Sauk County Library Board

Sauk County Library Board
Minutes
Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 3:30pm

 

Board Members Present: Joan Fordham, Terry Slack, Joel Chrisler, Carolyne Kotchi-Aslaksen, *Linda Kettner, *Mary Boda

Others Present: *Tamara Ramski (SCLS), Sue Ann Kucher (Reedsburg), Nick Studnicka (Plain), *Becky Anderson (Rock Springs), Natalie Jones (LaValle), Jessica Bergin (Baraboo), Lauren White* (Prairie du Sac)

 *Attended Remotely

 

1. Fordham called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Kucher verified compliance with the open meetings law.

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

3. Minutes corrected to reflect that Nelson attended in person as well as a spelling correction under item 4; Slack moved and Kotchi-Aslaksen seconded to accept the amended minutes. Motion passed

4. Tamara Ramski presented the SCLS report compiled by SCLS consultant staff.

 

Personnel

• Mark Ibach, SCLS Consulting Service Coordinator, has retired. 
• Tracie Miller, is now the public library administration consultant. She can be reached at traciemiller@scls.info.
• Jean Anderson is now the SCLS Continuing Education Consultant and

SCLS Consulting Service Coordinator. She is also serving on the SCLS management team. She can be reached at jean@scls.info.

• Jody Hoesly, SCLS Data Services Consultant is retiring, her last day will be 2/11/2022.
• Tim Drexler will be the new SCLS Data Services Consultant. Tim brings to this position twenty two years of experience at SCLS Delivery, a Masters of Science in Data Science, and a Bachelor's of Science in Information Science and Technology. He is currently working in this position part-time and at Delivery part time. He will move to full time Data Services Consultant February 14.

Grants

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Statewide competitive grants that award federal funding

• The Library Services Team at DPI awarded SCLS $155,104 in the category of Hybrid Library Service Model. The grant will be used to purchase external storage lockers for eight libraries. Spring Green Community Library is the only Sauk County library getting lockers. The timeline for installing and setting up the lockers is to be determined.
• Funding for the categories that were not awarded through ARPA may be pursued through other grant opportunities. These categories include:
  • RFID
  • Equipment to deliver public programs and to help community members connect with one another and the wider world
  • Materials and equipment to support the educational, workforce development, and digital needs of community members

 

Projects

Annual Reports

• A webinar (recorded January 14, 2022) is available. Anyone who works on the report is encouraged to watch it.
  • DPI has set a target date of January 24^th to open the reports.
  • DPI is currently working on the instructions and worksheet.
  • Signed and locked reports have to be sent to Tracie Miller by February 25^th.
  • Contact Tracie with any questions about the report.

Intellectual Freedom and Right To Read Issues - Shawn Brommer and Tracie Miller are looking into intellectual freedom services to help member libraries face potential challenges to materials. They are looking at library collection development and reconsideration policies, creating informational packets, developing a system survey, and will be gathering national reports about challenges to materials in school and other libraries. Contact Shawn if your library is faced with a challenge or if you have anything to contribute on this topic.

IDEA Project - Libraries Talk about Race - Jean Anderson and Mark Jochem are working with other consultant staff Sherry Machones (Northern Waters Library Service), Leah Lanby (IFLS), Shauna Koszegi (Southwest Wisconsin Library System), Cole Zrostlik (Winding Rivers Library System) and The People Company (a DEI consulting firm) to provide LSTA-funded statewide training opportunities. This project will include webinars, large group discussions, and independent study opportunities. Expect a rollout of the Libraries Talk about Race series in the first-half of 2022.

Social Work Internship Cohort - Shawn Brommer and Mark Jochem are working in partnership with undergraduate programs of social work from UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison and a 14-member library cohort to host social work student interns in libraries. This is a continuation of an increased focus on social services in library settings. The interns could potentially provide social work services directly to patrons, assist with library projects, and provide continuing education to the cohort and the whole system. It is likely the student interns will be placed in the participating libraries Fall 2022.

 

Local History Digitization Projects - Twenty-three SCLS member libraries have collections in Recollection Wisconsin and the Digital Public Library of America. The libraries’ online collections include 6,885 items of historical or cultural significance and new items are being continually added. The items have been viewed 942,408 times through the end of 2021. 

 

Meetings and Events

Inclusive Services Check In meeting is Tuesday, January 18

Youth Services Check In meeting is Tuesday, January 25

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference is January 26 and 27

Wisconsin Library Legislative Day is Tuesday, February 8^th. (Registration has closed)

Drupal Migrations Webinar is February 18th

2022 All Directors Meeting Dates:

            March 17 (Virtual)

            May 19 (Location to be determined)

            July 21 (Location to be determined)

            November 17 (Location to be determined)

Reminder: Watch for Top 5 emails and Online Update for information on services, upcoming meetings, and CE opportunities.

5. Reports from librarians in attendance

 

Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library, Baraboo – Jessica Bergin.

Building project is moving forward.  RFP is out; Selecting contractor in February.

