Either way, >> you are live. >> Fantastic. It is 5:03 p.m. and I would like to call to order the May 28th board of trustees meeting for
the Gram Public Library. I'm Sarah McManus, trustee. Get to introduce yourself. >> I'm Shane Steel, city sustainability coordinator. >> Sue Mloone, trustee. >> Dave Mills, county commissioner. and Olivier trustee
>> Electra Branwin Library Director something. I was just gonna point out where you're at. >> Oh, thanks. >> All right. I've been thinking it was June all day. So, >> me too. Feels like >> shocked to discover it's May and then
the notes said March and I was really It threw me, not going to lie. Don't blink cuz June is >> Yes, that's how it goes, huh? All right. Um, for the consent agenda tonight, we have the approval of our agenda, the bills, and the minutes from last month's
meeting. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> And Sue, the motion second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes unanimously.
And that brings us to our first item of new business. Shane is here to talk with us about the boiler replacement. >> Thank you for the memo to get us started with some background. >> Yeah, it's nice that we're here in the building because we don't have to talk
about it conceptually. We can point to it and not that we will, but we could get up and look at it. Um, yeah. So, you have two boilers in the room back there that feed the in floor underneath our feet in the front of the building and
the radiators along the north wall there. They're propane boilers, the propane tanks outside. Um, we had a heating assessment done in 2022. The boilers were flagged for being
a concern. They're not like ready to fail, but they're now in the window of we should consider replacing these boilers. So, Electra approached me about what are the options and I looked into it.
There's not a lot of really interesting technology that's come out for boilers, how to heat water, but you got different fuel sources, propane and electric. Um they're about the same cost to install. They would
>> Oh, that's interesting. >> They would both Yeah. Well, we didn't get actual quotes. >> Yeah. Being in the ballpark is >> from Jamar who does the buildings for the city, kind of does building operations stuff. They gave us this range of 22 to $26,000
and said, you know, if you go either or, you're going to pay about that much. So, if you're thinking about budgeting for new boilers, uh, that's what you can expect to spend. They would both plug into the existing hydronulic system, which in that heating assessment was in
fine shape, doesn't need to be replaced. Um, you know, the thing that has changed since that heating assessment is the heat pumps that were installed. So you've got a trizone system over there with three wall units in the back. And
then these three, yeah, three here. And then there's another system. Well, maybe. Yeah, there are nine of these on the wall in the library. and they do a great job of heating definitely in the shoulder seasons and
they can dehumidify, but the library does need the boiler to back up those heating systems. And there are a couple of electric um like wall uh ceiling things near the doorways to >> Oh, >> to heat the door. Yeah.
>> I don't know if they're on and operational all the time, but >> they exist. Um, and then, yeah, there's an air handling system that circulates air because your boiler doesn't circulate any air. And now the heat pumps will circulate air. Um, but yeah,
as far as like are there heat pump boilers, I think there are. They're not there yet. So, when we're talking about replacing a boiler, we're talking about replacing with just a propane version or an electric version. If you switch to electric, you get a rebate from the
utility. You can eliminate your propane tank. You can buy your fuel from the public utility and and you know you you have a more efficient fuel source. It is just looking at bills from the last
three years. It is projected to be more expensive to operate but you know that's with propane prices as they have been for three years. One thing that we can say about electric prices is that they're much more consistent, especially our electric
prices because they're set once a year at the public utility commission and they they go up every year about the cost of everything just incrementally a few cents, a few fractions of a cent I should say. propane.
We're kind of at the whim of the world, which right now fossil fuels prices are going up. So, propane costs will go up. Um maybe that will go down again, but it's not in our control.
So, yeah, I guess Electra invited me to just yeah, give you those two options, right? and to just maybe answer any questions you have about the process or what to think about as you go forward. Yeah. >> Would you also speak to the trustees
about the stability of electric in the city or how the other buildings are performing? >> Yeah. So, city hall is now all electric building. It's got geothermal um heat and >> time to add.
>> Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah, there's like just right there 12 under the parking lot that are pulling some some heat. Not heat as we would think of it, but like pulling, you know, >> um very stable >> non freezing
>> non-freezing non-freezing air um temperature from from below. But yeah, it's an all-electric building and we're not concerned about, you know, blackouts or anything like that because even if we do have an issue on the
transmission line that feeds town, we have a a diesel generating unit that we can turn on and power all of town, including, you know, the entirety of town just can be run on that diesel unit. And so if there is an outage, it's brief um and gets turned on. Anyone who
lives in town kind of knows that, you know, the outages are few and far between on our system. >> Is the expected lifespan of the propane versus the electric boiler similar? >> That's a good question. I didn't even look into it. >> Okay. But I can I would expect that the
electric would have a longer lifespan because there's just less there's just less parts in there. >> You just have resistance heat or you just have heat that you're just heating water. Um the propane the the things that were failing in the propane
>> tank or the propane boilers were you know the fixtures and the things that that move the propane around. >> What is the lifespan? The lifespan of th those boilers was 15 years 15 to 20 you know that we're now
in the 15th or 16th year and the replacement it's like replace them before 20 years. >> Our uh our our the congregational church has electric boilers. That's our main and then we have a fuel oil backup. Um
and that's and it's on it's about 15 years now. Um and we had to replace a couple of the computer motherboards. >> Sure. >> Uh but it seemed that seemed to us fix the problem or fix our issue. So yeah.
Um so for us it was it's been a good thing for the church and a lot more a lot more boilers you can imagine or a lot more uh heat
has to be generated and and all that and as to so >> but yeah it's it's been it's been fairly it's been consistent. Could we just do like one electric replace one of the boilers just with electric so we can stagger them?
>> Interesting thought. I don't know. I don't know if there would be a reason to do that or not. Like are you any any reason? >> Um well just um if we replace both of them at the same time. My understanding
was we don't need we rarely need both of them. It's just that you want that redundancy. >> Yeah. >> And so if we replace one in electric, I think I I think as well as is more
reliable, then that would be maybe hopefully our primary is how we could like rig it >> and then have the propane and then with, you know, keep in mind we want to replace it, but maybe just not now. Maybe like in a third of the span of its of the
electric's life or something. I don't know. I mean I don't know the total state right like because you said 10 to 15 so maybe in five years right >> yeah replace one >> now >> now and one in a few years >> in like five years
>> yeah I wonder I >> there's probably efficiencies in just doing it >> yeah probably there are >> than having them come twice and do two projects >> but can certainly look into that Jamar
>> they're they looked at our propane deliveries to this building and they looked at our electric usage and they gave us like a okay you'll need you'll need about this big and about this this cost but we can we can hit them back with questions. >> Mhm.
Yeah. I'm just Yeah, I feel like we kind of went through this not too long ago with different maybe as in 2022 with the heating assessment all that but it's hard to keep track. Uh so it'd be helpful just to understand
the specifics of the system like if that is indeed the case that the it's a redundant thing and we don't usually need both of them unless it's wicked cold or something then >> or maybe because maybe I'm just making that up >> and I might be making this up but I think it is it is redundant but that
they run they both there's not one that's like worn out and one's brand new because we never use it. It's like they'll just they'll alternate >> Yeah. >> which one's running. Yeah, >> because you don't you don't have that much to heat out here. It's just the infl, you know, so it's one could do the
job, but redundancy because if you if that one goes out, then you don't have enough heat for the whole building. >> Wait, what? >> If if one goes out and you don't have the redundant second one, then you don't have >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They struggle to keep keep up.
