Oh, recording. Welcome to the library board. It's uh Thursday at May uh 14th, 2026 at 4 p.m. We're in the city hall council chambers. Uh and uh we'll call this meeting to order. The first item on
our agenda is the approval of the agenda. Can I have a motion to that effect? >> I'll move. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any comments about the agenda? Otherwise, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. We have an agenda.
And the next thing on the agenda is to approve the minutes from our last meeting from the April 9th meeting. I said anyone everyone had a chance to look those over. We get we get them by email so we don't have to read them here.
I'll take a motion to approve the minutes. I'll move. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Uh any other any further comments? Hearing none. Will uh all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. We have minutes. And
now we have a summer reading program review. We were talking earlier. Summer has arrived. So here we go. the youth services librarian, uh, Katherine Tatall, come to the mic and tell us all about summer reading.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you for having me here today. Um, this year our summer reading theme is unearth a story. And so we're leaning heavily towards dinosaurs. And if you come to visit the children's room, you'll notice there's some dinosaurs hanging out and a few
more are going to join us. Um, I'm really excited because it's so much fun. and I found so much stuff that I want to include um for prizes and little pocket prizes each week for the kids. So um we're doing the same 8week independent
reading that we always do. We're asking our younger kids to read 20 minutes a day for at least 6 days a week and our older kids at least a half an hour a day for six days of the week. Um, we will start on June 8th, which is a Monday,
and we'll end on August 2nd, which is a Sunday. That's the last day of reading. And then we'll take that time between August 3rd and August 8th to um receive reading records that are complete and give out our final prizes or um which
always includes a book, a temporary tattoo, um a grand prize ticket, and anything else I can find to give to kids, I will. Um and uh grand prizes this year are a compilation of things.
found some backpacks on the um collaborative library summer reading programs um website and so we're going to fill it with some stuff and also we're going to auction off I have 12 little dinosaur grabbers and each of the
>> grand prize winners will get one of those but then I'll auction off the rest kind of raffle off I I should say and um >> are you pay with points is that how you raffle We'll see. >> They'll just who from the grand prize tickets that we get, whoever doesn't win
a grand prize, we'll just choose a name to have them come in and choose one of those or they could choose one of the blowup dinosaurs that I have decorating the room. Or, and parents are going to love this, I have a dinosaur um cutout that's about this big. So, he'll
decorate the room. Great. >> And one lucky winner and one lucky family will take that home. So, um, I love to do that. We did that the first year. We had a lot of blow up stuff around the room and it was a lot of fun to have the kids like rush in and
say, "What do I win?" So, um, that's one of the funner things about this theme for me this year. Um, we have a lot of good programming going on. So, um, the Imagination Theater, I don't know if you know about the
Imagination Theater. It's a theater company out of Minneapolis and um they do black light puppetry. >> So they're doing a black light puppet show for us with lifesizeish dinosaurs, not
>> as dinosaurs are in, you know, said to have been, but about our size. Um and uh that's going to be an interesting experience. They're coming in the day before to set up. We've never had that before with a performer. Um, but I'm really looking
forward to that. That's on June 12th. Um, June 9th, we're actually starting off our summer with a a comic book workshop for the kids. So, they'll The company is out of Chicago and they do a lot with creativity with the kids at
first. And so they talk about the creative process and what it is to be creative and also um like what it is, what do you need to do if you get stuck, if you feel like you just can't move forward with your creativity. So they're really helpful with that. And then they teach them how to draw little comic book
characters and make their own comic books. So that'll be on the 9th. It's for kids who are in first grade through 12th grade. Um so did you have a question? Oh. Uh, well, talking about that comic
book program, 1st through 12th. >> Yes. >> So, anybody who's in school, well, that's fabulous. Uh, well, I suppose you don't know, but how are they going to divide the kids up? And it's so nice to have teens. >> He doesn't divide the kids up. He He enjoys working with kids of all ages.
>> He wants it to kind of stay under 35 if we can, so we have it registered for right now. Um, but I don't think he would probably turn anybody away that came, >> you know, that wasn't on the list. Um, but he, you know, he's plays a guitar,
he juggles, he does all kinds of fun things with the kids. So, um, I don't think he ever feels like he is not in control of the kids or has their attention because he's so animated. >> So, I'm looking forward to that one. Um,
we have Mike Schmidt, who is a PA performer from Wisconsin. He was here for one of our outdoor concerts a few years ago and he's coming back. He's going to be performing at the library, but he does pintsize poker, which is poker for kids. So, um, it's a lot of
fun and he's a he's a lot of fun. So, um, we're also doing our steam classes, Creative Kids and Wacky Wonders. This year, we'll kind of focus on dinosaurs. We're going to make slime, which I hate making slime anymore, but we're going to do it cuz
the kids have been asking for it. Um, and we'll have a little fossil to put in their slime. >> I also found these great eggs on um Amazon that you can actually break open and um chip away at and they have a fossil on the inside.
