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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-19-25 - Library Board of Trustees - Agendas & Packet MaterialsA. Call meeting to order - 4:00 p.m. B. Changes to the Agenda C. Public Comments on Non-agenda Items Falling within the Purview and Jurisdiction of the Board D. Approval of Minutes D.1 Approval of Library Board Minutes from February 19, 2025 (Gregory) E. FYI/Discussion E.1 Library Long Term Planning for use of Library Property (Gregory) E.2 Library Mobile Services Presentation(Elliott/Farrell) F. Action Items F.1 BPL Mobile Services Vehicle(Gregory) F.2 Early Library Closure on March 26, 2025 (Gregory) G. Reports G.1 Director & Staff Reports(Gregory/Department Heads) G.2 Commission Liaison Update - Madgic(Madgic) G.3 Friends & Foundation Report(Johnson) THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA LBT AGENDA Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Please state your name and place of residence in an audible tone of voice for the record. This is the time for individuals to comment on non-agenda matters falling within the purview of the Committee. There will also be an opportunity in conjunction with each action item for comments pertaining to that item. Please state your name, and state whether you are a resident of the city or a property owner within the city in an audible tone of voice for the record and limit your comments to three minutes. Please limit your comments to three minutes. Approve Board Training 3 year lease Approval to close the Library at 4pm on Weds. March 26 1 H. Adjournment For more information please contact Susan Gregory, sgregory@bozeman.net This board generally meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Committee meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability and require assistance, please contact our ADA Coordinator, David Arnado, at 406.582.3232. In order for this Board to receive all relevant public comment in time for this meeting, please submit via the Public Comment Page or by emailing comments@bozeman.net no later than 12:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Public comment may be made in person at the meeting as well. 2 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library SUBJECT:Approval of Library Board Minutes from February 19, 2025 MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Minutes RECOMMENDATION:Approve STRATEGIC PLAN:1.1 Outreach: Continue to strengthen and innovate in how we deliver information to the community and our partners. BACKGROUND:Written record of key details discussed during the meeting, which includes actions taken and next steps. Minutes are the formal document that captures the date, time, attendees, agenda items, and any motions and actions taken. UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None ALTERNATIVES:N/A FISCAL EFFECTS:None Attachments: BPL Minutes, February 19, 2025.pdf Report compiled on: February 19, 2025 3 Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Feb 19, 2025 Minutes Attendance Library Board Chair Stewart Mohr; Trustees Mike Long, Ken Spencer, Mike Redburn; Bozeman Public Library (BPL) Director Susan Gregory; Assistant Director Kit Stephenson; Administrative Assistant Lauranna Cossins; Department Heads Carmen Clark, Ben Nielsen, Ellie Newell, Sarah Widger; Library Friends & Foundation Director Janay Johnson; Guest- President of the Friends & Foundation Tom Stonecipher Not Present: Trustee Pam Henley & City Commissioner Jennifer Madgic Call to Order Meeting was called to order by Board Chair Mohr at 4 pm. Public Comment – No Public present, therefore no comment. Changes to the Agenda- Chair Mohr stated that we were going to move the Board Ethics training to the end of the meeting. Approval of the Minutes Action Trustee Spencer moved to approve the minutes from the Jan 15, 2025, meeting. Trustee Long seconded. There was no further discussion. The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes as submitted. Action/ Discussion 1. Library Vehicle Purchase (Gregory)- Board tabled the discussion and requested further information regarding the cost savings between lease and purchase of a vehicle. The vehicle is used to deliver materials for Library outreach visits to area assisted living centers, senior living centers and events where the Bookmobile would not be appropriate. 2. West Bozeman Library branch opportunities (Johnson)- Johnson stated the Foundation has been in talks with City officials to see what it would cost to build a Library branch on the location of the proposed Community Center. The estimate that they have for a branch Library is roughly 26 million dollars. The Foundation Board is considering doing a feasibility study among the community and our donors to see how much money could be raised privately. 3. Request for Re-consideration update (Gregory)- Director Gregory gave an update on the Request for Re-consideration of Library Materials that was received in February. She followed Collection Management policy and formed a committee made up of librarians Sarah Widger, Ellie Newell and Hannah Mundt, who reviewed the book. The committee’s written decision was to retain the book in the collection and to purchase two copies of a title suggested by the complaining patrons. Gregory wrote a letter to the patron based on the committee’s feedback and let them know that they now have the option to take the matter to the Library Board if they choose. Gregory has not had a response to her letter so far. 4 4. Youth Services Department Renovation Update (Stephenson)- Youth Services Department Head Newell, Director Gregory and Assistant Director Stephenson met with the City Facilities Superintendent and project staff to interview the three top architectural design firms resulting from the RFP process. Presentations from each firm were excellent. Newell and Stephenson took a whirlwind research trip to the Missoula Public Library and Helena’s Lewis & Clark Public Library to see their children’s departments because each had been designed by one of the applicants. The committee also had an online tour of the third applicant’s library. The committee has narrowed it down to one firm. The next steps for the Library Foundation-funded project will be getting an RFQ from the firm with pricing information, entering into a contract and proceeding with the design. 