That's Yeah. Like if one of them one of them they both are always operating from the face of them they're telling me they're always both operating. >> If one goes into error code and the other one is functioning our building before the heat pumps couldn't keep
temperature. >> I don't know if that tells you how they work but that's what I experience. >> So maybe it's not redundant so much but or or maybe that's why I was like one almost does it right. But >> you did say one is one targeted towards
the four and one targeted to the radiators or is it >> they're both for the whole system. >> Right. >> I think that's all this working off of memory. >> You've got a lot of memory. Got a lot of history.
>> I have a lot of memories like the corners of Yeah. Yeah, I like the idea of seeing if we can stagger it. But um again, like maybe that's not a >> maybe that's not even if it's like a two
different project five years apart. Like I still think I don't know. Maybe we should just trust Jim. >> Maybe >> I that was one of the questions was about the air source air to water heat pumps and yeah, >> I get it. It's not um
>> it's not there quite yet. No. Oh. Oh. Oh. >> I think it would. We didn't even get a like, you know, I asked them what are our options and it's pretty much a selective boiler, propane boiler, cuz those those things are more expensive significantly.
>> Yeah, >> we we did uh we were looking at replacing our fuel oil. Um and so we asked we we did talk to uh someone from the uh her name was Nancy.
She just retired. >> Yeah. >> And Simple. Yeah, it would be very simp. >> Yeah. And she said she 3 years ago she said heat pumps for boilers are just one year away. >> And then we talked to her the next year they're one year away. And then she
retired. So >> didn't quite do the super cold temps yet. >> Yeah. You know, one thing that when we were putting in the the heat pumps is the contractor did look at the air handling system and said, you know, we could do
just a heat pump into that >> and and so then you'd have a heat pump into the duct work, >> it would be expensive. Um, not proposing that you do that, >> but just like if you >> that's also there
>> maybe for the future or >> maybe for never. But um, >> it was talked about as like if you're adding heat to the building, you could add a heat pump here and then you're pushing around you're adding heat by pushing around the warm air
>> because that's an air exchanger, right? >> Yeah. I think it just moves air around the building. So then we wouldn't need either of the boilers at all then. >> I don't know. I think you still need the boilers. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think you're right. Just because again they don't quite do it in cold the cold. Um >> be interesting to know uh what how what um ratio the the propane is. Do
we know that how much less propane is being used since we put the heat pump in the the air pumps in? You know, I mean, is it at 30% less over the winter? Is it 50,000%? >> Yeah, we have a couple years of data
now. So, we might I think the last time I looked at it, I only had one year of data and it just wasn't enough to to draw a trend line. It's so hard to compare winter data to >> Yeah. Yeah. It's true. >> But that would be interesting to see. >> I mean,
>> yeah, at this >> average whatever data we have. >> Mhm. I mean if it is I mean if it is like if it's only 30% of what it was 3 years ago >> you know to throw out a number would it
you know would it be would it be feasible then to keep the propane cuz then we always have the backup even though it might be a little more expensive but if it's but if the the amount of propane we're using is reduced significantly I mean I I I prefer
electric for Mhm. >> Um but I'm just you know >> well it would be heat is heat like it would be that much less electric heat be >> required or >> or what maybe I'm not understand >> well I'm just saying then we'd have propane back up in case of an outage.
>> Yeah I was kind of wondering about that too but then I I should trust in the genetator. >> I think so I think you should trust the the s the distribution system and the generator. you know, you're not on a overhead line here with lots of trees
that could take you out. You're underground fed. You're right in the middle of town. You're not on you're not >> further a field um on on the end of a line. And yeah, the a a reason if you were looking for like well why electric
is that yeah we we have it's not a local source because you know it's coming from far away but it's you're buying from the utility company. You're you're also Yeah. public utility. Yeah. And you're also um you're kind of in in line with
the city's goals of electrification and reducing the use of fossil fuels. So if that's a goal, like it meets it uh it meets it for sure to be an all-electric building and and not on >> but yeah, propane um
>> you know, it is cheaper than electric currently >> currently. But yeah, if you look at a graph, it's they're all over the place. >> Well, this wouldn't be a choice out of the bounds of the city because then you'd have to have two like we have to have to
>> but >> having this wonderful ability to just >> flick on the generator and have the city be okay. I think it makes the electric >> a really good option. Mhm.
>> So, uh, two questions then, uh, to move it forward is do we as a trustee, uh, trustees to go forward with this or is this a
is this a city decision? And then also is this since this is under maintenance and all that kind of stuff and uh replacement is this money coming from the city or is it coming from our capital reserves? I would believe it would come from the
city but let's throw it out there. >> Well, I think we used the um library money for the heat pump or for the mini splits. >> Um >> okay. Oh, yeah. That's right. We did >> and um
>> our insurance you know is paid through the libraryies fund. So I think it's all right. It's all library >> I think >> dollars. Yeah >> probably be on the library. >> I believe that would be your funds >> and whether it's 211 reserve or 215 reserve is an option you get to make.
If we were in a position of needing help, then I think it would be a conversation with city council and with budget or levying and all of that. >> I think it's something we should certainly think about tonight as we look
at the budget. >> Yes. >> Yeah. But we don't have a Oh, we do. 26 22 to 26, right? for each or total. >> Oh, a range of prices,000 to 20,000. >> I was thinking years at first.
>> Pretty sure that was total. >> Yeah, I think you're right. >> But I'll dig that >> up real quick. >> It's got to be. Yeah. >> Um Yeah. And I I guess the reason that the number is >> okay
>> is more of a range than I would typically give you for a decision like this is because yeah the the project was posed to me as like we're just we're budget we're thinking about budgeting and so about how much do we need for this project.
>> Mhm. Of course, you know, when it comes time to really, okay, let's let's get some real numbers, we'll get quotes from multiple contractors and get everything locked down like that. >> Yeah,
maybe we should get quotes for doing it in two parts because maybe we can afford that better. Or maybe, as you pointed out, maybe it'd be more expensive. And maybe we should investigate whether if we do it in two
parts, we should keep the propane a few more years as >> might as well look at all the possibilities. Mhm. Um yeah, one of the thoughts I was just having is uh
like um if we do one electric, they're going to have to put in like a new service line or something, I'd assume, just because it's a higher a higher amperage need. >> Yeah, you're probably a three-phase customer already, but >> Oh. Oh,
>> I don't know if you are actually. >> That'd be something. >> It's a big build. >> Well, I was thinking like even if we just did one, we would still need that service. But if we did one, we could do the service for two. Planning for doing
that eventually. But yeah, maybe it is a better fit for the budget if we just one. >> Yeah, >> we could use the numbers just to see what we're working with. And it is 22 to 26,000 for the for the project. And that was an installed cost. So that's not
just boilers. It's functioning boilers. >> Uh does the does the city have um what do they call it? Just like a contract with Jamar. Just like a maintenance contract. >> I think so. Yeah. Okay.
>> They're up here regularly working on the city's buildings. So, uh, from my perspective, uh, in this building, I know that other buildings are being serviced by Jamar and Lenny
and I pursued what it would look like to have a contract service for our building and it was quite high for a building that doesn't >> Okay. >> contract >> in place already. >> Okay. >> Um, and I can bring that forward, but it's not a shared thing. Sure.
