Library Board meeting minutes - November 13, 2024

The public is welcome at all library board meetings

The Hennepin County Library Board met Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at the Penn Lake Library, Meeting Room, 8800 Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55431.

Attendees

Library Board members: Gordy Aune, Jr., Jane Brissett, Erin Carney, Briana Eicheldinger, Jessica Kraft, Ashley Krohn, Lynn Stetler.

Hennepin County Staff: Director Scott Duimstra, Lillian Albrecht, Tonya Depriest, Susan Gleissner, Sara Goodnough, Commissioner Debbie Goettel, J.R. Genett, Samantha Jekot-Graham, Casey Jones, Amy Kennedy-Fosseen, Char Kimber, Kelli Koob, Amy McNally, Ayanna Muata, Christy Mulligan, Tysley Taylor, Ali Turner, Ann Woodson-Hicks, Josh Yetman.

Call to Order

President Jessica Kraft called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and welcomed attendees.

Attendance of Library Board Members

Library Board Clerk Lillian Albrecht took roll call and the Board met quorum with seven board members present.

Approval of Agenda

Motion: Jane Brissett
Second: Gordy Aune, Jr.
Motion passed.

Approval of Consent Items

Meeting minutes of the September 18, 2024, meeting, and donations.

Motion: Lynn Stetler
Second: Ashley Krohn
Motion passed.

Public Comment

None.

Welcome from Penn Lake Staff

Penn Lake Patron Experience Supervisor Sara Goodnough welcomed the Board and shared about Penn Lake’s history, community, programming, initiatives, and upcoming renovations.

Commendations

Kraft highlighted library nominees and recipients of two Hennepin County Employee Recognition Awards. For the People First Award Bailey Diers and Franklin Library Staff were honored as nominees. Franklin Library Staff include Rebecka Keovoravongsa, Valerie Leussler, Abdullahi Mohamed, Claire Moran, Caitlin Morris, Ogi Ruel, Isabella Silvia, Neeka Taneeka, Thorin Tatge, and Ayan Warsame. Patrick Larkin was honored as the library award winner.

For the Stewardship Award, the Library Data Strategy Team was honored as the library award winner. Team members include Shannon Adkins, Kat Debertin, Phil Feilmeyer, and Katy Schulz.

President’s Report

Kraft highlighted upcoming Hennepin County Library and Friends of the Hennepin County Library events featured in Board packets.

Kraft noted the 2024 Conference Fund Update included in the packet and encouraged members to attend conferences in 2025.

Kraft reminded the Board about Board applications opening, new per diem requirements, and a change in the March meeting location to Plymouth Library.

Director’s Report

Library Director Scott Duimstra discussed Library, Community, and County updates. These updates included service statistics, the new library app, capital projects, the 2025 budget, and upcoming events.

Staff Dialogue

Deputy Director of Library Support Services, JR Genett, provided a staff dialogue on book challenges and how they relate to the Collection Development and Management Policy. Genett discussed the difference between book challenges and bans, the importance of intellectual freedom, procedures when responding to requests for reconsideration, and the history of book bans.

Committee Reports

The Executive Committee’s next meeting is January 2, 2024, 5:30-7:30 pm at Ridgedale Library, Robert H. Rohlf Room.

The Budget and Long-Term Planning Committee shared its 2025 meeting schedule and updated the November meeting date to November 6. Chair Aune, Jr. requested to add two additional committee members. Kraft appointed Jane Brissett and Lynn Stetler to the committee.

The Policy Committee shared its 2025 meeting schedule. A revised Collection Development and Management Policy was discussed and approved by the Board.

Motion: Gordy Aune, Jr.
Second: Erin Carney
Motion passed.

The Friends of the Hennepin County Library ex officio Jane Brissett had no updates, noting the next Friends meeting will be in December.

Unfinished Business

Duimstra informed the Board that previous bookmobiles were discontinued primarily due to the high cost of maintaining a specialty vehicle. Instead, Hennepin County Library has an All Are Welcome van meant to support patrons in obtaining library cards and services and connecting them to their local library.

New Business

Brissett shared the impact of the Board’s letter in supporting Bloomington Public Schools who faced an increase in book challenges during November 2023. Following the letter, a student book club was formed to encourage reading banned books. This club will receive the Omar Bonderud Human Rights Award during the January Bloomington City Council meeting.

Ashley Krohn encouraged attendees to continue to support school libraries. Brissett noted that the Board could use its Resolution on Book Banning to support schools facing challenges similar to Bloomington.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Library Board is Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 pm, St. Louis Park Library, Meeting Room.

Adjourn

There being no further business, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 pm.

Motion: Erin Carney
Second: Gordy Aune, Jr.
Motion passed.