Chambana Sun

The city of Champaign Public Library Board of Trustees met June 16 to discuss the annual Juneteenth celebration.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

Library Board of Trustees Minutes of Meeting 3rd Floor Conference Room, Main Library June 15, 2016

1. The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. by President Wolske.

2. Members Present: Mark Ballard, Katie Blakeman, Trisha Crowley, Michael La Due, Charles Lansford,

Peter Newman, Minnie Pearson, and Martin Wolske

Members Absent: Orlando Thomas

Library Staff Present: Donna Pittman, Amy Al-Shabibi, Brent Colclasure, Mollie Gambrell, Essie Harris, Kristina Hoerner, Debbie Keith, and Michael Rogalla

Visitors Present: Stacy Rachel, City HR; Natalie Frankenberg, League of Women Voters; and Deb Busey

3. Approve the Agenda:

• MOTION by Crowley to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Lansford. All: Aye.

4. Approve the Minutes:

a. Regular Meeting Minutes, May 18, 2016 b. Closed Session Minutes, May 18, 2016 c. Closed Session Minutes, May 23, 2016 d. Nominating Committee Minutes, June 1, 2016 e. Closed Session Minutes, June 1, 2016 f. Closed Session Minutes, June 2, 2016

• MOTION by Crowley to approve all sets of minutes as presented; seconded by La Due. All: Aye.

5. Director’s Report:

• Pittman distributed her report and pointed out that the annual Juneteenth celebration from 12 to 3 p.m. will be held at the Douglass Branch which has become a big community event of 300-400 people in attendance. We partner with the Park District and will have games, a magician, a balloon artist, West African dancers, book giveaways, and Terry Townsend will read the Emancipation Proclamation. There will be a drawing for two kindles and an iPad mini.

• Pittman reported the water fountain at Douglass Branch was previously removed due to handicapped accessibility issues from the park district. It was a complicated process and a new one will be installed by the Park District. Staff and patrons will be happy.

Ballard arrived at 5:36 p.m.• Pittman reported we know people use the library to conduct business to get away from the isolation of working from home. There was a recent newspaper article about a young woman who created an app called “Triassic Era” for kids (a 3D model time machine app of the earth 250 million years ago) who gave credit to our library because she worked on it here and considers CPL the home of her app. She credits our library in the app information. We have purchased the app and have it on our children’s computers. We were glad she let us know how the library impacted her business.

• Pittman introduced Betsy Su, Teen Librarian in the Adult Services Department, who presented information and photos of teen programs held at the Library such as: 3D printing; forensics program; STEAM camps; and more.

• Wolske commended Su and her colleagues for the energy put into recruiting groups to use the library and provide programs for the teens.

6. Financial Reports:

a. Approve “Check Register” and “Handwritten Checks” for May 2016:

• MOTION by Newman to file the check register, handwritten checks and check summary for May 2016 in the amount of $207,656.83 as presented; seconded by Pearson. All: Aye.

a. 2015-2016 Financial Statements:

• MOTION by Newman to accept the financial statements for May 2016 as presented; seconded by La Due. All: Aye.

7. Service to Non-Residents:

• Pittman noted this is an annual charge for non-residents required by the state.

• Board members request staff to find out whether the Champaign Unit 4 school boundary is in some way state mandated or if we have flexibility in reconsidering that more expansively down the line.

• MOTION by Ballard to approve the charge as presented; seconded by La Due. All: Aye.

8. Election of Officers (Standing Committee on Nominations):

• Lansford, Chair of the Nominating Committee, proposed the slate of officers:

President – Martin Wolske Vice-President – Michael La Due Treasurer – Mark Ballard Secretary – Minnie Pearson

• MOTION from the committee to approve as presented: All: Aye.

9. Committee Preferences for 2016-2017:

• Wolske asked members to complete the preference sheet for committee selection and return to him.10. Library Director Search Update:

• Wolske reported that dates are now July 7 and 8 for Library Director candidates. On July 7 candidates will be in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. On July 8, Board members will begin at 8:45 a.m. with the first interview at 9:15 a.m.

11. Correspondence and Communications:

• Article from The News-Gazette entitled “Tax hike for library proposed” (May 11, 2016).

• Article from The News-Gazette written by Kelly Strom, Collection Development Manager, entitled: “Fictional Moms: Part II” and “Time to Get Your Hands Dirty” (May 15, 2016 and May 29, 2016).

• Article from The News-Gazette entitled “Big 10: Good news, Class of 2016: A survey shows UI grads who landed jobs earned an average of $55,390 within six months.” with a photo and quote from Donna Pittman, Interim Director (May 15, 2016)

12. Committee and Liaison Reports:

a. Champaign Public Library Foundation:

• No report.

b. Friends of the Champaign Public Library:

• Lansford reported the annual meeting will be held on June 20.

13. Comments from the Audience:

• None.

14. Comments from the Board:

• Wolske announced this was the last meeting for Newman. Wolske and Board members thanked him for his service.

15. Next Meetings or Events:

• Library Director Finalists here July 7 and 8, 2016 – Public Forum at 6:30 p.m. on 7/7/16 and Final Interviews on July 8.

16. Closed Session: Library Director Search:

• MOTION by Ballard to enter into a closed session for “(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity” or (2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees,” as authorized by 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and 5 ILCA 120/2(c)(2), seconded by La Due. All: Aye

• The Board entered closed session at 6:22 p.m.

• Roll call was taken.• Rachel was present.

• The Board returned to open session at 6:31 p.m.

17. Next Meetings or Events:

• Repeated from item #15.

18. Adjournment:

• The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________ Martin Wolske, President

__________________________ Minnie Pearson, Secretary

__________________________ Jill Bouvet, Recorder