>> Any contract that the city has with >> Oh, gotcha. >> is not shared to our department. >> I see. >> Yeah. I'm just curious. I I just trying to think of when we get new equipment if there's like a service
agreement or something that >> Okay. >> Is the Sorry, go ahead. >> I was just gonna say we're more informed now. >> Yes. Is the 22 to 26,000 one boiler or two? >> It's both. >> Both. Okay. >> Yeah. The 26 was >> thinking it suddenly occurred to me to
clarify. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The 26 was the the turnkey amount. So like you get a you get a working boiler with that for that much. Both both you know you get a replacement of >> the current system. Yeah. Your current
system. >> Perfect. Thank you. All right. Any other questions for Shane? >> So, next up, they're just getting a formal quote. Is that right? >> Well, I'll follow up on some of those questions and
>> get back to Electra and and then Yeah, I guess >> I I we could get some quotes. Um >> I would be more interested in the timeline >> Yeah. >> of it. Like is it something that you want to accomplish before the next heating season then we go immediately or
is it something you want to accomplish after the next heating season like one more season with these boilers >> then we have more time. >> Okay, that's helpful. >> It feels tight though to have it done this year before heating season. So you're going to want to turn the boilers
on in probably October. >> Yeah, that seems fast because we're now almost to June as we've discussed. Don't tell. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, doesn't seem like an emergency.
>> Yeah. >> There have been issues, but they've been fixed. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Thanks, >> Shane. Very nice. Oh,
well last year when we did the library trustees uh library performance assessment which is basically an annual review from the perspective of library service provision. um team development, team building,
staff retention was of significant interest to trustees and also for the administrator and for me. And so part of the work that I've done on that, if I can get on the right page, is looking into
um professional support options. So just where we're standing right now, um I am so for for what I believe that we need is an ongoing program um for being able to
speak with staff incoming about um what a what a forming functioning team looks like, does is how it behaves and normalizing onboarding new members as well and just
trying to help us understand where is our team at right now in a progression of development. Um just having some foundational information about what that what a team is I think would be very helpful for us.
So um also we want to have some activities where staff are learning about one another, what our strengths are and helping us grow together. And so I've explored professional support options to strengthen our capacity for team
development and um proposals are coming in consistently in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. And they often are including two core components. One of them is on-site development for all staff as well as coaching support to strengthen my
capacity and build and sustain effective teams. Um I want to approach this strategically and responsibly that we want to make investment here um but also build a
budget that can sustain or support this type of work. And I believe that I have um some ideas and proposals with consultants that I could implement something this year in about the $5,000 range. And we have room in our budget to
do that. Then we could look ahead with our budget proposal for 2027 and build in the next phase of that work for that year and potentially for the year after as well. We'll just keep
looking ahead. so that this becomes a muscle that we're building and um tools that we're um working on together and then becomes something that stays with the library. The skill set would be with the library and can continue into the future. Um and I do feel that some
professional support layer is needed to build that foundation. So did I have anything else on there? Do you have any questions for me? >> Uh the $10 to $15,000 range. Is that more
of a one-time thing? Like I mean probably over several months, but a one-time thing and then the 5,000 would be the ongoing. Is that how I'm understanding this or >> Okay. So, you're asking what does a package look like?
>> What is what is something like this? I mean, if you're putting $5,000 in in for a budget, but it's 10 to 15,000, you know, is that going to be extra uh, you know, um, coming from the 2011 2015 and
then the 5,000 will continue what has been started. So, when we talk about a proposal being in the $10,000 to $15,000 range, what we're looking at is often six months of one-on-one coaching between
the consultant and the director um to help build context, build language and skill, and then um just helping me navigate the situation that I'm in accordingly so that I can develop that
muscle and and and use it. Um, it also then has often an uh an all day workshop that could be something like the consultant comes on site and we do strengths finder together. Every individual gets to know what their
strengths are. Then together as a team, we get to find out what that means now that we have those strengths at the table. And like if we were looking for new team members, what would strengthen us? um what skill set would we want to diversify our group knowing that we have
a lack of a certain type of skill set. What does that mean in terms of how we work together? Um one of the so that that would be an all day thing and it's like who are you and what's your world? Who are we and what's our world and what does that mean
for us going forward? Um, so then there would be a component where the team talks about now that we've received this information, what goals or next steps do we want to set for ourselves and work together in this context. Um, sometimes the 10 to uh 10 to $15,000
range thing also is including a consultant may want to do a stakeholder assessment where they speak with every person on the team and get a sense of where everybody's at. Um, and it could be like a team agreement phase where
they come and want everybody to talk about like what what are we all working toward together? What are the non-negotiables that are present for our team? So, it could have components like this. Um and then sometimes there is also a followup
with um you know a month has pass two two or three months have passed staff has been using and digesting and working with the system here's a one-hour virtual or on-site discussion how's it going and how can we move forward
um so what I'm what I'm looking at is choosing a path that allows us to do a first pass, which would be um like this $5,000 would be six months of coaching for me, plus an onsite staff
component where everybody's engaged. Um for me, again, I really think that laying a foundation together is going to be really helpful. And um yeah, again just coming back to normalizing what a team is and how it
develops over time and then using that as a foundation for the group to talk about where we would like to be growing in terms of like what uh to better determine which uh types of development
would be most successful and desirable for the whole group in future phases. There are many options. >> It sounds useful. It sounds good. >> How do you evaluate?
Are there reviews of programs like this? How do you evaluate and choose a good one? I as a veteran of Minneapolis public schools, having sat through some really bad ones. >> Yeah. um how how do you how are you going to
decide based you I mean you can't just pick the cheapest so what's the evaluation criteria when you're judging all these um programs >> and are you asking me about which consultant I'm choosing
>> right right how do you decide then and and what kind of contract do you sign that's you get into this and oh this is not good at How do you how do you judge this?
>> So, I'm working on I'm working with referrals to start with. Um, for example, I'm aware and in contact with the county administrator on some of the services they've been providing and using at the county and got a referral from them from
one of the consultants. I've been very happy with um one of the ways that I'm assessing um selection would be when I'm speaking to this person, do I feel that they understand what I'm telling them is our greatest opportunity and desire to
get out of the program? Um another agency that I spoke to, Library Strategies, is specifically geared towards libraries and they are uh I'm still trying to convey this properly. I think they're
part of or division of the St. Paul public library system or their f you know their um foundation and then they have several consultants that they are consistently working with for libraries specifically.
Um >> you have sources of good advice here. you just have people who can give you some references and >> arrowhead library system working with them and who's been successful a successful match for them. Um I started
this process with a staff survey to try to figure out like what does it mean for you to be a team? What does it look like when you're feeling supported? What does it look like when you feel like the support or the team isn't coming together in quite the right way?
and then just uh looking at what that picture is for us and then like I said conveying to the consultants what I what I think is of interest and importance in moving forward and then also I've been wanting um consultants who are willing
to work with us budgetarily >> I think that total number of 10 to 15,000 seems very reasonable for a project like this, >> especially when you've got it extended over a period of time like that. >> Yeah, I was concerned at first, but
yeah. >> Yeah, >> that's I think it's a great approach and >> well worth the dollars um for development and team building for sure. >> Yeah. Well, one thing I was going to caution
is just um in the strengthfinder thing, which I love, >> um is just like um I would caution hiring based on it, right? Like I don't know if you even can, but it's just from my experience,
it's just really better understanding how people because just what they're what they're made of and where they might best fit. Um, and yeah, so just understanding how they work a little bit more helps, I think,
bring team cohesion. >> I'm really excited to say that we're exploring some things at the uh city level as well. >> Nice. um disk assessment is one pathway that we're looking at there and to see >> um because one of the first things I did
was I brought this from my boss but it's to my boss as well how I'm going to execute this or implement this in the library department and just thinking how beneficial it would be if the city did a unified project where everyone is learning how to develop
teams and then those teams are able to have some sort of on on-site development opportunity that um gets us all speaking a shared language and also engages cross departmental cross departmentally across
departments um is something that I keep um advocating for and the but the proposals and how they would work with the multiple departments they uh deviate from team building and look
more toward leadership. So the the pathways are going two different directions and that's okay. >> Mhm. >> What you need from us? >> Um just letting you know. >> Oh, okay. >> That sounds awesome. Thank you.
