HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-14 Library Board of Trustees Minutes Approved Anacortes Public Library
Board of Trustees' Meeting
August 14, 2023 9:00 AM
Board of Trustees Attendees (all present): Alethea Fleming, Christina Hansen, Nancy Fisher-
Allison, John Shafer, Courtney Orrock
Library Attendees: Leslie Wilson, Trish Wilson, Diana Farnsworth and new tech hire Cheryl.
Absent: Sidney Brady, Jeff Vogel, Michelle Hanna
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:01 AM by Courtney.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes from the July 2023 meeting were approved. Motion for approval by John and
seconded by Christina.
Internal Updates
Trish
- Trivia night happening at Pelican Bay Books this Thursday 8/17/23 at 6 PM
- Introduction of Cheryl, our new technology guru.
Leslie
- Children's Library has been very busy with summer reading. Now distributing Finishing
Prizes for kids and adults who achieved their summer reading goals.
- Weekly programming like storytime and Lego continue through August, then month of
September is off for planning and a breather.
- Update on Children's space:
o Tugboat should be arriving this week
o Ora Petersen gave mock-ups of the Kraken she is creating to hang in the
Children's Library. She will also be making art representing each island for the
window seats. Alan Ayers is hand carving wooden signs which will hang above
each window seat as well representing the different islands.
o Some furniture will be purchased (in combination with Teen space furniture to
save on shipping) for the Makers Space.
- New offering: Early Literacy Library Branded bags that have donated board books and
information about early literacy to be given to appropriate young readers at StoryTime
or in the Children's Library.
Diana
- Full interviews and an offer have been made to a promising candidate for Children's
Librarian. Stay tuned for updates.
- Open Mike for teens 8/16 at 6:30 PM at the Heart of Anacortes. Book published with
materials from teen writing project.
Diana met with Dustin from the Family Center and they are discussing further ways the
library can support them, including possibly having a library card sign up as part of the
onboarding process for families who will be staying at the shelter.
Diana is meeting with group of other Skagit Librarians 8/15/23 to tell them how we
offered the student card to all students in the district.
Partnership Updates
Foundation
- Money got allocated/moved around to fund teen space.
- Waiting on photo of new tugboat to be included in new Foundation brochure.
- Hoopla continues to be extremely popular and Library staff will be presenting to
Foundation meeting tomorrow to illustrate usage/stats so Foundation can decide how
to proceed with funding of Hoopla.
- John notes that the Foundation has been running over 3 million for the last few months.
Friends
- Courtney and Nancy provide updates.
- Children under 13 can pick a free book at the Friends Shop (not advertised).
- Friends are considering a flag to provide a visual clue outside of the library to indicate
when they are open.
- They have a new tri-fold brochure.
- New idea of linking Library special displays with featured books at the Friends Bookshop.
- Upcoming Sale September 16, 2023.
Manieri/Maritime—no updates available.
New Business: Board of Trustees Training Update
- 4/5 Board members and Jeff attended the State Librarian's (Sara Jones) BoT training on
Saturday, August 5. (Next training in September for those who could not attend in Aug).
Several new ideas/questions came up including:
- Example given of a Code of Ethics to be included in the Board of Trustees
documentation —copy will be distributed via email to be discussed in September
meeting.
- Courtney asked questions that the presenter will forward on to Attorney general such
as: "Can we keep the proviso that in order to request Materials Review requestor must
be a card member of the APL?"
- Alethea requested an updated org chart for library employees.
- Nancy wondered how the BoT can be more public facing, Diana suggested volunteering
at Open Streets/Farmer's Market Library booth and Nancy, Courtney and Alethea all
volunteered to help.
- Diana and Nancy will schedule a meeting with the Samish librarian to see if there is
interest in collaboration and/or offer any potential support.
- Nancy suggested that later in the year we try to set up a meeting with State reps and
other Skagit BoT members.
- Courtney will send out the power point from the training for those who could not
attend to review.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM by Courtney.
Next meeting is Monday, September 112023 at 9 AM.