The library will be open during the construction. In the first phase, the title company building next door will be demolished.  In later phases, the new portion of the building will be build, then operations will move into the new portion of the building.

Children’s Librarian Anne Horjus has retired/resigned to focus on his artwork.  They will be evaluating and restructuring staffing before hiring.

 

La Valle Public Library – Natalie Jones

Currently working on programming and circulation numbers; Library recently purchased new furnishings, puzzles and games.  Natalie is working on her first DPI Annual Report.

 

Ruth Culver Community Library, Prairie du Sac – Lauren White

 - Diane Matzke is presenting Mindfulness sessions in January and February (2 Monday mornings each month). These are drop-in, no registration required. 

- We had 29 entries in our Tween/Teen writing contest and judging is underway as of 1/10.

- We gave out a record number of teen bags in January (46). 

- Teen in-person events continue twice a month. In February game day will change to a pop-up makerspace with a variety of projects and supplies for teens to do what they want. Games will still be available too. 

- LED Constellation paintings were lots of fun and were completed on 1/11

- We held our annual staff in-service on Friday, January 7^th and our training was on implicit bias in the workplace. This was presented by Byron Bishop, Division manager, of the department of Civil Rights Equal Opportunities with the City of Madison. 

- We are working on a partnership with the Village and River Arts on Water to assist with their summer market nights.

- In January we added Vox books to our collection.

 

Kramer Library and Community Center, Plain – Nicholas Studnicka

At Plain, we are still working on RFID tagging and it is going well.  We have tagged everything except half of the non-fiction, 2/3 of adult fiction, and half of the picture books.  Library staff haven't started RFID tagging DVDs, audiobooks, and music CDs.  The library will be hosting our third Senior Lunch program on Thursday, January 20th. It will once again be catered by the new restaurant in town. We have two types of soup with cold-cut sandwiches and a topping platter.

I will be on vacation Feb. 6-19 and the library will be closed on Friday, February 11 and 18th.  I hope to get a jump-start on the annual report and have it be reviewed at least once before my vacation. The library will be celebrity its 20th year in the current building this year with the plan to host some themed events to commemorate this milestone. Along with 20 years in the building, we are planning on putting in an outdoor patio area in front of the children’s area windows as well as putting on a new roof.

 

 

 

Reedsburg Public Library – Sue Ann Kucher

Reedsburg’s curbside holds pick up lockers are in operation. The “My RPL on the Go” program is launching to senior residential facilities; the program includes a cart of large-print materials for residents to read and return. Staff and volunteers will exchange the books at a scheduled time each month as well as take requests for holds and requests for materials.  Reedsburg purchased Zoom equipment for hybrid meetings Reedsburg also utilized pooled Sauk County Technology funds towards the purchase of Jabra speaker/mic pods for use in hybrid meetings.  They are available for Sauk County Libraries to request for use. 

 

Rock Springs Community Library - Becky Anderson

One opening on the Library Board due to a resignation.  Currently seeking a treasurer.

Circulation numbers are improving, both initial checkouts and renewals.   Staff have been entering new items.  Recent materials purchases including Usborne Classics, and graphic novels.

A temporary puzzle display for the 12+ age group is near the Local History Section. The donated puzzles include “Canoe” and “House on the Lake” and are available for patrons to check out. 

First harvest date is February 1.  Patrons are bringing materials in for addition to the digital collection.  The first date for upload to Recollection Wisconsin is February 1.

The study room for the history scanning is set up. 

We are waiting to hear from Heidi Oliversen at SCLS to see if eligible for grant funding for RFID Tagging.

Current programs include Littles Story Hour with story, craft and snack, Homeschool program, After-School Group In the Story Hour, there is a story, craft, and snack. Topics have been snowmen, snowflakes, and Laura ended the month with a snowmen party with games and craft items. Everyone had a great time! In the Homeschool Group, we made Sugar Cone Christmas Trees and Chex Mix. We are getting more people from the Baraboo area in attendance to our program. So far this month, we made bird feeder holders/pine cone birdseed treat, and we did an outside activities time last week. We played red light/green light, Simon Says, jump roping, and hula hoop hooey (nonsense). It was good fresh air time and they checked out a lot of books.

Director is starting her Public Library Administration Course this semester.

 

 

6. Election of Officers:

- Joan Fordham nominated as President by Kotchi-Aslaksen, seconded by Kettner; motion    passed.

- Linda Kettner nominated as Vice-President by Boda, seconded by Fordham; motion passed

- Mary Boda nominated as Secretary by Kotchi-Aslaksen, seconded by Kettner; motion passed.

 

 

7. Review annual calendar of tasks. Next meeting scheduled for May 17, 2022 at 3:30 – Kilbourn Library, Wisconsin Dells and remote via Zoom.

 

8. Chrysler moved and Slack seconded to approve the bylaws with the addition of public comments as the 4^th item in the agenda in Article V, Section 4 of Bylaws.

 

9.Adjournment @ 4:20 Motion by Slack and seconded by Kotshi-Aslaksen. Motion passed.