5. Long-Term planning for use of Library property (Gregory) Gregory and Board Chair Mohr led a discussion on the importance of coming up with a structured way that Library Trustees can consistently, fairly and equitably respond to the increasing number of people who are asking for access to the Library’s 14-acre property. Some things to consider would be how big Bozeman’s population will be in years to come, what technology the Library will need to provide, and the increasing value and scarcity of green space within the City. The Library is due to begin another strategic planning phase in the next year and could include a master plan for the property within that plan. Mohr and Gregory will work with City administrative staff to explore options and keep the Board informed. There will be more to discuss in future Board meetings. Public input will be needed for planning the Library’s future. 6. City Ethics Training (Gregory)- Gregory presented the City of Bozeman Ethics Training for City Boards to the Board and led a discussion of ethical issues in a variety of situations. Correspondence – Gregory highlighted the comments from the public received this month. Reports Director’s report - Director Gregory provided her report to the Library Board prior to the meeting. Highlights were reviewed. Gregory asked the Trustees to let her know if they had any questions. The Montana Library Association Conference (MLA) will be held in Bozeman March 26-29th at the Grantree Inn. The conference program agenda was provided to the Board by current MLA President and BPL staff member Sarah Widger, who highlighted programs that might be of interest to Trustees. Gregory participated in the interview and selection of the Bozeman Police Department’s new Security Support Supervisor and Security Support Officer applicants. The chosen candidates are undergoing background checks. We are working with the Police Department to see an increased security presence in the Library when these positions are filled. Department Heads’ Highlights – Department reports were provided to the Board prior to the meeting. City Commission Library Liaison - City Commissioner Jennifer Madgic- Not present so no report was provided. 5 Library Friends & Foundation- Foundation Director Johnson – no additional information provided. There being no further business, Chair Mohr adjourned the meeting at 5pm. 6 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library SUBJECT:Library Long Term Planning for use of Library Property MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Citizen Advisory Board/Commission RECOMMENDATION:Discussion and next steps STRATEGIC PLAN:1.2 Community Engagement: Broaden and deepen engagement of the community in city government, innovating methods for inviting input from the community and stakeholders. BACKGROUND:Discussion of incorporating the Library Strategic Plan & Long Term Master Plan UNRESOLVED ISSUES:Next steps ALTERNATIVES:None FISCAL EFFECTS:None Report compiled on: March 14, 2025 7 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library Mobile Services SUBJECT:Library Mobile Services Presentation MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Citizen Advisory Board/Commission RECOMMENDATION:Board Training STRATEGIC PLAN:1.1 Outreach: Continue to strengthen and innovate in how we deliver information to the community and our partners. BACKGROUND:Departmental Report - Highlight/Presentation UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None ALTERNATIVES:None FISCAL EFFECTS:None Report compiled on: March 14, 2025 8 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library SUBJECT:BPL Mobile Services Vehicle MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Citizen Advisory Board/Commission RECOMMENDATION:3 year lease STRATEGIC PLAN:1.1 Outreach: Continue to strengthen and innovate in how we deliver information to the community and our partners. BACKGROUND:Decision to lease Library Outreach vehicle at this time with operating funds in approved FY25-26 Budget per further consultation with Finance staff. The Library will consider vehicle purchase rather than lease in the future. UNRESOLVED ISSUES:lease or buy in the future ALTERNATIVES:No outreach vehicle FISCAL EFFECTS:Down payment and three months payment in FY25 Library Operating Report compiled on: March 14, 2025 9 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library SUBJECT:Early Library Closure on March 26, 2025 MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Citizen Advisory Board/Commission RECOMMENDATION:Approval to close the Library at 4pm on Weds. March 26 STRATEGIC PLAN:1.1 Outreach: Continue to strengthen and innovate in how we deliver information to the community and our partners. BACKGROUND:The Library Board voted on January 15, 2026 to close the Library at 5pm to host the Montana Library Association Annual Conference reception. UNRESOLVED ISSUES:Close at 4pm to the public ALTERNATIVES:None FISCAL EFFECTS:N/A Report compiled on: March 14, 2025 10 