Sauk County Library Board

saukcolibraryboard-20210713-minutes.pdf (101 KB)

Sauk County Library Board Minutes
July 13, 2021, 9:00 a.m.
Reedsburg Public Library

Board Members Present: Mary Boda, Joel Chrisler, Joan Fordham, Peggy Heidenreich*, Linda Kettner, Terry Slack, Alternate Rob Nelson*.  

Others Present: Sue Ann Kucher (Reedsburg), Lisa Renier Thomas (Spring Green), Natalie Jones (LaValle), Becky Anderson (Rock Springs), Lauren White (Prairie du Sac), Nick Studnicka (Plain), Raina Roloff (North Freedom), Kris Houtler (Reedsburg), Emily Judd (Sauk City), Martha VanPelt* (SCLS), Online – Cathy Borck (Kilbourn Library). 

*Attended Remotely

1.Fordham called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Kucher verified compliance with open meeting law.

2.Slack moved and Kettner seconded to accept the agenda. Motion passed.

3.Kettner made a motion and Slack seconded to accept the minutes. Motion passed.

4. Discussion of 2022 Budget request including suggestion to average budget over several years to eliminate large changes. Motion by Slack to accept 2022 Budget including Wisconsin Dells at 85% - the same as previous years – to the Sauk County Finance Committee. Second by Kettner. Motion passed. Sue Ann Kucher will present the request to the Sauk County Finance Committee in September. She will also request additional information on all libraries efforts during the pandemic to include in her presentation.

5. SCLS Report – Martha Van Pelt

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Services Team continues to hold weekly meetings with the 16 Public Library Systems’ Directors. SCLS, on behalf of all the system directors, submitted a LSTA grant to receive $350,000 to add to the statewide digital collection, OverDrive in 2021. It is highly likely to be approved.

Since receiving the very heartening news that system aid will be increased in 2022 and 2023, SCLS is reviewing its 2022 budget. SCLS will received approximately $343,463 more aid in 2022 and an additional $206,078 in 2023 totaling $549,541 in 2023.

The additional money will be needed to help balance out the losses to SCLS Delivery revenues from the implementation of the PLSR Recommendation 7 in 2022 and beyond. Ben Miller and Bruce Smith of the Library Services Team presented the new model to the SCLS Board of Trustees at their June 24 meeting. As part of the new model the University of Wisconsin delivery service agreement was cut by 15% or $130,000. SCLS will hand off delivery to several other systems around the state. Implementation is scheduled to take 2-3 years. The end result will permanently reduce delivery revenue to SCLS while spreading out service responsibilities among the systems with the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium providing oversight.

SCLS has signed all 2022 agreements with its resource library, Madison Public Library. Members will vote on their individual library 2022 fees this Thursday at the All Directors meeting which will be virtual.

On September 7, SCLS will implement its post-pandemic headquarters staffing schedule. It will be mix of on and off site work by staff. Moving forward SCLS will offer both in person and remote attendance at its meetings involving members. We will call these hybrid meetings. SCLS staff will be required to attend in person if pertinent to their work responsibilities. These meetings include: Administrative Council, ILS Committee, Technology Committee and Delivery Committee. Subcommittee meetings will also be offered in hybrid mode. SCLS staff also changed its communications model from land lines to cell phones to aid in reaching staff more easily.

The 2021 SCLSF Cornerstone is honoring all library staff in recognition of their work during the pandemic. There will actually be 2 celebrations, one in Wisconsin Rapids and one in Monona. The southern party will be held.

Oct. 7, 2021
Buck and Honey’s in Monona
800 W Broadway, overlooking the Yahara River
5:30-7:30 p.m.

6. Librarians Reports

Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library (Baraboo) Report:  Submitted Electronically by Jessica Bergin; read into record by Sue Ann Kucher

1. Building expansion project: We have had continued delay on receiving on final approval for our loan from Rural Development.  Fingers crossed we break ground in the next couple of months.   We will remain open through construction. We will be having library program and events, but all held outdoors or off-site.

2. Our library name has officially changed from Baraboo Public Library to Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library on July 1.  -

3.  We are open for business as usual, no longer require masks.  Circulation and visits are slowly increasing, but still not at pre-COVID levels.  Summer Library Program participation has been good at all levels, children, teens, and adults.

Kramer Memorial Library, Plain.  Presented by Nicholas Studnicka:  Things are slowly going back to normal at the library. Most of the furniture that we had in storage is back out and we are no longer requiring masks be worn in the library. Masks are still required for the unvaccinated. Most of the SLP is still virtual at Plain with larger programs being done in person at the park pavilion. RFID tagging is going well we are up to 330s in nonfiction and have start LP. Looking to hire another part-time library assistant, interview will hopefully take place next week.

New library hours M-Th 10-6 Fri. 10-5 and Sat. 10-2. Furniture for the new conference room is on order will hopefully show up in 6-8 months as well as a new amp on order that will show up at the same time.

Lavalle Public Library  presented by Natalie Jones  

New Assistant was hired for part-time hours.  Did lose programming staffer, but has turned to community members to help with programming.

Working on RFID tagging of collection.

Looking at changing hours following the summer.

