Farnsworth Public Library
Meeting Minutes
for
January 24, 2017
1.Meeting called to order by Jim Lacourciere at 6:00 PM
2.Roll Call
Present: Kim Bronikowski, Jim Lacourciere, Kristin Laufenberg, Bobby Jo Lipp, Mary Grace Murphy,
Ron Rauscher, Debi Schroeder, Kitty Werner, Mike Werner
Excused Absence:Bonnie Wusterbarth
3. Approval of Agenda
M/S/C R. Rauscher/M. Murphy
4. Approve November 22, 2016 Board Meeting minutes and Special Board Meeting minutes from
December 7, 2016.
M/S/C B. Lipp/K. Werner
5. Director’s Report & Update
a. Bills Submitted Dated November 29, 2016, December 13, 2016, December 27, 2016, 2016
Expenses,January 10, 2017 and January 23, 2017
M/S/C R. Rauscher/ M. Murphy to approve and pay all bills submitted
b.YTD Income & Expenditures
Jim recommends the 2016 YTD documents to be treated as information.
c. Director’s Report
Kristin Laufenberg reported to the Board of Trustees, via email, as Library Director, she has
completed the following, from November 21,2016 to January 20, 2017:
November
11/21 Prepared for upcoming board meeting. Prepared and mailed billed notices.
11/22 Attended board meeting. Met with FSET volunteer coordinator and new volunteer.
11/23 Vacation day
11/28 Changed outdoor sign. Did October staff benefits reports.
11/29 Attended online meeting for NFLS website committee.
Attended conference call for repair of front steps.
11/30 Attended County Library Services Board Meeting.
Corresponded with NFLS re. live date of new website.
December 2016
12/1 Wrote and submitted December’s Farnsworth File. Trained new FSET volunteer.
12/2 Ordered items from Amazon and Baker & Taylor. Prepared for upcoming board meeting.
12/3 Filled in for Caleb.
12/5 Prepared and sent collections agency notices. Reconciled November bank statement.
12/6 Turned in last assignment for director certification classes.
Attended benefits meeting at City Hall.
12/7 Attended special board meeting. Planned January painting class with Elks Club
and Heather Rennie.
12/8 Reconciled and coded November credit card bill. Hosted candle-making class for adults.
December 2016 continued
12/9 Attended NFLS meeting in Green Bay.
12/12 Scheduled Facebook posts for rest of December. Hosted Santa Visit.
12/13 Wrote and distributed Tuesday Tabloid. Prepared for upcoming teen and New View events.
12/14 Worked on January 2017 newsletter.
Budgeted and planned purchases for remainder of calendar year.
12/15 Attended WOCO radio show. Hosted New View program.
12/16 Placed Demco order. Registered for winter and spring continuing education events.
12/19 Created January staff schedule. Hosted teen cookie decorating program.
12/20 Did November staff benefits reports. Attended Chamber of Commerce meeting.
12/21 Cataloged new audiobooks. Dealt with leaky roof issue.
12/22 Cataloged new donated fiction series. Arranged upcoming PC silent auction.
12/23 Finished and distributed January newsletter. Assisted patron with email reference question.
12/27 Completed Deposits and Accounts Payable reports. Shelved items.
12/28 Ordered new shelves for children’s area. Hosted movie showing with Mary.
12/29 Wrote and submitted Farnsworth File to the Reporter.
Arranged training, background check with new employee.
12/30 Created and distributed promotional posters for upcoming January events.
Picked up packages at the post office.
January 2017
1/2 Cleaned Library. Trained new custodian.
1/3 Watched webinar on digital habits of library users.
Helped patron with computer reference question.
1/4 Completed title paging. Worked on billed/missing items report.
1/5 Created sample project for upcoming teen event. Did December staff benefits reports.
1/6 Changed outdoor sign. Reconciled December bank statement.
1/9 Reconciled and coded December credit card bill. Shopped for upcoming canvas painting events.
1/10 Shoveled snow. Ordered books from Amazon and Baker & Taylor.
1/11 Learned about Digitize Oconto County from Kitty.
Created Facebook ads for upcoming canvas events.
1/12 Calculated 2017 accumulated vacation benefits for eligible staff.
Ordered new basket carts using grant money.
1/13 Judged History Day competition at charter school. Planned February events with Wendy.
1/16 Hosted teen program. Prepared for upcoming New View program.
1/17 Attended Chamber of Commerce meeting. Started February newsletter.
1/18 Attempted shelf assembly with Ron. Attended Kiwanis meeting.
1/19 Hosted New View program. Prepared for next week’s board meeting.
1/20 Attended AAC meeting in Appleton.
Summary of Oconto’s Circulation Statistics:
September 2016 / September 2015 / October 2016 / October 2015 / November 2016 / November 2015 / December2016 / December
2015
Circulation / 4251 / 3817 / 4579 / 4467 / 4369 / 3888 / 3912 / 3864
SAM Sessions / 441 / 554 / 449 / 578 / 322 / 377 / 312 / 390
Wireless Devices / 678 / 540 / 736 / 592 / 679 / 495 / 595 / 515
During the meeting, Kristin elaborated on her email report.
Since our last meeting in November, we had a successful schedule of programs in December and
January. We have had high attendance for children's programs in particular, with large groupsat all of
the Holiday Storytimes in December and Penguin Awareness Day and Kids & Canvas in January.
I will be starting to work on the annual report soon; it is due to NFLS by the end of February.
We received $210 from the OEC and used it to purchase two basket carts which will be available for
patrons to use throughout the Library.
I hired John Brazeau as our new custodian. Things have been working out very well and other members
of the staff have complimented his work.
I will be attending Library Legislative Day again this year. It will beon February 21st and this year NFLS
is covering registration costs and transportation to Madison and back.
I completed the last class for my Grade 2 Director Certification in December.
Jim thanked Kristin for the information.
6. Committee Reports
a. Administrative / Personnel
The Committee met on November 1, 2016 to make revisions to the employee handbook.
The document was sent to all Trustees via email for review prior to tonight’s meeting.
b. Building / Grounds
Don Nerenhausen donated $2,000 with the stipulation the mural has historical significance.
Ron mentioned a future concern will be expanding the parking lot.
. c. Finance
None at this time
8. Correspondence/Public Input
Kristin received a call regarding how memorials are recognized at the Library. This will be addressed at
the February meeting.
9. Discussion/action/recommendation on the following:
a. Recurring
i. Friends Happenings
The Friends are not meeting this winter.
The Bake Sale and Quilt Raffle went well.
Karl and Shelia Ballestad were recognized as the Best Friends of the Year to Farnsworth Public
Library.
b. Old Business
i. Approval of updated handbook
M/S/C K. Werner/M.Murphy with the provision the date on the document will be changed to
January 24, 2017.
c.New Business
i. NFLS collection development grant
M/S/C K. Bronikowski /R. Rauscher to approve the filing of the grant application for collection
development.
ii. NFLS membership agreement
M/S/C M.Werner/B.Lipp to approve the membership agreement with NFLS.
10. Adjournmenttook placeat 7:00 PM M/S/C M. Murphy/B. Lipp
Minutes respectfully submitted by secretary, Debi Schroeder
February’sBoard Meeting will be Tuesday,January28,2017 at 6:00 PM