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library SUBJECT:Director & Staff Reports MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Plan/Report/Study RECOMMENDATION:Updates & Review STRATEGIC PLAN:1.1 Outreach: Continue to strengthen and innovate in how we deliver information to the community and our partners. BACKGROUND:Departmental news & monthly highlights UNRESOLVED ISSUES:N/A ALTERNATIVES:N/A FISCAL EFFECTS:N/A Attachments: Adult Program & Outreach.pdf Collection Management.pdf Youth Services.pdf Mobile Services.pdf Public Services.pdf Report compiled on: February 12, 2025 11 APO Department Report Feb-Mar 2025 Program Highlights Outreach Highlights Staff Development • Patrons suffering memory loss and their care partners had an amazing time doing pass and paint at our Memory Cafe program. • Library super patron Steve made amazing polenta at a recent Thursday’s Table program. This is a program where community members or library staff share favorite recipes. • David taught his first 3D Printing class to a full Work Bench of excited students. After he received this message from a patron “My kids were watching me and my son said ‘I just can’t believe you know how to do this’ so thanks for the street cred too!” • Emily started Family Kitchen Lab in March which focuses on adult caregivers and children cooking together. For the first one they made amazing lemon bars! In February Ben had the wonderful opportunity to present on library services to the Montana Association of the Blind, and to also hear from these blind and low vision patrons on their use of the library. The next week two patrons from that meeting were thrilled to find Ben in the library and tell him they had just signed up for library cards and were bringing a child to storytime. Another outcome of that meeting was that a CCTV was donated to the library. This device is a magnifying screen that helps low vision patrons to view printed material, fill out forms, or complete detailed hand work like crafts. We are excited to be able to implement this device to better serve our patrons. We had a wonderful end to our winter program season in February with some great programs. As things begin to warm up around Bozeman, we are kicking off our Spring programs in March. A few opportunities to earn continuing education credit have been available to staff in March. On March 12th we held an all staff training day at the library. Staff were able to learn about library marketing, giving and receiving feedback, and safety in the library. From APO both Megan and Ben were able to participate in presenting at staff day. Ben has also been participating (along with Ellie) in codesign class through Library Journal. At the end of the month the Montana Library Association conference will be held in Bozeman. It’s proximity allows for most of the APO staff to participate in the conference. In addition to attending staff will also participate. Ben will be giving a session, and Emily and David will be providing demonstrations during the opening reception here at the library. This will give them a chance to showcase a portion of the great programming we have been doing at the library to librarians from around the state. Herman participating in pass and paint Jane with her final painting Steve’s Polenta 12 MARCH UPDATE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT NEW RESOURCES: BLACKSTONE UNLIMITED IS FULLY FUNCTIONING AND HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY POPULAR SO FAR WE JUST LAUNCHED A NEW VIRTUAL AUTHOR EVENT SERIES WITH THE LIBRARY SPEAKERS CONSORTIUM. THE FIRST EVENT IS WITH JODI PICOULT ON APRIL 2ND. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE. CREATED BY: CARMEN CLARK, DEPARTMENT HEAD COLLECTION MANAGEMENT 13 Children’sRoomRenovationUpdate We are still finalizing contractdetails with the architecturefirm for the initial communityengagement and design work. YOUTH SERVICES B OZ E MAN PU B L I C LI BR A R Y M A R C H 2 0 25 SO MANY MOVING PARTS! Thwack thwack thwack!(Left) A patron hammers golf teesinto a cardboard box during BabyStorytime. Activities like thisencourage both gross and fine motorskill development, tool exploration,and exuberant shrieks of joy. One ofthe goals in our Early LearningClasses is to model easy-to-reproduce-at-home brainy play sothat kids can keep this kind of richplay going at home all week long. On February 27 I provided testimony to the MT SenateEducation Committee in opposition to SB 396 which waslater tabled in committee. My remarks are below.-Ellie Newell, Youth Services Department Head Good Afternoon Chair and members of the committee. Myname is Ellie Newell and I am the Youth Services DepartmentHead at the Bozeman Public Library. I am a public librarianserving Montanans ages 0 through 18 and their caregivers. I urge you to oppose Senate Bill 396. SB 396 would limitfamilies' access to the library materials they need and want toaid difficult and important conversations with their children. The bill's main fault lies in its overly-broad and incorrectdescription of public library materials of, quote, "a sexual orgraphic nature." Historically, such language has been used toexclude materials that discuss anatomy and physiology,puberty, consent, and sexual abuse. While these topics maycause discomfort for some people, my experience is thatmany Montana families need and value age-appropriatematerial on these subjects from their public library. My staffand I are frequently asked by kids and their parents forassistance in locating them. While most of my team's work is helping families find booksabout light topics like dinosaurs, firetrucks, or unicorns,families often need heavier information from their publiclibrary. Some of the most