Avoca Public Library Board of Trustees Minutes for November 2025

 

AVOCA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Board of Trustees

Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.

Call to Order: Kathy

Present: Kathy, Amy Pattee, Denise, Gary, Sabrina, Becky, and Amy Parker, Diane Absent: Mary

Public Comments: None

Secretary’s Report: Motion to approve minutes by Amy Parker, Second by Amy Pattee, Motion passed

Financial Report:  Memorial Fund -$43,275.45  LPL-nothing new SCSB CD $15,830.92

CFWI-$200,065.26 (trust) CFWI-$522,432.73 (Library Fund)

         

Librarian’s Report:

1. Halloween-448 attended, $59.66 candy-motion Denise to pay from Memorial fund, Amy Pattee 2nd-motion passed.

2. Holidays on Main-11/29 activities including Gingerbread house coloring/Santa letter writing station/Parade of Trees

3. Adult Craft Class-book page ornaments-15 spots

4. Memorial Donation page is now up on website, listing the donors.

5. Baker & Taylor is out of business causing book order problems-shifting back to Ingram, Amazon is also adding library pricing.

6. Library Roof-leaking again, she has messaged Public Works Supervisor, no one has been back.  Discussion held to have a building/roof inspector assess the damage & repair cost.

 

Scheduled dates:     

Story time Programs every Wed. at 10:30 & Daycare Outreach

Friday Club at 1:00

Book clubs x2

League of Human Dignity – 2nd Monday 1-3:00

Sensory Friendly Field Trip-November 24

Movie Monday – November 24 at 10:00 pm-NO MOVIE IN DEC.

Trivia Night-November 21st 7:00-9:00 general theme

Memorial Tree Decorating Party-Nov. 22 10:00

Thanksgiving-Library closed- Nov 26 & 27

Holidays on Main- November 29th 3-5:30

Adult Craft Class-December 3 6:30-7:30

 

Old Business:

1. Strategic Plan comments-updated version available in red

2. Trustee Training link-11/20 viewing at library.

3. 2021 Trustee Handbook

4. City Budget Amendment-not done yet

5. Library Landscaping-nothing new

 

New Business:

1.    Sign bills & hours- motion to approve by Denise, Amy Parker 2nd, motion passed

2.    Gifts & Memorials - $1000-Roger Dollen-board agreed to purchase an ornament in his wife’s name.

3.    CFWI amendment to allow 2 people to remove money including the Board President & Library Director using “name/title”. Kathy will email and clarify exact wording.

4.    Library Holiday Hours: Wednesday before Thanksgiving close at 5, Saturday before Holidays on Main closed, but open from 3-5:30 for event. Amy Parker motioned/2nd by Becky-Passed.

5.    New Apollo software-Need to cancel Follett (which is more a library service) we will get a prorated credit approximately $1600

2 options: Gabby & Basic-Walnut library uses this and is very happy. More book info when searched.  Patrons will be able to do a lot of things with this by themselves.

Enhanced-option gives you more book suggestions and is $220 more, could add later if wanted, Sabrina doesn’t think we need right now.

Motion by Denise to use $1200 from Memorial funds for the data transfer (along with the $1600 prorated refund) 2nd by Amy Pattee-Motion passed.

6.    Library Staff Hours & Pay: Avoca library is on track for “c” size libraries. Jeremy will have his Children’s Library endorsement in January.  Both Jeremy and Pam would like more hours to continue our increased library programming.

Sabrina will ask for more in the budget to cover increased hours.

7.    Budget:  Dues and membership increase to $2600 to cover catalog software

 Advertising budget back to $40

 Building repair increase to $7,000

 Library Materials increase to $12,500 (to pay for HOOPLA)

 Meeting is tomorrow.

8.    Bridges (Libby) Cost increase

9.    HOOPLA-currently at $459 which should last 2 months, Sabrina would like $2500 from library materials to use for HOOPLE.  Motion by Amy Pattee, 2nd by Denise-Passed.

10. City Council updates – Diane Stamp liaison-Tyler is done 11/19-headhunter has been hired with a goal of January for new City Admin.

Public Safety Building on schedule for completion January

Community Center on schedule for completion June 2026

Highway 59 improvements will be postponed as city will need to pay for the gutters

DNR has stated our lagoons will need to be improved within 5 years

Noise camera still has a software problem and therefore we cannot bill and collect fines

 

Trustee Comments: 

   Next Meeting: Mon., December 8, 2025, at 6 p.m.

   Adjourn: Motion to adjourn Amy Pattee, Gary 2nd. Meeting adjourned.