07-23-2018 LIBM Library Board Meeting
July 23,2018
Present: Steve Bailey, Carolyn Ulrich, Gerry Ginde, Kristine Leutze,Julie Lofdahl, Mary Christensen,
Jack Sandberg, Katy Hiltner, Ex-Officio
Review and approve minutes from the June 25, 2018 meeting. Motion to approve by Carolyn Ulrich,
second by Jack Sandberg-APPROVED
Old Business:
Summer Reading Updates:
Program has been very successful this year. Ralph's world had 150 attendees and Mad Science had an
audience of 110 and had to be moved to the fairgrounds because of the rain.
There is a non-fiction reading challenge that six children have completed so far.
Sherry and Rachelle will give a full summary in the fall.
PLS Strategic Plan(Head Librarian monthly report):
Highlighted Goal Area =Outreach
A. Provide outreach services into the community to publicize library resources and services.
Katy and Jackee had a booth at the Senior Expo. They are trying to find new activities. Katy spoke at the
Hutchinson Rotary meeting. An author event has been scheduled this fall at the Senior Center.
Rachelle received a Future Ready grant,which will partner her with community members.
B. Provide services directly or indirectly to patrons who are unable to use libraries in person.
Books are brought monthly to Cedar Crest of Silver Lake. Caregivers come and pick up books for their
clients. Staff does many research requests over the phone. OverDrive and Libby are available for
patrons to download e-books. In addition, the library does share information about services for the blind
(MN Braille and Talking Library).
Goal is to look at other sources: puzzles to nursing homes,volunteers/staff to deliver books to people,
a puzzle table in the Teen Corner.
C. Provide technology connections to the library which are available 24/7.
Library is set up for that with website and Wi-Fi. The City also put Wi-Fi in the park for it to reach further
than the Library's Wi-Fi.
New Business:
Library Safety Training:The library staff had safety training at the beginning of the month. Officer
Aaron Berry, Fire Chief Mike Schumann, and facility manager JJ Verhey presented. There was a fire
extinguisher demo. The information was very helpful and will give the staff a better comfort level on
what to do in an emergency.
The library always has two employees in the library. Should a defibrillator be purchased for the library?
Maybe the Friends of the Library could provide the funding.
Upcoming Summer Programs: The final summer programs are Paula Kirkpatrick reading in the library
this coming Thursday and the Schiffelly Puppets on Thursday,Aug. 9 at the State Theatre. Friends of the
Library are sponsors for the Schiffelly Puppets performance.
Park and Rec Brochure (Fall Programming for children,tweens, and teens)
A new item for fall will be a partnership with 4-H one Monday a month for a K-6 craft program.
Coding Club will be one hour a month on the second Tuesday of the month from 4-5 p.m.
Because it was so popular last fall, a Harry Potter party is on the fall schedule again this year.
Rachelle is planning a November Escape Room for teens.
100 Books Before Graduation for teens will also be launched this fall.
Coming Up: Friends of Library Annual Used Book Sale Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15
The Friends annual book sale is part of the Arts and Crafts Festival in Library Square. Board members
were asked to please contact Joyce Beytien if they are able to volunteer for the book sale.
Library Buzz—What Have You Been Reading/Watching?
Kristine: Give a Girl a Knife-Amy Thielen, author from Park Rapids. She also wrote The New
Midwestern Table. Donna Tartt- The Secret History
Gerry: White Tombs by Christopher Valen. The Last Wild Men of Borneo. River of Doubt about Teddy
Roosevelt,who almost died on this trip. This was also a show on PBS within the last couple of years.
The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton -it was not a bad book.
Julie: Badass Babe Workbook
Katy: She is reading for One Book One Community so cannot tell us what she is reading.
Mary: Audiobook Kate Remembered about Katharine Hepburn. Wells Clay Book of Poems is a small
book with Hutchinson connection
Carolyn: A Skeleton in God's Closet- blew Christian world apart,great author, hard to put the book
down; The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater -cute book; Trench Talk-WWI
Jack: Has been reading Everest books. Jon Krakauer book Into Thin Air. National Geographic's Everest
Steve: Has been reading magazines about the political scene-National Review, Esquire, & Time
Other:
Presentation suggestion: Holly(Harsdorf)Walters; she lived in the Himalayas
Jack visited the library in Ely, MN -it is a very friendly, newer library and the local meeting place
Kristine had a patron talk to her about how loud the library can be and that makes it hard to do homework;
Katy advised that library staff tries to monitor noise level and patrons are encouraged to come to the desk
if they have concerns.
Adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Submitted by Julie Lofdahl, Secretary
Next meeting:August 27,2018 @ 4:30 p.m.
June 2018 Donations
Book memorial from Shirley Wass $50.00