poignant reference questions I'vebeen asked have been from parents seeking books to informconversations with their children who have survived sexualviolence. I've assisted parents of children as young as twoyears old who desperately need children's books that canhelp try and make sense of some horrible abuse that hasalready occurred. Books help these children understand thatsexual contact is only acceptable between consenting adults, and that the abuse is never the child's fault or secret to keep.For these families, books "of a sexual or graphic nature" -children's books that describe anatomical facts, sexual acts,or consent - are an absolute lifeline during a time of traumaand heartbreak. Librarians' training and experience guide ourcareful selection of these materials, and Montana familiesdepend on having access to these books. These books are in high demand in every public library whereI've worked. Library patrons often find and check out bookson sensitive topics without the assistance of library staff. Thisprivacy and anonymity is central to library patrons' rights.Housing age-appropriate health books in children'scollections enables patrons to easily and discreetly accessbooks they need when they may not feel comfortableapproaching library staff for assistance. Our goal, aslibrarians, is to make it as frictionless as possible for peopleto connect with the books they need. When a family is intrauma, we want to make it easy for them to find books thatwill help them find their way back into the light. As a librarian, I never impose my values or beliefs on childrenor families through my book recommendations. Rather, it issimply my job to connect families with the books that theyneed, that meet their family values, that answer theircuriosities and needs for stories and information. SB 396would make serving Bozeman Public Library's patronsimmeasurably more difficult by denying kids and theirfamilies tools they need to discuss complicated and sadtopics like sexual abuse. Montana's kids and families don't need Senate Bill 396. Theyneed robust public libraries with the right books to meet theirneeds, even difficult needs such as those that would beworsened, not improved, by this well-intentioned but ill-aimedbill. Thank you. 14 Mobile Services Report February 2025 Summary Stop data: Total Stops: 69 Total Service Hours: 61 Total Patrons: 1103 Programming Data*: Total Programs: 53 53 Outreach Storytimes Total Program Attendees: 638 Birth-5, 0 Elementary Age Children, 0 Teens, 122 Adults. Total: 760 *Some Data will overlap with Youth Services Report Continuing from last month, there were several bad weather days that the mobile library had to navigate. One stop was completely cancelled, and several others were rescheduled or swapped from the mobile library to the library highlander. I would also like to highlight Jonathan’s ongoing work to be able to provide the bus rules for preschoolers selecting books in Spanish, particularly at the Bozeman Headstart location (pictured below). Staff on the bus Jonathan welcoming Headstart Cottonwood Students on their way to students onto the bus the bus in the snow 15 March 2025 Public Services Department Board Report Prepared by Sarah Widger, Department Head swidger@bozeman.net, 406-582-2403 (desk), 406-579-9271 (cell) Montana State Library Certification MariAnn Field received her Montana State Library Certification this month. Congratulations, MariAnn! Transit to/from County Libraries Belgrade Library’s closure for the month of February is very obvious when looking at transit statistics from the last 12 months. Montana Library Association Conference Bozeman is hosting the Montana Library Association Conference March 26-29, 2025, at the Best Western Grantree. Members from each department are attending and will report out from their learnings to their departments and to the library as a whole. The Board of Trustees is cordially invited to attend any or all of the conference, but especially the Opening Reception scheduled for March 26 from 5:30-9:00pm. 16 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:City of Bozeman SUBJECT:Commission Liaison Update - Madgic MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Plan/Report/Study RECOMMENDATION:Discussion City Updates STRATEGIC PLAN:7.3 Best Practices, Creativity & Foresight: Utilize best practices, innovative approaches, and constantly anticipate new directions and changes relevant to the governance of the City. Be also adaptable and flexible with an outward focus on the customer and an external understanding of the issues as others may see them. BACKGROUND:Standing item on the Library Board of Trustees agenda - City Commissioner Liaison provides an update of pertinent information for the Library. UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None ALTERNATIVES:None FISCAL EFFECTS:None Report compiled on: February 12, 2025 17 Memorandum REPORT TO:Library Board of Trustees FROM:Bozeman Public Library Friends & Foundation SUBJECT:Friends & Foundation Report MEETING DATE:March 19, 2025 AGENDA ITEM TYPE:Plan/Report/Study RECOMMENDATION:Discussion/Highlights STRATEGIC PLAN:7.3 Best Practices, Creativity & Foresight: Utilize best practices, innovative approaches, and constantly anticipate new directions and changes relevant to the governance of the City. Be also adaptable and flexible with an outward focus on the customer and an external understanding of the issues as others may see them. BACKGROUND:Standing item on the Library Board of Trustees agenda - Friends & Foundation provides an update of pertinent information for the Library. UNRESOLVED ISSUES:None ALTERNATIVES:None FISCAL EFFECTS:None Report compiled on: February 12, 2025 18