Carbondale Reporter

Herrin City Library Board of Trustees met July 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present Jones, Priest, Hickman, Maloney, Guebert, Frost, Watson

Also Present: Library Director Susan Mullen

Absent: McKeown, Sarver

The meeting was called to order at 6:29 PM by President Jones.

Visitor(s): None

Correspondence: None

Secretary’s Report: Priest moved to approve the minutes from June 2024 with note about next meeting date. Frost seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report:

Bills to be Paid: Frost moved to approve the payment of $8,200.76 for expenses incurred from June 12 – June 30, 2024, and $2,182.44 for expenses incurred from July 1 – June 23, 2024. Guebert seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

City Budget Report: Last month’s report shows that 19% of the budget has been spent, with 17% of the fiscal year completed, leaving a checking account balance of $45,705.07.  Watson moved to approve the report. Priest seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Financial Balance Statement: Priest moved to approve the Library balance report from the previous month. Maloney seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Librarian’s Report:

June 2024 had a 3% increase in circulation compared to June 2023. A total of 408 unique Borrowers Cards were used. Patrons placed a total of 532 Hold Requests. A total of 461 Hold Requests were filled (borrowed.) The Illinois Heartland Delivery Van dropped off a total of 768 titles at the Herrin City Library. We loaned 435 titles to other libraries and borrowed 827 titles from the other Heartland SHARE Libraries. We registered a total of 56 new borrowers in June: 39 Adult, 13 Juvenile, 3 Student,  and 1 new Non-Resident Cards. As of the end of June, the Herrin City Library had a total of 5,656 registered borrowers. The Library Director attended the IHLS Director’s Chat on June 6 & 13, 2024, the Illinois Technology Grant Recipient Q&A on June 12, as well as Members Matters, Changing Landscape of Bookbans and Censorship, and Supportive Librarian: Helping Patrons Experiencing Homelessness on June 20. Monthly meetings have been conducted with full time staff, completing goal setting and guidance activities. Lisa Carnaghi presented A Slideshow Presentation: In Bloody Williamson on June 21 to a full house. The Library hosted a Junior Chefs Cooking Class July 20-August 2. This month, the Board will update and renew our Internet Use Policy as part of our Policy Review Schedule. We received our Per Capita Grant award check on July 1, 2024 in the amount of $18,342.72.

Children’s Librarian’s Report: Summer Reading Program 2024 – Adventure Begins at Your Library. Seventy children registered so far. Four programs held in June: Rockin’ with Leonardo on June 6th (41 children and 24 adults in attendance), STEAM Challenge on June 13th (36 children and 24 adults), Seussical Program Kre8tive on June 20th (70 children and 42 adults), Camping Fun with Giant City on June 27 (16 children, 14 adults).

Committee Reports:

Friends Liaison (Maloney): No meeting in July. The July Wish List was approved via email for $345.91 (library supplies and 2 DVDs). The July Book Sale took place July 13th and into the next week. Next meeting August 5th.

History Room (Hickman, McKeown): Report submitted by Lisa Carnaghi.  Research was conducted for fifteen patrons.  HHR Room Facebook page reached 19,676 visits over the last 30 days. Presented “In Bloody Williamson” presentation on June 21. Was well received and due to requests, will present it again on August 7. Met with Williamson County Historical Society to show them scanning equipment. Received order of wooden nickels to celebrate Herrin’s 125 years in 2025. Anyone who donates $5 to the HHR will receive one. So far, have given out 17. Lisa has started working on the HHR book Celebrating 125 Years of Herrin.  HHR volunteer Linda Priddy has created a 2025 calendar of Herrin history for a HHR fundraiser.

Building and Grounds (Priest, Jones): Walk through conducted June 18, 2024. All Fire Safety and Emergency equipment has been inspected and is up to date. Equipment is visible and accessible, exits are clearly marked, emergency procedures are posted in multiple areas. Emergency contacts and First Aid equipment posted and accessible to staff. Exterior of the building is in good shape. Parking lot is well lit and exterior lights are functioning. Parking lot needs to be restriped. Interior wise, lighting in the puzzle area can be improved, but not an immediate concern. Carpeting will be cleaned in high traffic area. Some areas of library have recently been repainted and other areas are in the process of being painted.

Community Enrichment (Guebert & Sarver): none

Library Development and Technology: none

Special Gifts Committee (Frost): none

Old Business:

None

New Business:          

Review & approve Internet Use Policy – regular policy review

Watson moved to approve. Frost seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Library Catalog getting updated to Aspen Discovery. More user friendly for patrons. Nothing changes on Admin/Staff end.

Adjournment: Maloney moved to adjourn at 6:50 PM.

https://herrincitylibrary.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/meeting-minutes/july-2024/