>> Great. >> All right. And then the budget proposal. Nice segue to budget discussion. >> Does anybody need a copy of the budget? >> Yes, paper would be great for this. Thank you.
>> I don't have it here. I think I don't have it here. Good. >> It's okay. I've got it here. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> All right. So, we're going to think of these today as drafts and as discussions, proposals.
Um, because this year we're going to take a look at two different pathways forward. Um, this is an initial projection for 2027 uh, library budget discussion. Because we must submit this budget to the county by August 15th
ahead of the levy adoption, we need to make sure that something gets to city council for their chance to have approval um, by July. So, if possible, we'll approve a budget at the June meeting.
We're assuming a 10% increase in health insurance and a 3% cost of living adjustment for staff. >> Do we know is that set to 3%. >> 3% is sta is set. >> Okay. >> Yep. And insurance we won't know till
fall. >> Yeah. Then um for service agreements uh landscaping and website administration support are increasing the line a bit. So the board had discussed interest in
exploring long-term capital planning and I want to provide two pathways forward for our budget. One of them is that we start having a budget that is aligned a capital aligned model I guess you could to call it. So when Kim came and visited
us, we talked to her about how would we do capital improvement planning? Would we have all of our assets assessed? How how would we make that happen? and she recommended at that time that instead of having all of your assets
assessed, you could use the depreciation schedule to project a dollar amount that you would want to have built into the budget in built into the budget each year. And
the depreciation amount is just about $47,500. And so the idea is that every year our budget presented would include this line >> with about this much money in it. Um, and our budget would grow every year by
that amount. >> So is this depreciate amount for like the everything? >> It's everything that's on the schedule. like the heat pumps or the boilers. >> The heat I know that the air source heat
pumps are on there. >> I meant I meant the boilers. I mean what this >> we probably need to see a depreciation >> would is this going to cover our boiler cost. Is that Yeah. Yeah. That's what the So, what this would cover
is our building is aging and we don't know what its needs will be. We already are aware that the boilers are in need of replacement and we're aware that the rotunda and stonework could use some
attention because we don't know. we're going to start putting money away and it's this amount every year based on the depreciation schedule. So this would this would be our new budget. Every year we would have that
amount in it. If we did this and we kept uh what are we keeping here? No. If we did that, we would have a budget that's 13.2% 2% increase this year
>> and then it' be built in >> and then it would be built in. And um also I just want to share that last year we underspent our budget by $95,000 mostly due to staffing transition
and that those dollars can be used for smoothing the levy. >> Say that number again. Sorry. Last year the budget was underspent by $95,000. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
>> That's uh like the quarter huge for >> smoothing things over. Pathway two is service continuation model. It means I'm giving you the
staffing levels and the programming levels that we had this year with some adjustments that we can talk about. Um so I just took whatever we had last year and moved it over and then made some adjustments. For example,
um we've been talking about onethird of our circulation is digital content. 40% of our audiobook collection was not checked out in multiple years.
And so we can see a trend that we're starting to move more along in line uh in line with national trends toward digital content circulation. And I explored Hoopla and they believed that
we could launch a collection. They recommended that we start with um $2,000. And so I'm I'm saying three. Um, but so the way that they work, let's just talk about Hoopla. Let's just go on a little side journey for just a sec.
Hoopla is a streaming service. It does videos, audiobooks, ebooks, uh, some I think it's like a graphic novel or comic book thing. It also does music. And so that's what they offer through their platform.
Um, they have new two models here. one is current popular highinterest titles and it's one user at a time so you wait in line but they also have a collection a significant collection of materials
that are um available infinitely everybody can check them all at the same time and there's no waiting titles maybe not the brand new item but they're always available for you And
I so if we already have Libby available to supplement, we could also introduce Hoopla to our community and just see what the appetite is for that. And um they recommended that we start so you
don't the I'm trying to think if there's zero contract. I think there is. Um, you can turn it on, turn it off, whenever you want to, and you kind of debit. You put your
$2,000 in there. They would set it up based on the number of people that are our users. And then they would say, "Okay, given um your community size and what we have
typically seen with libraries of this size, we recommend that we let every person check out up to six items per month." And if you had $2,000, that should get you through your first year and you'd have a better look at
what you're dealing with. because it's on demand purchasing. Um, it's a little bit of a guess. I talked to another public library, Ho Lakes, in the region, and they are so excited about their Hoopla, and they
have a budget of about $4,500 that they invest in each year, and their users are so excited about it and continue to use it. They said, "We started off small. It took a while for people to catch on and like it, but once
they did, they really did. They're really happy with it. And they no longer have I'm not proposing this. I'm not proposing this. >> They no longer have audiobooks. The direction that their community was ready for was to move completely to um streamed platforms.
That's not the case for our community. But I do think there's argument for seeing what we could do with a streaming service. Um, I'm still doing research. I just was
at a director's meeting and I've heard that some libraries are cancelling, larger library systems are cancelling their subscription and work with Hoopla because the growth is exponential, which is what's happening with Libby. The growth is so big that they just can't do
the service justice. So smaller library, Hoy likes really successful, relatively stable buzz budget, manageable by increasing or decreasing the um number of checkouts per patron once the trend is set. And other larger libraries
not the best match because to order the stable service, the the budget had to keep growing so much. So, when we're talking about what what direction we might set our service levels at for next year, um I'm
proposing giving that a try for our community and just seeing how it performs. And I think that $3,000 is healthy. It's a healthy uh um estimate. >> So, question, but you you only have it in this version,
not in the other version of the budget. >> That's right. Now you guys can pick and it's you can pick and choose and move it and say this is really important to us and if we're going to do it let's do it. But I also wanted it to be visible what that
capital improvement amount would do to your budget >> for the year. Okay. And then um above that, the staff travel and development. You can see that
that is increased by $5,000 and that's to do our plan for team building development. And um oh, what else is it? I think that's the key. Those are the key factors here. I'm
bringing the programming down based on what we're experiencing this year. Number one, capacity. Number two, um, how much of our programming this year didn't need didn't need a budget? So,
>> yeah. Um, sorry, I'm just mo I'm I'm rambling a little bit. >> You year to date is that like >> year to date >> 2026 year to date is that through um >> that is through March. >> March. Okay. Thank you. >> Sorry, I I had a 25% I'm Oh, yeah. Here
it is. Yeah. March. >> Okay. >> Um on health insurance. >> Mhm. >> You raised it by 17 cents. >> Oh yeah, health insurance
appears to be only rates by 17 cents and you said it was a 10% >> Mhm. increase. >> That's a 17%. Just kidding. >> Someone misheard.
>> I'll take a look at that. I'm I'm actually wondering if I'm wondering if the 2026 number, which is taken from these these reports, >> it just got flipped over there. this thing that you get in your packet.
