McHenry Times

City of Woodstock Public Library Board of Trustees met March 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER:

Mary Ann Lenzen called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Mary Ann Lenzen (President), Dan Lemanski (Vice President), Robert Laurie (Secretary), Marybeth Urbin, Christy Johanson, Jim Hurley (Treasurer), Gayle Hoch (arrived at 7:53 pm)

OTHERS PRESENT: Nick Weber (Library Director), Paul Christensen (Deputy City Manager), Tiara Thayer (Library Assistant II)

ABSENT: Teresa Flores

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Discussion and Vote on the Regular Minutes from the January 13, 2022 meeting as presented or corrected. Mary Ann Lenzen moved to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2022 regular meeting as presented. Marybeth Urbin seconded, and the motion carried via roll call:

Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote
Lenzen	Aye	Lemanski	Aye	Laurie	Aye	Hurley	Aye
Hoch	ABSENT	Johanson	Aye	Urbin	Aye	Flores	ABSENT
VACANT

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS:

COMMUNICATIONS:

LIBRARY EXPENDITURES:

Discussion and Vote on the January 2022 Building Fund and Operating Fund Expenditures.

Robert Laurie moved to approve the January 2022 combined Warrant of operating and building expenditures, as presented.

Christy Johanson seconded, and the motion carried via roll call:

Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote
Lenzen	Aye	Lemanski	Aye	Laurie	Aye	Hurley	Aye
Hoch	ABSENT	Johanson	Aye	Urbin	Aye	Flores	ABSENT
VACANT

Discussion and Vote on the February 2022 Building Fund and Operating Fund Expenditures.

Mary Ann Lenzen moved to approve the February 2022 combined Warrant of operating and building expenditures, as presented.

Jim Hurley seconded, and the motion carried via roll call:

Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote
Lenzen	Aye	Lemanski	Aye	Laurie	Aye	Hurley	Aye
Hoch	ABSENT	Johanson	Aye	Urbin	Aye	Flores	ABSENT
VACANT

LIBRARIAN’S REPORT:

Nick Weber presented the librarian’s report, a copy of which is attached. Highlights include:

• The mask mandate has been lifted, but the Governor’s orders have allowed the board to continue meeting remotely for the time being.

• New staff have been adjusting well and more staff have been returning from medical/sick leave.

• January and February have seen many in-person program cancellations due to public health concerns due to COVID-19. March has seen fewer cancellations and it is hopeful that more in person programs will return as COVID-19 concerns decrease.

• The Library Lover’s Expedition was successfully received by the county’s patrons, with over 1/3 of the participating patrons completing visits to all 11 participating libraries in McHenry County.

• Curbside pick up will remain a permanent service for patrons at WPL.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

• Building Update:

o The carpeting near the front doors has been replaced with a more durable carpet material that also brushes off patrons’ shoes as they enter. This upgrade should better extend the life of all the carpeting throughout the building.

o Fred’s Upholstery has taken some of the library’s chairs and is working on reupholstering them.

o Once the snow has cleared and weather improves, work should begin on the rotunda roof.

o Nick Weber will be working with public works to finish getting the library repainted.

• Staffing Update:

o Lisa Miller, who has been at the library for nearly 30 years, has been moved to Library Assistant III position. She effectively acts as an assistant circulation manager.

o New hire, Ally Griffin, has been moved from limited part-time to part-time.

o FY22/23 staffing. The library is looking to hire:

▪ PT reference librarian

▪ Library Assistant II with emphasis in Youth Services

▪ Children’s librarian

• Gayle Hoch requested that new staff be introduced to the board so as to facilitate familiarity amongst everyone. Nick Weber affirmed that there will be an effort made to introduce new hires and board members.

• Mary Ann Lenzen inquired about the possibility of patrons challenging the library’s materials, such as the graphic novel Maus or LGBTQ+ related materials. These materials have recently seen an increase in attempted, and sometimes successful, bans at libraries and schools across the nation.

o Nick Weber explained that the library is updating its Collection Development Policy should a patron wish to challenge an item from the library’s collection. However, no efforts have been made to challenge any of the materials at WPL at this time. Additionally, the library recently updated and approved its Reconsideration Policy.

• COVID-19/Masking Update

o Starting on February 28th, the state of IL ended its mandate for indoor mask wearing. The library chose to relax the mask policy, enforcing it only in the children’s area due to young children being a vulnerable population and still ineligible for the vaccine. The library has received some pushback from patrons concerning the policy, but has also received a fair amount of praise from patrons who appreciate the staff’s continued efforts to keep the children’s area a safe and inclusive space.

o Paul Christensen voiced Mayor Turner’s desire for the library to remove any form of mask requirements.

o Nick Weber consulted the library’s management team and they came up with a compromise and sought a consensus from the board on which approach they would like to proceed with. The proposed compromise: The children’s area will have 6 hours spread across each week where masking is mandatory for everyone (aged 3 and up) in that space. This would continue until COVID-19 cases decrease, a vaccine becomes available for young children, or if there is no public interest in attending these dedicated hours.

▪ The board discussed what the policies look like at the surrounding schools and city buildings, as well as what extra work the masking policies could have on the library staff.

▪ The board unanimously supports the compromise approach, with mask-enforced times and would like the library to adopt that policy until COVID-19 cases decrease, a vaccine for children of all ages becomes available, or there is no public interest in utilizing those time periods.

• Discussion of Rosemary Bayton bequest and possible recognition of it:

o Nick Weber asked the board for more suggestions on how to use the funds from Rosemary Bayton.

▪ With no additional suggestion from the board, Nick Weber intends to ask the library staff and Danielle Gulli (Executive Director of Business Development) for suggestions and ideas.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Final budget discussion:

o Nick Weber explained that there will be an increase in expenses due to an increase of staffing, which is a necessity for the library at this point in order to adequately serve the community.

• Statement of Economic Interests reminder:

o Board members should be receiving emails sometime next week from the county to disclose any possible economic conflicts of interest.

• Resolution to issue Non-Resident cards at no charge for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals:

o Cards for Kids Act would allow young patrons who live outside of the library’s district boundaries, and who face financial struggles, to still receive full service district library cards at the Woodstock Public Library.

Dan Lemanski moved to enroll in the Cards for Kids Act.

Mary Ann Lenzen seconded, and the motion carried via roll call:

Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote
Lenzen	Aye	Lemanski	Aye	Laurie	Aye	Hurley	Aye
Hoch	Aye	Johanson	Abstain	Urbin	Aye	Flores	ABSENT
VACANT

• Review of Board terms and responsibilities:

o Mary Ann Lenzen voiced intent to relinquish her position as board president, and is reevaluating staying on the board at all after dedicating nearly 20 years of service to the library’s board.

o Robert Laurie voiced interest in holding his position on the board for the foreseeable future.

o Nick Weber reminded the board members of the importance of attending meetings and communicating as soon as possible if they are unable to attend. Multiple meetings failed to meet a quorum over the last year, which affected the board’s ability to conduct business in a timely manner.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mary Ann Lenzen moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Gayle Hoch seconded, and the motion carried via roll call:

Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote	Name	Vote
Lenzen	Aye	Lemanski	Aye	Laurie	Aye	Hurley	Aye
Hoch	Aye	Johanson	Aye	Urbin	Aye	Flores	ABSENT
VACANT

All meetings of the Library Board are open to the public. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they are fully accessible, and if any further accommodations are needed, please contact the Library Director 48 hours prior to the meeting.

https://www.woodstockil.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/library_board_of_trustees/meeting/45627/f_-_wpl_minutes_20220310_-_part_1_of_2_-_minutes.pdf