George Culver Community Library  presented by Emily Judd  

 We are back to nearly full service levels, with the only restriction being that we only allow up to 20 people in the program room at a time.  
Our circulation is getting near to what it was pre-pandemic. 
The Summer Library Program is keeping us busy with in-person programs and different self-directed activities weekly. We had planned to have all of our programs outside, which proved difficult logistically and with weather uncertainties. Last month we moved Book Club and bingo inside after the library board approved allowing smaller programs aimed at adults to be inside. Going forward we will have most programs inside other than our larger summer library programs and Books and Blankets story time for this summer. 
Our YS Librarian has been doing book talks at the Tower Rock School Summer program and we hope to be back in the preschools and schools this fall for story time and book talks. 
We are hoping to be able to use the ARPA funds through DPI on RFID tagging. If that is not an option, our next choice is room reservation software. 
We are planning to apply for the Emergency Connectivity Funds and also for E-rate next year. 
Our weekly Friends of the Library book sale is back, though on a smaller scale. We have a large 2-sided, 6 shelf-rolling shelf unit that we bring out on Mondays. 
The Library of Things has been getting more popular this summer, especially the lawn games, trailer bike, and small cooking appliances.

Upcoming Programs/Activities  

Books and Blankets outside storytime, Mondays, 10:30am  

Summer Reading Program-June 14-August 13  

Friends of the Library Bingo every other Thursday, 2pm, through August 19  

Book Club The Turner House-Tuesday 7/13, 1pm  

Teen Grab and Go Bags, Wednesday 7/21, 8/18  

Winscon-sing, Wednesday 7/21, 2pm (All Ages Singer)  

David Stokes Naturalist Educator, Friday 8/13, 1pm 

Spring Green Community Library by Lisa Renier Thomas
COVID-19 Response Returned to full pre-pandemic hours. Community Room, restrooms remain closed to public though may reopen following tonight’s board meeting. Staff continue to clean high-touch surfaces throughout day. Portable HEPA air cleaners in use throughout library. Pricing out touchless faucets and toilet flushers, water bottle filler to replace bubbler We continue to offer curbside service. Delivery/pick up service through a partnership with a local non-profit. Outdoor Garden Space Hardscaping and public art installation complete. We now have an RC Anderson kaleidoscope sculpture in front of main entrance. (Received $2500 from Spring Green Area Arts Coalition (SGAAC) and a $1000 Sauk County Arts & Culture Good Idea Mini Grant toward the project). Summer Programming Held a “Carle and Cacti” Story Hike at the Spring Green preserve June 12, and outdoor obstacle course on sidewalks surrounding library June 22-24. Regular programming includes: · One outdoor storytime/week · One virtual storytime/week · Weekly take-and-make activity kits for families and adults (50-75 per week) · Reading incentives for children and adults (award two prize-packs per week to children, one every other week for teens/adults · Two Story Walks®: one in windows of downtown businesses, the other at a park · Monthly “Junior Chef” virtual cooking program · Virtual read-alouds on holidays

Reedsburg, by Sue Ann Kucher

Reedsburg Library is operating all normal hours.  Summer programming is in full swing with in-person programs.

Soon to finalize the 5 year strategic plan with WiLS.

Ongoing projects are outdoor pick-up lockers to continue curbside services as well as development of more outreach opportunities with local senior residential facilities.

Rock Springs, by Becky Anderson

Rock Springs is offering story hours on facebook, with approximately 28 people attending.  Other programs have included craft projects, a teen/tween sewing program in which the kids made rice bags & fleece freezy pop holders.  Circulation increased from 90-230 items in one month.  The library is scheduled to move into the new building soon and may be looking to hire a 3rd part-time person.

North Freedom, by Raina Roloff

Recently lost & replaced a staff member.  Returned to regular library hours following the 4th of July holiday. 

Ruth Culver Library by Lauren White

We are participating in Free Comic Book Day August 14 and should have plenty to give away for all ages. A patron asked if we'd be able to participate and we are working with Westfield Comics to get this year's titles at cost.
Monthly make and take bags for children and teens remain popular.
We are resuming adult programming in July and participants will be able to make lotion bars and sugar scrub cubes.
Our library is almost back to offering all services that we were pre-pandemic and will be opening our community room soon. Once that is open, all services will be restored.
The Riverwalk Park located below us is now open and we'll be able to take advantage of their outdoor amphitheater for library programming. 
 

Wisconsin Dells, submitted by Cathy Borck; read into the record by Sue Ann Kucher

We have a new full time library assistant starting next week. We have been short staffed since December so it will be nice to have someone here. She is currently a library aide in Hartford, Wisconsin. She also has experience doing website and social media work, public relations and hosting events. Along with volunteer experience with ESL students.

Our summer programming is going well. We have increased our passive programming with more projects and crafts that are set up for kids and adults to take and make at home or work on here. We are offering a Tuesday morning storyhour, Wednesday morning toddler time and a Thursday babytime for children. These are being held outdoors weather permitting or in the community center. Our Friends group purchased the supplies for a semi-permanent StoryWalk. Right now we are featuring the book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See” with activities along the walk. We are holding Book Discussion Events for adults each month this summer. We resumed our Monday afternoon programming for seniors at the Frank Fischer Senior Center in Lake Delton as well as our Euchre group here at the library. Special family programs are being held also. Last month we had the staff from Upham Woods here with some of their animals. And John Duggleby was here for his “Boogie in the Barnyard” musical performance. Our sign up numbers for the reading prize programs have been pretty good compared to other years. The majority of people are signing up in person versus using the Beanstack app option.

We are also offering bi-monthly virtual programs for adults on various subjects.
Our Friends had a very successful book sale in June. And now we are gearing up for our WoZhaWa book sale. We are still trying to organize and price the large donations we’ve received over the last year and a half.

7. Next Meeting November 16,2021, 3:30 Location and format TBD

8. Adjournment @ 10:40 Motion by Slack, seconded by Kettner.