>> Oh dear. So, I'm looking for somewhere in the library yard that I can bury them. I don't know if I'll find one, but I'll figure out something. Um, but uh I think they'll really enjoy that. And um we
have a couple other fun. They keep bugging me to make ice cream. >> So, I may just for my own personal nostalgic use um buy a crank ice cream maker. Oh, >> and we'll crank ice cream. I've been trying to find a method to make ice
cream without that. We shook bags of it one year. >> It was everywhere. It was everywhere. So, we would never and it was soup. It wasn't even ice cream. So, we really want to make some thing that they can eat there. And it's hard when you don't
have a stove or, you know, um ability to cook things. And I think I've exhausted the like any recipe that is a non-cook and kids they don't really want to eat a parfait with granola and fruit. Some of
them but not many. Um anyway we are uh going to do our movies again this year. We're showing The Good Dinosaur, Zootopia, and the Wild Robot. Um, we're going to do story times and, um, we have
our video game clubs that we do for second through fifth graders and for 12th through uh, 6th through 12th graders. And we'll continue to do those. Uh, we're also going to do I'm going to attempt to do two teen escape rooms,
one in June and one in July. So, we'll see how those go. Cross your fingers for me. Um uh so that that's pretty much our lineup. Uh I'm in contact with um uh a local music therapist who does um story
times with us. And so she'll be back this summer um trying to talk her into doing a different type of program with the kids if she would like something more focused on music. Um we'll see what she comes up with. >> And um our local author Gail Bow who has
written three books. She works at uh the library in Jefferson Elementary. >> Um she's going to come and do story time with us. I think it's our third third Monday um in June. And so she'll be reading her books then. So we have I'm
talking to State Street Theater. We're kind of in a conversation about having the cast of Matilda come and do a couple story times. um just because uh Matilda is a character who reads everything. So the possibilities of what to read during
that story time for those characters is pretty wide open. Um and also they just like to introduce the characters to the kids and then talk to them about, you know, what it is to act in a program and how much fun that is. We've had uh the MLC students came and did that with um
Alice in Wonderland when they had that production. And so it'll be fun to have another um group of actors come in and talk with them. So we're looking forward to all that. Don't have any concrete dates for that yet. Um but I'm really looking forward to summer reading as always. Told April the other day, I'm in
panic mode, feeling like I wake up and I go, "What do I need to do now? What haven't I done yet?" But I'm actually doing pretty good. So I'm pretty organized. And um do you guys have any questions for me >> or comments like, "Wow,
>> do you those of you who have little ones, do you think they're going to enjoy this?" >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Miss Catherine knows we're always excited about the library. >> Yeah. >> Our theme looks really fun this year, too. >> I just want to thank Catherine for all
the work that she does to plan the summer reading program because she started planning this almost as soon as the last one ended. So, she's she's put in the work to make it a fun summer for the kids. >> Oh, sure. Now, do you have to be a kid to come to Summer Marine, you know? >> Um, no, you guys I mean the Blacklight
Theater puppet show is open to everyone. So, if you're interested and you want to come, it's at 1:00 on >> June 12th. Um, >> and most most of our entertainment programs like Mike Schmidt, he'll he's open and to the
public. Story times of course are we preferred parent and children come. We've not really had any adults asked to come to story time yet so it's fine. Um and then of course like our STEM classes are age appropriate. So we just don't have outside adults come in very often.
So >> really at all. I think I only let Clay from the journal come one time and he made bigger mess than the kids did. So it was really fun. He was really interested in what we were doing too. So that was nice. Great. Sounds like it's going to be a
good summer. Don't you agree? >> Yes. >> Good. >> Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Good. >> You're welcome. Thank you for allowing me to come talk to you, >> Catherine. >> Okay, let's move on. We've got the We've got our financial report.
