Castleton Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
October 2017 Minutes
Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance: The meeting was called to order by President Karis-Nix at 7:02 pm.
Roll Call: Present: Nathan Hans, Treasurer; Sarah Niemitalo, Secretary; Zachary Goldstein, Trustee; Mary Claire Aitken, Trustee; Olivia Karis-Nix, President; Ryan Mullahy, Vice President; Maria Marcucci, Trustee; Melissa Tacke, Library Director.
Adoption of Agenda: Agenda adopted on the motion of Trustee Aitken and seconded by Treasurer Hans.
Public Comment: None
President’s Report: None
Secretary’s Report: Treasurer Hans motioned to approve the September meeting minutes. Vice President Mullahy seconded. Unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Hans reported everything is on track. Surplus is around $43,000. Trustee Aitken motioned to approve the check detail and motion was seconded by Secretary Niemitalo. Unanimously approved.
Director’s Report: Director Tacke states the library’s presentation to the Schodack Town Council went well.
Friends’ Report: Director Tacke reported on behalf of the Friends. Friends President Theresa Scandurra asks the board to save the date for Friday, November 3 for cheesecake fundraiser at her home.
Committee Reports:
Long Range Planning Committee:
The board had previously discussed goals and objectives at the August and September meetings. Director Tacke changed priority arrangement of some of the objectives in a draft she distributed to the board. The board will work from the Director’s draft of LRP. Discussion of additions and alterations of goals, objectives, and action steps as written in the draft. Director Tacke will make corrections and additions and distribute to the board via email, with the goal of a vote to approve the Long-Range Plan at the November meeting. President Karis-Nix suggested that the board think about creating new committees in order to make the long range plan successful. Trustee Goldstein suggested making each goal have its own committee.
Old Business:
Library Annex Renovation – Treasurer Hans reported that the Finance Committee met and discussed annex renovation plans (since CPL did not receive a NYS Library Construction Grant). The replacement of flooring and purchase of technology, furniture, and shelving are only eligible for NYS Library Construction Grant funds in the future if pursued as part of a renovation project. Four options for going forward were discussed by the board:
Option 1: Replace library front door and re-apply for a NYS Library Construction Grant for renovation of the library annex in 2018 ($2,864).
Option 2: Replace library front door, renovate walls/floor/lighting of library annex, and purchase a new table and chairs for the room, but do not pursue other aspects of annex renovation, including: counter & cabinets, local history shelving, wall-mounted flatscreen, and laptop (approximately $25,000).
Option 3: Pursue replacement of both library doors and full renovation of library annex as outlined in the NYS Library Construction Grant ($43,200).
Option 4: Replace library front door and pursue full renovation of library annex and purchase of all furniture and equipment, minus local history shelving (approximately $35,000).
Director Tacke will put together a cost summary of all the options and sent to the board for a decision at the November meeting.
President Karis-Nix will clarify the status of the library annex as library space with the Village Mayor and Village Board.
Discussion of impact of renovation plans on 2018 budget. Two drafts of the 2018 operating budget being discussed at the Finance Committee include three part-time Library Aides, one part-time Library Assistant, one part-time Youth Services Librarian, and the Director. One draft proposes pulling a few thousand dollars in additional funds from surplus to fund the newly-created Library Assistant position, while another draft cuts programming and materials lines to balance the budget. President Karis-Nix does not think it is fiscally responsible to use surplus funds on staffing. Treasure Hans brought up counterpoint that if we do not have enough staff, we might not get a public vote in the future to obtain more funding. Director Tacke felt that even if we did not get the vote, we would be able to go back to the Town for the small increases to fund the extra staff since it is a relatively minimal cost (approx. $9,000 annually).
New Business:
BELLS Presentation – Mary Fellows, UHLS Youth and Family Services Manager, made a presentation to the board regarding Benchmarking Early Literacy Library Services (BELLS) as part of CPL’s participation in a UHLS BELLS grant. Fellows defined early literacy, discussed early childhood brain growth and development, and shared information about the crucial impact of early pre-reading skills throughout a person’s life. Ideas for improving early literacy services in libraries that Fellows shared with the board included the professionalization of early literacy storytimes, implementation of a “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program, incorporating early literacy elements in play areas (i.e. Storyville), and moving toward elimination of fines on children’s library cards.
Meeting adjourned upon motion by Trustee Aitken at 8:47 pm.