I I'm wondering if the 2026 number is not correct. I don't think it's what I had for our budget last year, but at any rate, I will look into that. >> Yeah, it'd be hard to believe it went from 28 or 35 was our previous max to 50, but maybe
would that have >> Yeah. I mean% that if it if it hasn't been increased, then that's going to push the >> Yeah. both of those numbers up. >> Oh, I think I remember this now. Um, we budgeted for a crazy increase, like a
30% increase, and then it didn't happen. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah. So, then we'll need that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, it's a quarter is at seven grand about. So, >> 28 grand. >> So, that's the budget, but
um an increase in budget is still covered. that versus the actual >> Okay. I I >> I hear what you're saying. Yeah. >> But yeah, that's just make sure those
Yeah. So we don't show up to the city and they're like, "Well, you forgot the health insurance and that's another 5%." >> Um >> so we'll need the actual of 2026, which we'll know, and then we'll add 10% to that. So it's like 28 grand plus so
almost like 30 31 grand I think. >> Is that right? >> And if and if we can drop 20 10 20 off of that then it's >> budget become increase becomes less. >> Yeah. >> Going to make the whole thing look better.
>> What was that? >> It's 2025 actual the grade out things low because we had staff turnover. didn't have to pay as that much because there >> right yeah >> so we'll want to check that against
>> a full year real >> yeah keep >> overwork in the staff otherwise our health insurance will be used >> um what else >> um We don't have to do anything with medical leave or family leave. That's
not in the budget. >> It's just not different. What do we don't have to do? >> Oh, it's not in the budget at all. Mine's nine and 10. >> I'm wondering if it's because you kind of have to see what they do.
>> Uh, ask him about that, too. Yeah, there's a certain Yeah, there gets to be a line here probably 14. 1 through 14 is very much out of our hands, right? >> Right. >> So, >> yeah.
>> Um, okay. Um, >> oh, also I just wanted to share that uh the county has been having constant discussions about um budgeting
and um just potential changes and um uh I mean we have a joint powers agreement. the county has a joint powers agreement with the city. So, it's, >> you know, a contract. Um, and uh it and it's also considered like
a non-mandated service like by state law, you know, whatever. It's not it's not one of our mandated service that we must provide. And so through the different assessments,
um there's a a desire to kind of discern between non-mandate non-mandated and mandated. Another example of a non-mandated be the airport. Like we don't have to have the airport, but it's pretty important to stand at the library, right? So just be
aware of that's kind of the language that's being used. Um, and then there's talk of like an like an application process for the budget uh to to present to the county board. And that the intention of that is for county board
members to have more um numbers and data on just what is included in the budget, even though we can just look through all the budgets anyways. So hopefully it won't be too ownorous. I'm not sure that it's going to be going to the library and like the
airport and stuff, but there is just kind of more formality I'd say um being proposed and um don't I don't think it's anything to be concerned of unless of course it is too ownorous and then we should know about that. Um
>> so yeah, just don't be alarmed there. >> Yeah. Um so yeah and one of the commissioners is a big fan of the um zero basis accounting where you assume you have nothing and then with
everything you add to the budget you kind of have to justify it versus as you say you know bringing last year's numbers over you know >> and um that's that's a very involved process and um that's not what's
happening in the county in at least. So, um, but but that just came to mind when you said I just moved the numbers over and that makes sense to me because that's what we're basing everything off is our historical cost and what what's
real. So, um, just wanted to share that with the board. >> Thank you. >> Oh, how do you spell that name? Okay, >> I think once we get the um
the health insurance number writed, these bottom num numbers are going to look way better and I'd have a lot more comfort both with the capital improvement fund as well as the other um
like the the digital collection and um staff development which I fully support. It's just you know trying to keep things >> stable. >> Yeah. Um the
also I don't know um I don't know how to approach the capital improvement fund if you guys have any thoughts there like doing because this is like the real number right but depreciated over how long and it seems like a mighty high number especially I mean I guess I don't know
>> yeah the schedule is is it 10% of the assets a year is you know. >> Yeah. >> Right. What that is, you know, >> so a little more about what's involved in that 475. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it's not that it doesn't make sense to me. I just be helpful to
have more context. >> Yeah. For sure. And again going back I mean even do you remember even when we were talking about these things and other things we were it's been an ongoing conversation about you know this this is
the city owning the building or is the library own the city owns it then then they'll pay for they'll pay all their building expenses. Why would it have to come out of the capital funds of the library >> if no other building in the city is
being used being funded, repaired, upgraded, replaced in that manner. >> Mhm. >> So this would this would uh create an avenue for that. >> Um
it's almost a horse a piece in my mind. Not I don't think we should take from the um the the endowments or whatever those funds have been given >> because that those were for non non-ordinary library expenses. But yeah,
I hear what you're saying. this. I would hope that the city would have been doing this already, but I think um I think this is probably a good conversation to have probably between the county and the city um just about what the strategy
should be with that and >> because there could be push back from the county about this just straight dollar amount, right? Um, but if with a little more information and context, it it might just, you know,
make the best sense to do it, you know, but it might be in like next year or something, you know, I don't know. >> And this doesn't show any smoothing with our reserves. No. Uh, what I'm what I really need right now is
the direction. >> Mhm. are like which which direction is the most salient? Um for example, if there was a strong feeling of moving forward with a capital
and there's adamants about wanting to do the ebooks I like if it's I want to develop staff, develop the collection and have capital development, then that's one picture I can put together. That's the kind of
direction I was thinking of. >> And it's interesting to go back to the conversation about like what is the strategy? And I think that um Kim's point about a strategy for capital improvement fund being the depreciation schedule. She was
reminding us that it's been since 1990 or 2004 or something. I think it was maybe the early 2000s when we had our last significant endowment, our last significant bequest. >> Yeah.
And so we approved. Okay. I'm also um wondering if trustees want to sit down if there anyone here can go at any time and talk to Mike Roth or to Kim about any of the
questions that you have about the building and if we wanted you could invite them here to a board meeting and see if they're available for that um about having convers conversations with the county and the city about a best a
strategy like is it their level is it our level >> and maybe it's yeah >> any of >> maybe it's in the joint powers agreement I don't I'm not familiar enough >> it doesn't address capital >> it doesn't
>> it does no just 5% increase right >> that's a conversation to have then let's start with Thank. >> Okay. Do you want to be in on that? >> Yep.
>> Do you feel like it'd be helpful to have him at a board meeting or do you want to meet with him individually? >> Uh I think board I think I think uh board would be better because we don't do committees anymore.
So it be my So if I met with Mike, it would be my interpretation of what Mike said to the rest of the board. >> Good point. >> Not that we don't trust your interpretation, but you can tell us anything. >> Do you want to generate some questions
of what types of things we want to ask him so that he can come prepared? >> Yeah, I'm happy to. Yeah. Okay. And we can either do that now or we can send them. >> Let's throw questions at Amanda and she
can collect them. >> Okay, >> that's Yeah, >> try to do it in a couple of days if you if you need this budget, >> right? Because we'll need to get them to them and then give them time to respond and hopefully be available for our June
meeting. >> Yeah. I guess my my main question is we I mean we've always budgeted $2,000 and >> carpet specifically. >> Okay. Exclusively. Yeah. And so but but
nothing else and clearly there's been things done, but have we always just picked away at the funds? Is that not not the city funds but the library funds to pay for any >> during my tenure? That has been the
incurred strategy. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. So, one month from now, we're looking at this again >> and to be really confident
about going forward with a choice. What are we looking for? What do you need need to do for you? >> Personally, I like path two a lot. um until we have more of the conversation around
or between city county or whatever or with Mike um when we when we adjust the um the health insurance. I think it's going to be more like 3.4% increase >> and that's very very reasonable. >> Um we do know that we're going to have
these boilers though >> and so we should definitely budget for those right like throw in 26,000 on top at least. So, it's kind of a a merge between the two. I don't know. >> And does budgeting for you look like
adding a dollar amount to this or does it look like we know that we underspent by significant amount last year and we're prepared to take care of that now >> and we have time to talk about what a strategy would be. for example, knowing
that the >> retunda >> is going to need repair >> be my preference. Just thinking about the timing of getting this together for a July presentation, I would lean towards path two
and start the conversation about capital fund replacement. Maybe a year of talking about it and planning for it uh may make it go over better, >> right? We can do a little more diligence
>> by maybe including the boilers into have the capital improvement fund there, but have it in the budget cuz it's going to be next summer. So, yeah. So I mean it's so it's >> but we do have funds left over from 25
that we could use for it. >> Yeah. >> But but it does but if we put it in the budget then it's starts the conversation and moves it forward >> rather than us paying from previous funds. It's >> it's >> it's saying doesn't surprise
>> you know it's it you know. So that's about half of what we're we're asking for. So, so >> that's the capital improvement. >> That's half of what we're asking for. So, if next year we do do the 47,000 for 28, then we say, well, you know, it's
not a 0 to 47, it's a 26 to 47 or 25 to to 47. So, it's it's it's a little smoother. Not as big as not as big as a >> not >> Yeah. Not as uphill.