We are 33.97% through 2026 and our budget is approximately 28.9% expended. Um you'll notice in the meeting room rental line that is um we've met 100% of our budget there and that's because um new paid
their rent for the year for using the space in the lower level of the library. Um and because we no longer charge for rental of the meeting room by outside groups, that's the only revenue we get in that line each year. Notable expenses um during April
included $517 to the Mano Free Press and $254 to the New Alm Journal for our annual newspaper subscriptions. $4,441 to Ingram for book purchases and $858
um dollars of that was from miscellaneous donations and memorials that we were spending. Um we re reimbursed our assistant director $510 for the public library association conference expend expenses.
Um this is covered by an honorarium from the Traverse Due Regional Library. So thank thank you to them for their support of continuing education for librarians. Um we spent $175 for printing of brochures for the summer reading
program. We used MLC's print shop and then we paid um Park New Park and Recreation $1,793 for our rec center passes for the year. Um we added a family pass this year. So we have a total of three family passes
and two individual passes. Um and passes are constantly checked out and usually with a waiting list. So, we thought that it was important to add another pass this year just to meet the demand. And that um expense comes our from our audiovisisual supplies line. That's
where we spend our library of things um budget from. And so that was coded to that line as well. So that's why that one is spent at 47% because we had that annual expense in there. >> And then I just wanted to note that I will be presenting a draft of our 2027
budget to you at the June meeting. Um, and then you'll need to approve that at your July meeting. >> Um, after that I submit it to the finance department and it goes with the overall city budget to for city council approval after that point.
>> And I'd be happy to answer any questions. >> Yeah, things come up fast. >> Yes, they do. >> Things come up fast. Any questions about that? Seems like everything's going well, you know. Good, good, good, good. And thank you to new cat always. Thank
you. We're very grateful. Well, let's move on to the librarian's report. >> Okay. Um, we've hired a librarian, one to for adult programming and their memory lab um, responsibilities. She'll join the library on June 15th. >> Um, I don't like to share names too
early before someone starts. Um, but we'll have a point for her to come meet the library board once she's started to hopefully at the July meeting if schedules align. >> Good. Um the cast senior center, excuse me, cast senior center moved their Friday
movie matinea program to the senior center or the community center. Um they procured procured their own movie license that makes advertising a little bit easier for them. Um our movie license is is pretty restrictive about
where things can be advertised with the focus being on the library website and library newsletters. So, it was really hard for them to share titles >> and information about >> and I'm sure it'll be a lot easier for them, >> right? >> Mhm.
>> Um, and so we just want to say thank you to them for partnering with us on that program for the last two years and we're glad to that they are able to continue it under their own steam at the community center. um our youth services librarian, Katherine Tatnel, who you just um spoke
with, went to the community family fair and baby shower at the civic center. That was April 18th. >> Um so she had a booth with sensory toys to play with and offered information about our summer reading program and some giveaways for the families who attended. And she saw about 100 parents,
grandparents, and children at that event. >> Mhm. Wow. And then Megan and I attended the Public Library Association conference in Minneapolis on April 1st through 3rd. Um it's not often that a national
conference is offered for libraries in Minnesota. So that was a great opportunity for us. Um so we attended educational sessions for those three days. We met with library vendors and umworked with our peers and we both received $800 honorariums from TDS like
I mentioned towards a cost of attendance. Um the timing of mine will just be in the May report. >> And then like in February and March our foot traffic was down about 7%. Um and I believe that's due to the fact that the
tax preparation moved to the community center this year. Um, but even though that foot traffic trackic was down, our physical circulation was up 12% over April 2025. So based on the past 3 months when I've been watching those comparisons, I don't think that tre tax
preparation was a significant driver of our collection use >> at that point in the year. Um, and that's everything I had to share or to point out, but if you have questions on anything you saw, I'd be happy to answer. >> I apologize for not giving you a heads
up on this, but can each of you tell us about a highlight of the conference? You know, something that you went, "Oh my gosh, this is fabulous." or um or you know if someone asked you what you learned or what what surprised you or
>> um one of my favorite s sessions that I attended was um from a small to midsize library that had focused um on a creating a program for all abilities for adults for programs. So that would um be
including people who maybe live at group homes or um have physical or um developmental disabilities um creating opportunities for them to um come to the library, participate in activities um
and interact with the public and with their peers. Um, and they had a lot of great really doable ideas that could be replicated at any size library. And so I thought that s excuse me session was well presented and I felt like I came
away with a lot of things that I could share with our our new librarian. >> Good, good, good. Megan, you want to share anything? >> Oh, there there are so many. I enjoy learning more about how libraries are using AI. Oh.
