Galena Public Library Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting Minutes

December 9, 2024

Call to order

Blaum called the meeting to order at 6:32pm . Trustees present: Emily Sprenglemeyer, Alison Vanderpool, Katherine Walker, Sandra Schultz, Frances Beadle (joined meeting at 6:37). Library Director Jenna Diedrich was also present.

Citizen Comments

Gloria Junge regarding digitization, comments that if the board says to send items out then Jenna needs to. The egress window may not be up to code and may need to be inspected. She also says there may be issues with fire code as to how many people can be inside the children’s room at one time. Gloria also used to have a subscription to Consumer Reports, and she came in a few weeks ago and the library’s buyers guide is from 2021. The rest of the magazines present were from 2021. She wants to know who is in charge of keeping these up to date. She would like the magazines taken care of properly.

Tim Doser asks that we speak up, it’s difficult to hear.

Consent agenda

Schultz moved to approve the consent agenda. Sprenglemeyer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Schultz asked about the Thistle group, they are who installed in the egress window.

Financial Report

None

Treasurer’s Report

Pledging with different stock options. We are over the FDIC amount Illinois Bank & Trust and Raymond James was handling this. It has changed to the federal reserve. Beadle approved this change.  

Diedrich notes that there is a CD at First Community coming due. Beadle will do a 7 month option with First Community.  

Friends Report

Diedrich reports that they had a table at the Territory Winter Market and $461 was earned. The Workshop will get the extra books donated to them. Beadle, once her trustee term has ended, will be in charge of the book sale. Books will start being taken in early March.

Library Director’s Report

The Per Capita Grant has been submitted. Diedrich is working on a capital improvement plan, this will take time.

Board President’s Report

Blaum appoints Mike Fertig, historical librarian, to the Building and Grounds committee and Sprengelmeyer will now chair the HR committee.

Committees:

• Building & Grounds: Schultz reported that a meeting was held on December 9th at 10:00 and discussion was held on the digitization project. Many questions were answered. Another meeting was held November 6. Discussion occurred about landscaping and finding photos of this building’s landscaping from the past to use as reference. Also trying to find a historical landscaping business and looking into getting landscaping proposals to consider. Schultz found Dorinda Valley in Elizabeth, Green Escapes in Hazel Green and Perfection in Galena could all provide an on site consult and a proposed design and the landscape services. Diedrich and/or Schultz could set up a time for a consultation with the landscape companies. All sides of the Library building should be included in the work proposal.  Also discussed was coming up with a timeline for digitization work, seeking out additional digitization vendors and how the budget for this project works. Transfer of files digitally was discussed also. Beadle discussed what she meant about her budget understanding. There is a 10K contingency line item in case something goes over budget.  
• Decennial no report
• Finance did not meet
• HR did not meet, will meet in new year
• Policy no meeting

Unfinished Business

None

New Business

Nothing to discuss due to no time line being created.  Diedrich would like to know what the intention is for the digitization budget as the FY25 budget has been approved. There is around $14,000 left in the budget for digitization, with the Galena Foundation matching those funds.

Closed Session

Schultz moved to enter closed session at 7:02 for the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. [5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)]. Vanderpool seconded. Motion passed.

The Board reentered the regular meeting at 7:16

Items for next agenda

2022 Collection Inventory to be included in the packet

Adjournment

Blaum adjourned the meeting at 7:37.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Schultz