss the future of Baraboo and the library. We expect to have our new plan completed early next year. We have hired architects to do preliminary design of proposed library expansion. Hope to have drawings and details by March/April. We had a bedbug scare (no ongoing issues thankfully)- thanks to Sue Ann Kucher for her guidance! City Budget process went well, looks like we will be able to add a new part time position in 2019 (regaining one that was cut years ago.) We have had some successful new/ unique programs recently: For youth: Clown Workshop (including pie throwing lessons where I got several pies in the face…) – over 100 attended. Scarecrows on Parade- more than 30 scarecrow entries around town, lots of community involvement Ghostbusin’- had Wisconsin Ghostbusters group out to workshop- kids made “proton packs”, slime, and did a ghost hunt around the neighborhood. 150+ attended Harmonious Migrations- we were contacted by Heather Henson (daughter of Jim Henson) asking if she could come do a small show at the library (for free) to promote a larger show she is doing in the area. We said YES!!! Great turnout on short notice. Next week: our 10th Annual TURKEY BINGO- had to move this one offsite as we are expecting 200 or more to attend. It’s BINGO, and the prizes are Thanksgiving foods including frozen turkeys. For adults: Protecting Our Water Resources series w/ Sauk Co Conservation department. Had 20+ attendees for each of the 3 panel sessions. Digitize Your Family Photos- great turnout, we ended up buying another scanner Wee Paper House- crafting workshop, great feedback on this one Piano Concert- two library staff performed on piano, over 80 attended NaNoWriMo series in partnership with UW Baraboo

Emily Judd reported for Sauk City: Little Free Pantry—The Friends added a self-service pantry that works like Little Free Libraries in between our front double-doors. So far it has gotten a lot of use. Expansion Project-We will begin seeking RFP’s soon for fundraising agencies. Digitization—Completed a large digitization project of our translations of the historical local German newspaper-Pioneer Presse and a collection of detailed research done on Sauk City houses. We are now circulating fishing poles and equipment. Our programming librarian Katrina Linde-Moriarty left in August. Jill Peters-Dagel was promoted to the position. Our digital service Hoopla continues to be popular. Many area patrons have switched their home library over to Sauk City in order to use it. We have started to limit doing this only to those who appear in the library or live in the Sauk Prairie area. Recent Programs Mobile Theatre- Partnered with the Ruth Culver Library and the New York Public Theater’s Mobile unit to bring a Pulitzer-prize winning play, Sweat, to the Sauk Prairie Community Center last month. We also worked on related activities that took place at both of our libraries. Storytime at the Riv Mending day-2 nd Saturdays Cookbook Club-last Mondays Wisconsin Public Television Hometown Stories-Story gathering session for Sauk Prairie Edition Started a monthly kids cooking club this fall Stuffed animal Halloween sleepover Abraham Lincoln (Kevin Wood)-The Story of Thanksgiving Upcoming Programs Santa Storytime Spectacular 12/15 Snow Globe making workshop 12/3 Countdown to noon 12/29 Matt Geiger-new book Astonishing Tales 12/11 Friends Rummage Sale this weekend 11/30-12/1

Carrie Portz reported for Spring Green: Youth Programs

* Hand sewing

* Harry Potter Party & movie screening

* Fort Night – traditional AND video game

* Started a 2nd Read With Me dog

* Set up teacher cards & delivery services for schools/day cares

Summer Library Program Wrap Up

* 66 children registered; 52 reached their reading goals at least once during the summer.

* 51 adults participated & submitted 141 entries

* donations valuing $1,461+ from 25 businesses

* 723 visitors attended 33 programs during SLP

Adult Programs

* Roaring’ 20s with Flapper Deanna Niemann

* Decoding the Weather Machine NOVA documentary screening

* Twenty Research Tools To Help You Find Your Family History with Joan Bennett, author of “The Mills of Iowa County”

* Computer 101 - 3 week series

Friends of the Library

* Dec. 1 - Bake & Book Sale – part of Country Christmas

* Feb. 2 - Chocolate Lab fundraiser at the Round Barn

* Mar. 27 – 10-Minute Play Contest

Katie Schofield reported on Rock Springs:  Library materials were moved to a semi before the flooding and shelving was moved to the upper level. The Reedsburg State Bank is storing books and the St. John’s Lutheran Church is providing a site for storytime, After School Club, and rolling carts of books. In 2019 they will focus on programming and evaluate how to best serve the community.

Lauren White reported on Prairie du Sac: She joined the staff on October 29, previously director at New Glarus.  Their booksale was successful selling approximately $1000 of materials. They are sponsoring a visit from author Patricia McConnell.

Cindy from LaValle sent her report to Reedsburg: Sue Kucher reported November 15 computers were installed, shelving is installed they are re-opening in their renovated building. During the flooding, they lost the bottom 3 shelves of materials, mostly children’s books.

Nicholas Studnicka reported on Plain’s projects, including new window treatments, LED lighting, a new roof. Programs include family movie nights, senior movie and a meal, a German Christmas market with a visit from Santa.

Sue Kucher reported for Reedsburg.  Reedsburg is working on a reconfiguration of the Children’s area with a service desk repurposed from the Madison Pinney Library and Grant funding.  The Library is working on improving social media presence with Instagram, Twitter and FB.  Move of the Library Archives into a newly renovated room in City Hall is nearing completion.  Library staff trained for AED/CPR certification in October and will be working with our community to become dementia-friendly in 2019.  Upcoming programs include a Santa visit, holiday crafting class and drop-in crafting and coloring.  Youth Services Librarian Jess McCarlson started in August and is doing wonderful things.  Friends of the Library are hosting bread sale fundraiser.

10.County library board meets in January, May , July and November. Next meeting Tuesday, January 22 at 9 a.m. at the Sauk City Public Library.

Braunschweig moved and Andreessen seconded to adjourn. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted, Peggy Heidenreich