Library Board Meeting Update (05/19/2025)

 

Submitted by Nikki Watkins

Library Board Meeting Update (05/19/2025)
Monday evening, the Library Board met at the Cumming Library. Highlighted agenda items include:

Announcements

Board member Lisa Stortzum (Vice-Chair) has been reappointed to the board for her second term effective July 1, 2025.

Adrianne Junius has been appointed to the Board of Regents, Regents Public Library Advisory Committee (RPLAC) for a 3-year term. She will represent single urban county library systems.

 Activities Report

Programming Manager Sarah Brubaker presented the March and April Public Services activities report. Sarah highlighted the following activities:

 Spring Break Programming 

·         March 31–April 4

·         43 total kids’ programs

·         3526 total kids’ program attendance, including 1280 at Touch-a-Truck

 CSA Training Day

·         March 28 at the Denmark Library

·         45 CSAs

·         Topics: 

o    Mentorship to pair CSAs with IS & YS staff to learn about those positions (8-week program)

o    Patron Behavior Policy

o    DE & Bookmobile tours

o    Patron interactions gone wrong

o    Puppetry in support of YS programs

    Volunteer Appreciation

·         Honoring 37 volunteers across 5 locations, including pre-opening DE volunteers (3 stayed as volunteers and one became a CSA)

·         Two 5-year service awards and two 10-year service awards

·         Bruce at CU is still our record-holder with 34 years

  Programs at Denmark

·         Doors opened: Thursday, March 27

·         First program: Monday, March 31 (Robotics in the Wild)

o    65 in-person programs 

o    2045 attendees - 3rd place

·         In that same time frame, 

o    CU had 83 programs with 2780 attendees

o    HP had 59 programs with 1486 attendees

o    PR had 68 programs with 3000 attendees

o    SF had 57 programs with 1664 attendees

 Summer Reading

Pre-Registrations:

1.     Elementary (1010)

2.     Adult (399)

3.     Preschool (271)

4.     Middle School (207)

5.     High School (111)

6.     Staff (37)

 

Branch outreach visits - 97 shows, 21 schools 

·         CU - 16 shows at 7 schools
·         DE - 21 shows at 4 schools
·         HP - 23 shows at 2 schools
·         PR - 16 shows at 4 schools
·         SF - 21 shows at 4 schools

 

Summer Magazines
First-ever professionally printed magazine

·         24 pages

·         9,000 copies printed

 

 Library Board Fiscal Year 2026 Schedule of Meetings

The FY26 Library Board Meeting Schedule has been approved and posted at all locations. The next board meeting is scheduled Monday, July 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library.

 Privacy Policy

The board voted unanimously to change our Privacy Practices to a formal Privacy Policy effective May 26, 2025. The new policy now includes more detailed information regarding the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The new sections of the policy are notices and newsletters alerts that we will send to patrons and information on how to unsubscribe. The alerts will also encourage patrons to check for updates. Also included is a data retention section that gives information on how the library collects data for time periods specified in Georgia Archives Records Retention schedules.

 Signature Authority of Library Director on behalf of the Library for FY2026

The Board voted unanimously to give signature authority for all contracts and other documents to Adrianne Junius, who holds the position of Director.

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Adjustments

The Board voted unanimously to increase State revenue and Materials expenses by $28,607.00 to reflect new state grant information received from Georgia Public Library Service.

The Board voted unanimously to decrease Federal revenue by $5,057.20 and Operations expenses by $10,306.15; and increase Materials expenses by $5,248.95 to reflect the changes to the Digital Connectivity Grant.

 Commitment of Fund Balance

The Board voted unanimously to commit $63,500 in fund balance for the local matching portion of the state’s MRR grant for FY2026.

Transfer from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund

The Board voted unanimously to return the $100,000.00 advance made to the Capitals Projects fund on November 15, 2021, back to the General fund and reduce Automation expenses by $100,000.00. 

 

General Discussion

Adrianne Junius provided an update that Zoo Atlanta will no longer provide zoo passes. Also, IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) funding has been approved through September 2026.