October 2017 Minutes
Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance: The meeting was called to order by President Karis-Nix at 7:02 pm.
Roll Call: Present: Nathan Hans, Treasurer; Sarah Niemitalo, Secretary; Zachary Goldstein, Trustee; Mary Claire Aitken, Trustee; Olivia Karis-Nix, President; Ryan Mullahy, Vice President; Maria Marcucci, Trustee; Melissa Tacke, Library Director.
Adoption of Agenda: Agenda adopted on the motion of Trustee Aitken and seconded by Treasurer Hans.
Public Comment: None
President’s Report: None
Secretary’s Report: Treasurer Hans motioned to approve the September meeting minutes. Vice President Mullahy seconded. Unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Hans reported everything is on track. Surplus is around $43,000. Trustee Aitken motioned to approve the check detail and motion was seconded by Secretary Niemitalo. Unanimously approved.
Director’s Report: Director Tacke states the library’s presentation to the Schodack Town Council went well.
Friends’ Report: Director Tacke reported on behalf of the Friends. Friends President Theresa Scandurra asks the board to save the date for Friday, November 3 for cheesecake fundraiser at her home.
Committee Reports:
Long Range Planning Committee:
The board had previously discussed goals and objectives at the August and September meetings. Director Tacke changed priority arrangement of some of the objectives in a draft she distributed to the board. The board will work from the Director’s draft of LRP. Discussion of additions and alterations of goals, objectives, and action steps as written in the draft. Director Tacke will make corrections and additions and distribute to the board via email, with the goal of a vote to approve the Long-Range Plan at the November meeting. President Karis-Nix suggested that the board think about creating new committees in order to make the long range plan successful. Trustee Goldstein suggested making each goal have its own committee.
Old Business:
Library Annex Renovation – Treasurer Hans reported that the Finance Committee met and discussed annex renovation plans (since CPL did not receive a NYS Library Construction Grant). The replacement of flooring and purchase of technology, furniture, and shelving are only eligible for NYS Library Construction Grant funds in the future if pursued as part of a renovation project. Four options for going forward were discussed by the board:
Option 1: Replace library front door and re-apply for a NYS Library Construction Grant for renovation of the library annex in 2018 ($2,864).
Option 2: Replace library front door, renovate walls/floor/lighting of library annex, and purchase a new table and chairs for the room, but do not pursue other aspects of annex renovation, including: counter & cabinets, local history shelving, wall-mounted flatscreen, and laptop (approximately $25,000).
Option 3: Pursue replacement of both library doors and full renovation of library annex as outlined in the NYS Library Construction Grant ($43,200).
Option 4: Replace library front door and pursue full renovation of library annex and purchase of all furniture and equipment, minus local history shelving (approximately $35,000).
Director Tacke will put together a cost summary of all the options and sent to the board for a decision at the November meeting.
President Karis-Nix will clarify the status of the library annex as library space with the Village Mayor and Village Board.
Discussion of impact of renovation plans on 2018 budget. Two drafts of the 2018 operating budget being discussed at the Finance Committee include three part-time Library Aides, one part-time Library Assistant, one part-time Youth Services Librarian, and the Director. One draft proposes pulling a few thousand dollars in additional funds from surplus to fund the newly-created Library Assistant position, while another draft cuts programming and materials lines to balance the budget. President Karis-Nix does not think it is fiscally responsible to use surplus funds on staffing. Treasure Hans brought up counterpoint that if we do not have enough staff, we might not get a public vote in the future to obtain more funding. Director Tacke felt that even if we did not get the vote, we would be able to go back to the Town for the small increases to fund the extra staff since it is a relatively minimal cost (approx. $9,000 annually).
New Business:
BELLS Presentation – Mary Fellows, UHLS Youth and Family Services Manager, made a presentation to the board regarding Benchmarking Early Literacy Library Services (BELLS) as part of CPL’s participation in a UHLS BELLS grant. Fellows defined early literacy, discussed early childhood brain growth and development, and shared information about the crucial impact of early pre-reading skills throughout a person’s life. Ideas for improving early literacy services in libraries that Fellows shared with the board included the professionalization of early literacy storytimes, implementation of a “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program, incorporating early literacy elements in play areas (i.e. Storyville), and moving toward elimination of fines on children’s library cards.
Meeting adjourned upon motion by Trustee Aitken at 8:47 pm.
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