Diana Mikula

The meeting commenced with roll call and the pledge of allegiance, followed by a period for public comment. A visitor raised concerns regarding the upcoming bookmobile purchase, specifically citing the choice of a diesel engine over an EV platform due to environmental and health risks, and requested that prior correspondence on the matter be included in the minutes. The Board addressed the request by consulting legal counsel. Liaison reports included updates from the Friends of the Library regarding their August book sale, which raised $26,500, contributing to the bookmobile fund. The financial report for the period ending August 31st was reviewed, detailing revenues such as real estate tax and donations ($151,516), and expenses. Key expenditure items included the first payment on the new bookmobile, funded by foundation, donation, and budgeted amounts. The check register review covered several significant transactions, including a three-year antivirus subscription renewal, payments for interior renovations and lighting retrofitting, rental of parking spaces, purchase of a large type collection shelving unit, replacement of security flip charts, and software subscriptions for collection management. A significant payment was made for the 50% down payment on the new bookmobile. The Board also discussed upcoming events and refunded charges for a cancelled craft event. The Executive Director's report highlighted extensive community outreach during August, including participation in festivals and back-to-school events, connecting with over a thousand individuals. Staff accomplishments included a specialist being featured on WBEZ Chicago to discuss the library's WindPhone and Death Cafe programs. Furthermore, the summer story time in the parks concluded, engaging over 1,155 customers, and a silent book discussion was hosted for 29 attendees.

The board meeting included liaison reports from Friends of the Library and The Foundation. The Foundation extended the scholarship application deadline to April 15th and is planning a foodstuffs fundraiser for May. Financial reports for February 2023 were reviewed, noting high interest income and an unfavorable operating budget variance due to front-loaded contractual service expenses. Discussion occurred regarding issues with ERP software implementation, specifically concerning the ability to write custom reports. Expenditures reviewed included Adobe Creative Cloud licensing renewals, laptops for the Public Training Center, travel expenses for the Community Engagement Liaison, printing of March newsletters, and musical entertainment for the volunteer recognition celebration. Other topics included funding for a Maker Place kitchen TV/Apple TV, the purchase of All-in-One PCs, generator repair, and annual chiller maintenance. Significant discussion was held on fundraising activities, including the success of the Community blood drive (exceeding the goal with 34 units collected), staff winning local chili cook-off awards, and placing second in a trivia contest. Programs highlighted included a Black History Month film screening and discussion, a Listen and Learn program on folk music icons, a successful Illinois Library Presents event featuring author Kwame Alexander, and cooking classes utilizing the new Maker Place kitchen camera system.

The Committee of the Whole meeting addressed several key items. Discussions included engaging Shees McNutt Construction for the 2024 renovation project, which encompasses work on the second-floor restrooms, Kids World restrooms, core entrance, and elevator floors, with detailed cost breakdowns provided for preconstruction management, general liability expense, onsite supervision, and general administrative coordination, totaling an estimated $108,500. Concerns were raised regarding the percentage-based fee structure and budget overruns, leading to a consensus that any significant scope increase necessitating budget changes should require board review. Another major agenda item was the replacement of the 2010 Ford F250 pickup truck, necessary due to increasing difficulty in sourcing parts for snow plowing and property salting duties; the proposal included purchasing a new Chevy Silverado 2500 via the Northwest Municipal Conference cooperative contract for a total price of $62,550, factoring in a trade allowance. Finally, the replacement of the Mini Laser Cutter in the Makerplace was discussed, as the current unit experiences frequent downtime and parts availability issues; the Friends group committed to covering the purchase price of the new unit, with the library covering shipping costs.

The meeting covered two primary discussion items. The first involved the adoption of a new HR policy regarding the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, detailing the accrual basis, cost implications (estimated under $14,000 for the year), and clarification sought from the Illinois Department of Labor regarding accrual caps and carryover provisions. The second major discussion concerned a proposed amendment to the Material Selection Policy in response to a recent law banning book banning, specifically proposing to change the wording from 'upholds' to 'adopts' the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and related statements. Concerns were raised regarding the interpretation of the anti-censorship clause and funding eligibility based on material inclusion or exclusion. Separately, an update on the Maker Space initiatives was provided, highlighting progress in foundational learning support, community networking (such as the Chicago Land Maker Summit), and tracking metrics showing increased door counts and equipment checkouts, while noting that 52% of Maker Place users do not check out materials from the main library.

The Special Board Meeting addressed public comment regarding the library's operational status amid community guidelines. The primary action item involved the awarding of bids for the Maker Space Project. The recommendation included accepting the base bids plus three specific alternates: Alternate Number Two (vestibule reconfiguration with an ADA ramp and kitchen storage), Alternate Number Seven (upgrading to decorative pendant lights in the flex one space), and Alternate Number Eight (removal of roof railings for the library to supply them directly). Accepting these alternates resulted in the project being under budget, with the surplus designated as a contingency fund for unforeseen items or future improvements. The board also discussed the rationale for selecting the pendant lights, focusing on aesthetics, though illumination levels were confirmed to be equivalent or adjusted to meet standards for both lighting options.