>> Yes. What what would what would the default of the 95,000 be >> just sitting our reserve? >> It builds your reserve fund. >> Which one? Which one? >> The 21. Okay. >> And right now your 211 is very healthy.
The recommended is 25 to 50% of operational expenses and you're floating a little bit higher than six six months or 50%. So you have you you have a very healthy
reserve plus this money just got put in there. >> So we had we had the 50% and now we're getting the 95,000. Yeah. That's put in there. >> Yeah. >> We should defin I think we should definitely use the 9. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would feel more comfortable using some of that.
>> Yeah. >> Than budgeting. >> Yeah. >> For it. >> Yeah. If we got it, we should use it. Yeah. Versus increase. >> You can avoid asking for it. It makes it look better. >> But I like the on-ramp idea too of just like asking for something
>> more than 2,000 but less than 475. >> Yeah. Bringing up that this has got to this has to happen. >> Yeah. Yeah. Maybe that's the thing is we raise it $10,000 over the next five years until >> Yeah. >> you know. >> Yeah. >> Or
25% or 20 or 25% increase over the next >> Yeah. >> till we get to that targeted >> the 47,000. Yeah. Increase it. Yeah. Incrementally. >> Let's um >> Does that make sense, Electra?
>> What I'm hearing you say. is if we're going to move forward with something that looks similar to the path two, which is like service continuation with staff development and um a trial
basis of a digital collection. We need for certain to see how the um staff lines shake out >> because there's something off about those numbers. >> Okay.
And we want to see a capital improvement fund, maybe even as a separate budget. I don't know. U we want to see a capital improvement fund that's closer to $10,000 or that stays at $2,000. I'm not clear. >> We don't want it to stay at 2,000. We
want to grow it incrementally. >> Y >> with the goal of annually adding 475 to it >> or whatever the >> whatever the depreciation. Yeah. Yep. And so for this year, maybe something
around $10,000 total. And we're going to change this line from carpet syncing fund to capital improvement fund so that we're not limited on how the dollars are spent. >> Yes. >> Right. So we're communicating, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Getting our foot in the door here on on increasing this amount bit by bit. Mhm. That 95,000 though, how I mean >> definitely can be used for
>> I think we were talking about incorporating that as well into the whole >> right into the smoothing. >> Well, into this year's budget as well as Yeah. >> some of that. So in addition, so we're looking at
staff development, introduction of the new collection, and $10,000 of a capital improvement fund. >> Mhm. >> Smooth under 5% increase using the $95,000,
which we're also going to use ultimately for we're intending to also use that for boiler replacement. Am I on the right page? >> See how it shakes out. Number >> that sounds like a good strategy. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um and just on that 5% number, um
there's a little bit of heartburn at the county board about that. Um and so I don't think it's a I don't I don't have a strong opinion about it, but um I think the the real like
desire is just to have more discussion from the county board like a presentation much like the city council's um so yeah rather than like even if it's less than
5% you know still have a yeah >> given yeah >> justification for >> yeah even if it's like 4% or whatever, you know, even if it's >> Yeah, just the conversation, just that FaceTime, I think, would be appreciated. So,
>> I can't remember when that was and was not done. >> What >> uh visiting the county board or presenting to the county board? as in my memory, it's only been done to introduce the assistant library director's
position, which caused a 21% increase in the budget. >> Okay. >> And providing a plan forward for how that would be smoothed over using the 215. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And the way that the model is set up right now is we'll call you if we
want to talk to you, but by the time that they get the budget, >> right, >> there's no time. There's a statuto there's a an agreement >> requirement to just approve the budget. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. By a certain time. If they don't decide I can't remember when it is,
Davis. It's like the September something. >> Yeah. >> But if they don't talk to us or decide before then they >> lose they lose the opportunity. >> Okay. It all sounds Yeah. So that would have been like what
28 or when like That would have been >> Yeah. >> 2015 through 2018. >> Probably in that range. >> Wow. >> I think I attended one. >> Okay. >> At the last one. >> That's helpful. Like >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I couldn't remember. Um
and I thought it had happened. >> Mhm. >> And because it used to I think it used to happen annually just regardless. Um it was just like that 5% is like a you guys don't have a choice. It's just kind of passed on. So Okay.
you feel comfortable looking with your >> I think I've got what you are saying. >> And this is a question. Is there any reason why we wouldn't use all of the 95,000 um both for the boiler stuff as well as
bumping up the capital improvement and smoothing. Yeah. I mean could be a decrease in the budget and that would be very popular. But then we'd have to >> but then but then the next year it's >> exactly. >> So that would be bad. >> So there's that. >> I would say if we're planning to use
some of the 95 for boilers, I wouldn't put it in the budget as a asset. I would hold back 30,000 for boilers and put 65 budget. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. And then Yeah. Okay.
>> Makes sense. But I wouldn't give them a budget of hey or minus 5%. >> I don't think that >> well especially if we're trying to build the capital improvement fund, >> right? >> So I was just trying I'm sorry I'm thinking out loud, but I'm just trying
to think through >> all of our options. like we could achieve that 475 maybe if we used the 95 >> this year but we don't want to necessarily
have that 475 next year because then that would be a ump right and so we want to slowly build it in still like that but >> yeah one of the budget meetings that I attended a couple years ago you know people are like well uh one of the city
council person says, "Well, you have such and such money. Why aren't you using this for the budget?" You know, and but if so, if we start if we open the door to this, >> some people are going to at the county it sounds like and and the city would
probably seize on it and saying until you until you have only this much money >> in your thing, don't ask us for any more increases. Well, and that's why Yeah, that's why I was wondering about that 95 in particular because I don't want to
touch the other reserves to do any of that. But since we'd already budgeted and received that 95,000, then we should use it, you know, >> like tax dollars that should be >> Yeah. Yeah. >> rather than But if we're also trying to build the capital improvement fund.
Yeah. That's where I'm just kind of going in circles. So, >> yeah. We'll I mean I bet you next month we'll it'll be way more clear when we have some more clear. >> We'll at least have some more Yeah. >> data
>> to be unclear about. >> All right. >> Thank you, Electra. >> Thank you for the Yeah, go >> and then you over for it. >> Great. Me again. >> Yeah.