>> Um >> because you often hear the negatives about AI and how books are popping up and all this. So it was a different slant like how we can increase our services or be more efficient
>> um kind of with online things and prompts and >> um or our >> organizing writings things like that. Good. But um I also enjoyed a program called Highway to Hell.
It had to do with some new managers or directors. These were somewhere else and how >> you >> how good intentions >> can go ary. >> Okay. >> Right. the reminder about as hard as it
is sometimes you have to manage >> just good reminder um it was just um and I really appreciate hearing from big systems and small systems I need to
interrupt we're gonna need to get a mic or I know I'm sorry >> I'm done I'm done >> thank you well for those of you who couldn't hear is Megan talked about two things uh AI which can be good not
horrible and uh the highway to hell which is uh probably uh probably probably something uh we all should avoid but I think the idea was that you make mistakes and it's okay
right yeah right sort of all right okay good and I I apologize to new cat for uh for not immediately saying uh asking you to come up to the podium, but thank you for doing that. Thank you. All right. Uh let's uh move on to programming.
>> Um the art group wrapped up its meeting their meetings on May 13th. They usually take a break during the summer. Um they plan to resume meeting on September 9th at the same time, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Our Magic the Gathering group, which is newer, I think they're
in their second or third month of programs, had 12 attendees in April and eight at its May meeting. So, they're still gathering their audience, but it's is a similar attendance to other groups that meet for um um some of the hobby groups like the needle work group and
the artwork group and the nippling group that meet. Their next meeting is Saturday, June 6th from noon to 400 p.m. And anyone is welcome to join. You don't have to know how to play Magic the Gathering. and they'd be happy to show you. You don't have to have any of the card supplies or anything like that.
>> Um they just ask that if you're under 16, you bring a parent or guardian with you. >> And then our children's program programs right now are taking a break for May while we make the final preparations for the summer reading program. That gives Catherine a chance just to take a breath
and also to to make her final arrangements for the the summer reading program where um our children's room really gets busy. And then just a note that the library is closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25th. >> Okay, good.
Any questions? Any comments? Always fun at the library. Always fun at the library. And uh in case somebody who's listening doesn't know, uh the library is pretty good about uh posting things on Facebook and uh looking at their website. Uh if you're looking for
something to do on a rainy day or if a a kid shows up unexpectedly at your house, just uh Google the New Public Library. They'll find something for you to do. Right. >> Yes. And even if we don't have a a formal activity plan, we always have activities to do in the children's room.
Scavenger hunts, >> crafts, >> building activities, um coloring sheets. There's lots to do at the library. >> Okay. Good. Good. Good. Good. Anything else? Oh. Oh, you've got a Brown County Library Board update. >> Oh, yes. No, that's okay.
>> Just a note that the Brown County Library Board is meeting on Monday, June 8th at 7 p.m. Um, this this meeting will be at the Hansa Community Library. >> Um, and at the June meeting, they usually discuss their appropriations
request um to the um county commissioners for 2027. And Ivonne Weber is this board's representative. >> Good. Good. We'll hear about that in June then. Good. Anything else? Otherwise, we'll move on to our uh resolution. We have
one resolution. Don't let me leave without signing it. I'm famous for that. But um I'll I'll read it. Uh resolution number 2026 accepting arch arts and cultural heritage fund grants.
At its April 2026 meeting, the Traverse Doo Regional Library Board awarded New Public Library with two arts and culture heritage funds. Those are legacy grants. First, it's $1,200 for the Dino Dance
and Prance Show with Imagination Theater. And that's what Katherine was talking about, right? And that will be uh if you missed it the first time, that's going to be on Thursday, June 12th at 100 p.m. This is a unique black
light puppet theater show featuring stories, lively music, and original puppets. Sounds like a lot of fun. And then the second thing is uh $545 for the comic book workshop with uh do art
with with do art. Um on Tuesday, June 9th at 2 p.m. participants will explore the unique language of comics and learn how storytelling and visual cues work together to bring characters to life.
Soon programs uh will be present both programs will be presented as part of the library summer reading program as we heard. So very good. I will take a motion um to accept the arts and cultural heritage fund grants. >> So move.
>> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion except Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Really uh really sounds like wonderful programming. All right. Um, any other comments or questions about that? Otherwise, will
the secretary call the role, please? >> Sarah, >> yes. >> Dustin, yes. Caitlyn, >> yes. >> Ruth Anne, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> All right, we have a resolution. Um, is there any other business to come before this board?
Otherwise, see you next time. Byebye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Great.