Board of Trustees & Committees

Library Board of Trustees

The Regular Meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Vespasian Warner Public Library District for the 2024-2025 fiscal year will be 6:00 p.m., at the Vespasian Warner Public Library, 310 N Quincy St., Clinton, Illinois on the following dates:

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​August 28, 2024 - Minutes (Approved 10/9/24)

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September 11, 2024 - Meeting Cancelled

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October 9, 2024 - Minutes (Approved 11/13/24)

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November 13, 2024 - Minutes (Approved 1/8/25)

Vespasian Warner Public Library District

Clinton, IL  61727

Board of Trustees Meeting

November 13, 2024

  

President Laura Hale called the meeting of the board to order at 6:03 p.m.  Roll call was taken with the following members present:  Hale, Janelle Sams-Thomas, Matt Love, Becky Adams, Clay Held, and Camille Redman.  Absent:  Stephanie Coonce.  Also present:  Executive Director Bobbi Perryman and Youth Services Manager Melissa Snow.

 

Corrections or additions to the minutes:  The minutes from October 9, 2024, were approved by voice vote on a motion by Sams-Thomas.

 

Approval of Bills—None

 

Correspondence—None

 

Staff Reports—

• The library had to close on 10/21 due to sewage gas in the building.

• Perryman prepared new staff evaluation forms and conducted staff performance reviews.  Only one employee is left to complete.

• John Baker donated a sunset red maple for the outdoor seating area.

• Snow attended a meeting at the Homestead to prepare for Christmas decorating, and the library purchased a tree for the square again this year.

• Halloween participants at the library were fewer in number this year, probably due to the nice weather outside.  Snow is planning a table on the square next year to advertise library Halloween activities.

• Snow has prepared programming for the children’s floor four months out in preparation for her maternity leave.  The baby is due December 9.

 

Standing Committee Reports

1. Finance—Three months into the library’s fiscal year, we have had a decrease in expenses compared to those three months last year, more than $21,000 less.  However, OCLC and IHLS costs are up.  CDs are being renewed at a slightly lower rate.

2. Property—ENTEC representatives are communicating well.  The bid package for the HVAC equipment is online, and the bidding period ends December 2.  The equipment is to be purchased by the end of the year.  Improvements to the front walk to make it more accessible, including a handrail, are progressing slowly due to the difficulty in deciding on the handrail’s length and problems getting quotes.  Perryman is working on an accessibility grant.  The library is replacing the 30-year-old refrigerator in the Revere Ware Room.

3. Personnel—None

4. Policy—None

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Business Items:

1. FY 2024/25 Tax Levy is up $37,000 from last year and totals $1,099,000.  Love moved to approve that and the FY 2024/2025 Building Equipment and Maintenance Levy.  The motion passed unanimously

2. Materials Selection Policy Review is required by law every other year, and must include the ALA Freedom to Read section in order for the library to receive state tax money.  Adams made the motion to approve the policy, and it passed by voice vote.

3. Executive Director Performance Review—Sams-Thomas moved to go into closed session at 6:25, and the motion passed unanimously.  The board left closed session at 6:54.

 

Announcements—none

 

Adjournment—On a motion by Adams, the meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m.  Motion passed by voice vote.

 

The next meeting is Wednesday, November 11, 2024, at 6 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Becky Adams

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December 11, 2024 - Meeting Cancelled

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January 8, 2025 - Minutes (Approved 2/19/25)

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Vespasian Warner Public Library District

Clinton, IL  61727

Board of Trustees Meeting

January 8, 2025

 

 

President Laura Hale called the meeting of the board to order at 6:02 p.m.  Roll call was taken with the following members present:  Hale, Janelle Sams-Thomas, Matt Love, Becky Adams, Stephanie Coonce (at 6:04), and Camille Redman.  Absent: Clay Held.  Also present:  Executive Director Bobbi Perryman.

 

Corrections or additions to the minutes:  The minutes from November 13, 2024, were approved by voice vote on a motion by Sams-Thomas.

 

Approval of Bills—None

 

Correspondence—A card from Nola Hermann expressed thanks for the help and kindness of library staff members, as well as for all the library’s activities.

 

Staff Reports—

• The director noted that there was a big increase in digital services, as well as a huge increase in patron services, such as notary service.  The audit update began yesterday.  A late extension was filed, and it is now due February 25 due to the increased number of public bodies they are auditing.

• Emily Dunham conducted a new activity for adults in December, a coffee club on Fridays.  The Coffee Corner provided the coffee.

• The self-checkout machine was down in December, so self-checkout numbers were down.  Online checkouts are up since the Aspen Catalog was added.  In-person visits are up.

• After the birth of their baby, Lucas Snow will be back in a week (but plowed snow in the meantime), and Melissa Snow will be back in February.

Standing Committee Reports

1. Finance—The farm lease was renewed at the same rate with Schwartz Farms, with an annual income of $25,837.50.  CDs are up for renewal.  Treasurer Matt Love is continuing to monitor the library’s liquidity with Perryman before committing to each renewal.

2. Property—Utilities are $2,000 less than last year since the boilers were reduced to half capacity

3. Personnel—None

4. Policy—None

 

Business Items:

1. HVAC Project bid and acceptance—Dan Hawk has been to the building several times for measurements.  Revied bids will be opened Griday.  We will not be replacing the boiler to cut costs, and duplications in the bids have been eliminated.​

2. Review of Standards for Illinois Libraries.  The board reviewed and discussed state library standards.

 

Announcements—Youth Engaged in Philanthropy, a subcommittee of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, composed of high school students from DeWitt, Livingston, McLean, and Logan counties, directed that the library receive a $10,000 grant to purchased 10 science kits for young people to check out.

 

Adjournment—On a motion by Adams, the meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.  Motion passed by voice vote.

 

The next meeting is Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 6 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Becky Adams

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February 19, 2025 - Minutes Pending Approval

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March 12, 2025 

April 9, 2025 

May 14, 2025 

June 11, 2025 

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Board minutes are available for inspection at the Vespasian Warner Public Library.