Uh Makwa. Okay, we filled our library clerk position and boy are we excited about Liam. He comes with good customer service experience and um knowledge of technology and um is
picking up the job very well. Very very happy to have him on board. Um the summer reading program is our world right now and that is launching on June 8th. There are multiple ways for people
to participate across um across age groups. That's interesting. Um we have three reading logs. One is uh especially for preiteracy early readers and two are for essentially ages six and up, but
anyone can choose any log. It's fine. And in addition to our so uh the reading challenges will result in every time you turn in a log, you get a nice prize or or treat coupon from some of our community partners. We're working again
with Java Moose, Dairy Queen. We have Hungry Hippie Tacos and Superior Crearyy. And then every time a log is turned in, an individual will also receive a book voucher to Drury Lane Books. And so they get to go in there and shop for books, building in that
lifelong love of uh learning and reading as well as building their personal library. So that is the reading log program. And we also have ongoing events in the library. We have these little plushies. Uh I think you saw my plushy last time.
Um it's good egg and bad seed. And then we bought a few of their friends and they are going to be hidden in the library come June 8th. And then littles can come in every time that they come to the library. They can find one and win a prize for that as well as a raffle
ticket for our Fridays Friday's raffle drawings. >> And uh that just gives them a second chance to win. so they can like double their prize. And um we're also I think over here I'm going to do a a read to a plant reading station. Our theme is
plant a seed read. And so any anybody who comes in and reads to the plant >> will get um a reading ready t-shirt or tote. They get a um let's see, they get a book. We are giving away a free
picture book. And then they also get a small prize. Um, and then when they come in the next time, they can get a raffle ticket for Fridays as well as a little prize. So each time they do that, they get more prizes as well. You can see the sign behind you. Watch our readers grow.
And so every time someone reads to the plants that we put their name on a blossom and it will go up on the wall >> and so we'll get our garden growing there. >> Cute. >> And um trying to think. Yeah. Uh so then whoever's participating in those
in-house things uh gets the raffle ticket drawing at the end of the week and you don't have to be physically in the building to win. We are also doing three really exciting events that I think I talked to everybody about. We have Sarah
Serpentarium from Duth I think it is. They just opened our reptiles and lizard snakes thing down there and Sarah is bringing up her critters and there will be some hands-on learning and engagement with everybody who comes. We also have
um later in the year we're going to have a an aquatic insects exhibit that has touch tanks. So there will be little tanks with water in them that um everybody can engage that way. We also have the Jolly Pops, as in happy dads,
and they're going to come rock out with puppets and singing and humor and all the good stuff. Then, um, I reached out to the library friends of Cook County and said, "Help, please. I need help finding some, um, a
really rocking season finale this year." And they found Big Animal Productions. And this is a group from Minneapolis that makes giant wooden puppets and they have Makqua the bear coming. So, uh, the way that the celebration picnic will go
is that, um, the big animal productions will be here with a hands-on activity that everyone will do. And then we'll have lunch and there's always games going on in the lawn. And then we're going to do a parade to Harbor Park with Maka the Bear
um over to the Bear Tree and then into Harbor Park where anyone can take a picture with Maka on the shore to commemorate their um reading success. So that is our summer reading program. It goes on till August 14th culminating
in that parade. And um yeah, I got flyers out to all of the schools. Did you see it? >> I did. I got it in my weekly email. >> Yeah. Okay, it's working. Um yeah, and we're going to uh get the flyers and the press releases and
everything out this week. >> Partnerships. I like to talk about how I'm uh reaching out to other organizations to see how we can um engage and support and collaborate. And this month I was connecting with care
partners. I went and attended one of their reframing aging roundts which is essentially a book club but it's structured in such a way that doesn't matter if you read the book at all. You can still come experience community and talk about the process of aging and also
kind of how we're stereotyped or not in literature today. And it was so good. I had so much fun. There was lots of laughter and it just was really well handled to get us all thinking differently. And so I came back to the
library just looking at it with new eyes of, you know, how how do each of our ages engage with our physical space and I had Julie come over to talk to me about kind of what Care Partners is up
to these days and how we can work together. And one of the things that I really liked is she does a program for staff that helps raise awareness uh uh around working with engaging with
individuals experiencing dementia. And so like for example, we feel um we we need to feel the interaction was good and we can retain that all day long. And so we're going to I'm working
on um setting up a customer service opportunity for us that I've also extended citywide to other departments to see if they'd like to come help build an age friendly Cook County with me and Julie.
Um okay. And marketing and promotion. Um continuing to expand outreach efforts. I would I've been talking to city hall. They're going to be putting up a new monitor in their lobby and flashing things across the screen. So, I definitely want to get in there, but I
was thinking about uh the potential of putting something together for anyone who is getting registered for public utilities. I was talking to Dave over at Parks and Wreck to see what we could get going on their um events bulletin board
as well as a a shelf card or something that lives in the office to let every camper know they can register their library card here and come use and partake in our service here. And um so I'm also working on a summer reading
program announcement that would go out there that be tailored more towards our visitors. And um I'm still wanting to connect with Visit Cook County and see what's available there. And and I'm kind of
interested in talking with lodge lodges, lodge partners. Um I don't know if there's room and space or interest for us sharing information like that. like you can rent all these DVDs, games, um get the kids out for a day if it's even if it's raining and you don't want to
get wet, whatever the situation is, and to just keep letting people know that this resource is available, you can register your card here. >> I would, as speaking for lodges, if you provided me with that information, >> Yeah. >> I And I didn't have to think it up myself.
>> Yeah. >> I would totally be passing that along. >> Perfect. And are you thinking like a card or like a does it matter what form it takes? >> Give me something that's e it could be a card but if I can scan it or you can provide it to me in a digital form. I
send all sorts of stuff out before >> anybody shows up here multiple times. >> Yay. Oh, so digital too. Got it. >> So >> that's so great. Thank you. >> I think Gunplint also sends out a lot. I'm not sure the others do, but between
the two of us that hits a huge percentage of the people who visit the gunflint and >> um everybody everybody is happy with some digital content that they can share. >> Great. Great.
>> Yeah, that's my that's my report. I think I did it all >> a website. You sent us >> Oh, yeah. >> You sent us a >> You have a live You had a live interactive experience, right?
>> You You could click. >> I I really really appreciate Yeah. I I really like the new format. >> Wow. Yay. It's a much bigger shift than um I thought I could have and was getting. Um, but the developer we're working
with, John, is fantastic and he he's doing he's just doing the thing. Yeah. >> Uh, when is it going to go online? >> I don't know yet. Well, let me talk to him about it. >> It's much more 21st century. >> Yeah.
>> Um, back to Hoopla if I may. >> Yeah. >> Um, so is that how it works? Does each patron get six like uses annually or something? >> Monthly. >> Monthly. >> It'll reset every month. >> Okay. It's way different. Okay.
>> Yeah. And a lot of >> I really want to see this, but I got to wait. >> I was just trying to think of >> like even books, you know, I was like, "Oh man, yeah, I'd never use that." But >> what' be really interesting. I'm I can't
imagine it not being a hit. >> I'm just really curious about usage and where things might go >> like how does White Lakes compared to our library as far as >> or size >> as far as yeah checkouts or I don't know patrons or something.
