Sangamon Sun

Lincoln Library Board of Trustees met June 14.

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

Board Present: Helen Cox, Vice President; Cristina Cray; Davida Fanniel; Arden Lang, President; Mary

Mucciante; Dr. Donald Ross; Marty Ryan, Secretary; Stuart Shiffman.

Board Absent: Larry Harvell.

Staff Present: Jeff Blazis, Fiscal Officer; Elizabeth Buchta, Communications Manager; Curtis Mann, Interim

Director; Jessica Paulsen, Circulation Manager; Hillary Rains, Youth Services Manager.

Public Present: None.

President Lang, Lincoln Library Board President, called the meeting to order at 4:53 p.m.

Minutes: Ms. Cox made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 2017 meeting of the Board. Mr.

Ryan seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Financial Reports: April 2017 financial reports were reviewed. There were no questions.

Director’s Report:

Vacancies – Mayor Langfelder has appointed William O’Hearn the new Director of Lincoln Library.

The appointment is expected to be confirmed by City Council on June 20, 2017. Mr. O’Hearn is

currently the Downtown Branch Supervisor of the Cedar Rapids Public Library in Iowa. (On behalf of

the Lincoln Library Board, President Lang thanked Mr. Mann for his service and leadership as Interim

Director.)

The first round of interviews for the Librarian I position in Technical Services have been completed.

The new Youth Services Director, Hillary Rains, was introduced to the Board. Her first day at Lincoln

Library was May 9, 2017.

The vacancies in Technical Services (Library Assistant I) and Reference (Librarian I) have been filled.

The new employees are expected to start in early July.

Summer Reading Program – “Read By Design,” the summer reading program for all ages, kicked off

on Saturday, June 3, 2017. The calendar of events includes a wide variety of programs for kids, teens

and adults.

Meeting Room Policy – Kim Hergett reported that the meeting room policy, which was approved by

the Library Board at on April 26, 2017, has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Corporation

Counsel without any policy revisions.

Friends of Lincoln Library – Mr. Shiffman reported the June Book Sale raised more than $8,500.

Due to the renovation, there was a shortage of donations which led to the book sale being scaled back to one

day. Plans for expanded offerings at the January sale are being discussed.

Unfinished Business:

Circulation Policy – Jessica Paulsen, Circulation Manager, reported that the Office of Corporation

Counsel has approved the proposed Circulation Policy without any revisions.

Changes include:

• Lowering card eligibility to age 16

• Elimination of fines on juvenile and young adult items

• Student E-Cards for all Springfield School District 186 students (The intergovernmental

agreement has been approved by the Springfield School District 186 Board and the Springfield

City Council.)

• Relaxation of some card regulations -- Acceptance of only a photo-ID with current address when

applying for a library card. Issuance of a 6-month temporary resident card to anyone with a

photo ID and proof of address within the corporate limits of Springfield. Card renewal by phone

for residents and free replacement for lost cards.

It was noted that there has been no response from Corporation Counsel regarding the customer letter

requesting the Circulation policy be changed to allow the issuing of a two-year card for non-resident

property owners. Library staff does not recommend the change be adopted, as the current policy offering

a one-year card is based on Illinois State Law.

Ms. Cox made a motion to approve the Circulation Policy. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion. The motion

carried.

New Business:

Non-Resident Agreement – Mr. Shiffman made a motion to continue offering non-resident cards. Ms/

Cray seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Non-Resident Fee – Using a mathematical formula recommended by the Illinois State Library, the oneyear

non-resident card fee will be $70, which is a $10 decrease from the current fee. The formula divides

library income from tax sources (including Corporate Replacement Tax funds) and divides the amount

by the local population to determine the cost of service per capita. Mr. Shiffman made a motion to

follow the formula and set the non-resident card fee at $70. Mr. Ryan seconded the motion and the

motion carried. The new fee will go into effect on July 1, 2017.

Annexation: A June 5, 2017, article from the State Journal-Register regarding the City of Springfield’s

property annexation and subsequent lawsuit from the Chatham Public Library Board was distributed for the

Lincoln Library Board’s information.

Executive Session: None.

Public Forum: None.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 5:13 p.m.

http://www.lincolnlibrary.info/aboutUs/BoardMinutes/boardMinutes2017/June2017Minutes.pdf