>> I you know I could have told you that information last week so much in here. >> That's fine. I didn't share that with you on on the side, but I think we're smaller than us and >> Oh, okay. >> Um I thought that it was going to be a
much larger budget. But when you >> when you uh look at the swath for our size, when you compare us across the country to libraries of our size, this is where we land for a starting point. And like Quite Lake said, um it takes a minute
for people to love it. >> Sure. um as they you know >> try it out >> and we can just up it if we wanted to. >> We can up it, we can down it, we can cut it off at any time. >> Yep. That's very flexible that way. >> Um most people are uh they they're
standard options for the number per person is seven and 10. >> What's that? Like how many checkouts? >> Yeah. Yeah. They most often recommend to libraries that they allow seven or 10 checkouts. Those two numbers are magic
numbers for how people use content, >> but they can also increase decrease to help us work with our budget or especially when we're on on boarding. And they said that they offer a lot of high touch high contact support
especially while we're learning what our community is doing and interested in. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I guess where I was going with that is just depending on their size compared to us and if they're budgeting 4500 and you know I understand it might take a little bit for people to catch on but I really
think people >> jump. They're going to like it. >> Yeah. >> So that's why I was like well is 3,000 enough and um >> I asked them to run the numbers twice >> but we'll just I guess see how it goes and >> looks pretty reasonable. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. I was thinking last time after our discussion, do you offer any classes in how to how to use streaming media? How to like I mean we had two people here who still
can't do this. >> And um I mean I'm old. I've been doing this for 15 years. Maybe people need help. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, there aren't even going to be CD players around pretty soon.
>> Well, okay. And this is part of our conversation. So, let me do three. Let me say three go three pathways. This Gemini moon. Um, and then I forgot every one of them. Um,
number one, I think it would be excellent. This is great feedback. If we are launching a platform, I'm hearing we also need a programming component that's like at once a month we offer a thing that helps people use it the first time
and it could be a really excellent part of our >> yeah marketing promotion package. I love that. >> Okay. >> Um, number two, no, we don't do that uh in terms of programming, but anybody who walks through our door with questions
gets one-on-one help. And also I know that Boreal does a lot with supporting technology use. So there are three or four organizations, agencies in the community that kind of like pass the potato on who's helping with
the technology just based on trends. And it's like when things start to tailor off taper off here, someone else notices the gap and they pick it up. But everybody doing it at the same time also hasn't really been beneficial. So, it's a mixed it's a mixed answer. We can we
do it on the onetoone based on what people come to us for and also if they don't know to come to us um that they're not going to get that help. So, I think it would be great to do it as a >> that's what I think that if if people it's announced in some way >> Yeah. >> someone is more likely to
>> proactively get that help. >> Yeah. And and Okay. And so the third thing that I wanted to say was where did that third where did that we jumped from 25% to a third what what made that and I
can see now in the numbers that it uh last year was the first year they recorded magazine checkout and so that's accounting for probably was already happening but it's accounting for magazine checkout >> and hoopla
doesn't solve the desiraability of magazines but The collection that's offered through Libby is quite substantial and I'm very happy with it and I haven't heard any complaints. >> They're really pushing the magazines on Libby. >> Are they?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Front and center >> recently like in the past year. >> Oh, >> this is what happened. >> Okay. Interesting. um where where we're getting the hang-up is audiobooks and ebooks with exceptional
weight times. So this Kla model if we loved it and we wanted to inspire different feedback. One of the things we can do is split the models where we have all the content that everybody can access while everybody else is accessing
it, right? Every user can access it to infinity at the same time. within their six checkouts >> for the month. >> And then there's one where you can um do one license, one user at a time. You
have to wait and then you can purchase uh highinterest popular content. And you can even turn on models where it purchases extra co copies to drive down demand. >> But that's where the budget gets much harder to control. Mhm.
>> Really curious what that >> Yeah. >> thing is, you know, >> work sit and learn what what how how it'll function. >> Yeah. And I I I think I have to have you have to have it for me to >> get it.
>> And that's a good point that the infinite thing still qualifies in that six per patron, too. I just I didn't really have that in my brain. I just assumed it was the higher demand stuff.
So, >> I want to go back to CDs. You have nothing better to do than listen to me talk about this, right? Okay. So, um yeah, CD ch um formats and technology grow up together,
right? like um like cars and computers used to be made with DVD, CDROM, player things and so everybody bought that format. And now we're getting to a point where even though there are communities of people, myself included, who still
really love CDs and maybe even have a vehicle that plays them, they're gone. They're a thing of the past. So that computers produced now don't have a drive. The the computers don't have it. cars don't have it. And so that that is
being phased out as well. Families maybe don't always have uh CD players in the home anymore. Everybody's moving to their phone. And so we have over here a very small and and shrinking collection of >> Yanni >> books. Oh,
>> y maybe um books with CD. Books with CD. >> Oh, you can read along and >> Yeah, it's multiensory, right? It's multiensory and it's geared towards
children learning to read and and for engagement and everything. I um every year I apply for an hammer grant or the library does. Uh this is um like an endowment that was left to us that every year we get to apply for the
grant and it allows us to purchase certain things in particular um award-winning books for children >> published within the last three years or whatever it is. But its goal is to help encourage reading and literacy capacity.
And so this year I did something new and I asked them to consider letting us purchase our first core set of materials of Vox books. So I don't know if you hear have experienced this but libraries are starting to circulate these. It's a book
that has a reading component in it. So you don't have a disc anymore. It's part of the book. >> And there are um collections called Vox Books Boox. And there are collections
called Wonder Books and with a WU wonder books. And I think that the Wonder Books tend to appeal to a slightly older age group. So all to say, I'm exploring trials in multiple areas of the collection. Um I'm very
interested to get the grant, but also to uh try circulating some of these materials in the in the library and see what happens. Um, in other libraries, the communities have a voracious appetite for the material. And I also just received a grant from
Arrowhead Library System to trial something called a Tony Box. I mean, >> we have one of those. >> Tell me how do you love it. >> Not tell me more. >> Um, the content, it's hard hard to get the content. >> Um,
>> get the little guys. You got you got to have all those little guys and you got to put the content on them. >> Um you can buy them straight from Tony like $27 a piece. I mean they're a bunch of money >> and um you can record your own content
but the library can't really record although you could get readers. One thing you could do, what we have done is we've very easily read into a Tony guy >> and then they can listen to you could
have readers read to >> that would be so cool. >> Tony, not read to the >> Yeah, for there'd be things you could do with them, >> but um it for the investment in the Tony and the initial investment, >> it hasn't been as loved as anybody
thought it was going to be. That's our own experience, but I done a lot with it. >> Thank you for sharing. >> So, other libraries, Two Harbors is one of them that they are triing these. They're circulating them. And so, a Tony box is it's a cube.
>> It's the size of a Kleenex box. >> Yep. >> And then, um, there are these little figurines. They could be Paw Patrol or Cinderella's like fairy princesses or little They're little figurines. And you load content onto those. You put
that on top of the box and it works. >> Turns it off and on. It just starts it. It is kind of hard for the kids to go back and forth. >> Okay. >> You beat the box to do that. >> Do you get it different places? And >> behold, 2600.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, so I I'm getting one of these through a grant because the initial it it's a it's a it's an investment and I I kind of don't know where the community is looking to grow right now, but I do think it's a piece of technology for littles >> really
>> that is screen free and uh is something the library could just let let everybody engage with and see what happens. I'm just very curious right now. Yeah. Yeah, you could do some fun stuff with that when you start to think about it. So,
>> are you gonna read for us? Is everybody on the board gonna get the the Dave Mills? >> Nice. Yes. >> Can you do that? Do custom little figures and that'd be really fun. >> That would be fun. >> Not not to move us along, but um I'm dog
sitting. I have a dog in the car. >> That's been there for an hour and a half. >> Y. >> All right. So, thank you for that report. Welcome. >> Well, that all good information. Um, we have the standing strategic plan for your review and the communications from
the two funds. If anyone had any questions on either of those, >> I move to ajourn. >> We are ajourned. >> Time. >> 6:46. >> 646. >> Thank you. >> Thanks everybody.
>> Thanks everybody. Muscle neck.