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Faulkner County Library Board Minutes
Faulkner County Library Board Minutes - 2026
Minutes for January 12, 2026
Jeff Whitingham called the monthly meeting of the Faulkner County Library board to order on January 12, 2026, at 5:31 PM.- Present were board members Kellie Cardin, Cindy Stage, and Jeff Whittingham. Also attending were Director John McGraw, Assistance Director DeAnna Dillon, Youth Services Manager Mary Spears Polk, and Peggy Arrigo from the League of Woman Voters.
The first order of business was to elect a new Board Chair for 2026. Cindy made a motion for Jeff Whittingham to chair for another year. Kellie seconded. Motion passed.
Cindy Stage made a motion to suspend normal business to start the Board Orientation. Kellie Cardin seconded. Motion passed.
Jenn Wann from the Arkansas State Library presented the Public Library Board of Trustee Basics training. Jenn covered Parliamentary Procedures along with public meeting requirements.
Minutes of the December 15, 2025, meeting were reviewed. Kellie Cardin made a motion to accept the December minutes. Cindy Stage seconded. Motion passed
Summary Statements of Operations were reviewed. The Director noted that 2025 millage collection was at 102%.
Statistical Report and Programming were reviewed. The Director noted that adult programs attendance was up for the year along with Circulation and eBooks check outs.
Purchase Orders were reviewed. Cindy Stage moved to approve the purchase orders. Kellie Cardin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Fines and Donations spending was reviewed. Kellie Cardin moved to approve the expenditures. Cindy Stage seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Regional transactions were reviewed. Next meeting is January 28, 2026. The Director stated that part of the Regional Boards duties this year would be reviewing RFP for a new circulation software.
Old Business
Buildings: The Director presented a court order 25-204 from County Judge Allen Dodson stating that all Custodial bids were rejected. John then presented the board with a one month contract for
Anthony Tabone to clean the library. Cindy Stage made a motion to accept the one month contract. Kellie Cardin seconded. Motion passed.
The Director reported that a recent inspection recommended adding smoke alarms and additional extinguishers to branch locations. These have been purchased for Greenbrier, Mayflower, and Vilonia, and recommended to the cities of Guy, Mount Vernon, and Twin Groves for their buildings. Additionally, quotes from Kordsmeier for more fluorescent light replacement are being pursued.
The Director reported that he is pursuing several options for the Mt. Vernon location. An affordable proposal for a large residential structure has arrived, but will wait until other proposals come in.
Personnel: The Director reported that a Youth Librarian has given notice. Job duties would be reviewed and then submitted to the county to open up applications to fill the vacancy.
New Business
The Director presented the board with the Scholarship Assistance through the Arkansas State Library for Mary Spears Polk. Kellie Cardin made a motion to approve the scholarship assistance. Cindy Stage seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The Director presented the contract for Datamax for our printer leasing and repair services. Kellie Cardin made a motion to approve the contract. Cindy Stage seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The Director addressed the complaints filed about the custodial contracts and the author talks.
The next meeting will be on Febuary 16th.
Cindy Stage moved to adjourn at 6:42PM. Kellie seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.
Minutes for February 16, 2026
Cindy Stage called the monthly meeting of the Faulkner County Library board to order on January 12, 2026, at 5:31 PM. Present were board members Kellie Cardin, Cindy Stage, and John Grey. Also attending were Director John McGraw, Assistance Director DeAnna Dillon, and Network Admin Christopher Bowen
Minutes of the January 12, 2026, meeting were reviewed. Kellie Cardin made a motion to accept the January minutes. John Grey seconded. Motion passed
Summary Statements of Operations were reviewed. The Director noted that January 2026 was the largest collections amount to date.
Statistical Report and Programming were reviewed.
Purchase Orders were reviewed. Kellie Cardin moved to approve the purchase orders. John Gray seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Fines and Donations spending was reviewed. John Gray moved to approve the expenditure. Kellie Cardin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Regional transactions were reviewed. The January meeting will need to be rescheduled in March 2026 once the state library makes decisions on funding. John stated that he is asking that we pause Overdrive purchases until further notice.
Old Business
Buildings
The Director reported that he spoke with Morton Building, United Buildt and Todd Cardin about buildings at Mt. Vernon.
Personnel The Director reported that a Youth Librarian applications have been reviewed and they will be interviewing 17 applicants starting the week of Feb 23.
New Business
Christopher presented 3 quotes for a new firewaill and switch. The Firewall will reach end of life in March 2026. John Gray made a motion to accept the 3-year warranty quote. Kellie Cardin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
The Director explained that the State Library board is working with the department of Education to set Rules of Funding for Regional Fund.
The Director also stated that he is working on data to present to the regional board about going fine free on all materials.
The next meeting will be on March 16th in Greenbrier.
John Gray moved to adjourn at 6:12PM. Kellie seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.
Minutes for March 16, 2026
Jeff Whittingham called the monthly meeting of the Faulkner County Library board to order on March 16, 2026, at 5:36 PM at the Greenbrier Public Library. Present were board members John Grey, Cindy Stage, and Jeff Whittingham. Also attending were Director John McGraw, Assistance Director DeAnna Dillon, Mount Vernon Branch Manager Misty Henry, Greenbrier Library staff Loretta Keathley, Missy Swyers & Elizabeth Langrell, Jerry Davidson from United Built Homes and many members of the Greenbrier community.
Minutes of the February 16, 2026, meeting were reviewed. Cindy Stage moved to accept the minutes. John Grey seconded the motion, which passed.
Cindy Stage moved to suspend the agenda and allow community comments. John Grey seconded the motion, which passed.
Shelly Mehl with the Arkansas Community Foundation, reported that the 5th Ave Storywalk in Conway has been such a success that Matthews Park in Greenbrier has received funding to install a storywork for the area.
Nancy Burris and Kim Tyler both spoke on the wonderful staff for Greenbrier and that the area needs a much larger space for the Greenbrier residents to enjoy.
Jerry Davidson from United Built Homes presented plans for the Windsor design. He summarized discussions with Misty Henry about removing a few walls and opening the main space further. Once the contract is signed, it will take 4-6 months to finish the project. If the board approved an exploratory agreement, UBH could begin customizing the floorplan and conduct a site visit. A quote will be submitted to the board after plans are modified and a site visit is conducted.
Cindy Stage moved to authorize the Director to sign paperwork to move toward a quote for a modified structure based on UBH’s Windsor design. John Gray seconded the motion, which passed.
Summary Statements of Operations were reviewed.
Statistical Report and Programming were reviewed.
Purchase Orders were reviewed. The Director noted the final payment to H&N for work putting plans out to bid. Cindy moved to approve the purchase orders. John Gray seconded the motion, which passed.
Fines and Donations spending was reviewed. Cindy State moved to approve the expenditures. John Gray seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Buildings:
The director reported that he has contacted Kordsmeier about servicing several doors in Conway, as well as redoing the men’s room in Conway. There has been no progress on getting parking lot lights repaired or flourescent bulbs converted to LED.
Personnel The Director reported that Youth Librarian interviews were down to the last 6 interviews. The final 6 candidates are doing Storytimes for the next few days, and the committee hopes to have a decision soon after they are completed.
Twin Groves will be looking for a new Part Time employee after this summer.
New Business
The Director announced that the first quarterly Regional board meeting will be held on March 25th. After summarizing the recent work by the state library board to establish new criteria for state aid to public libraries, the Director highlighted several items of business for the Regional board including
1. A proposal to make the website more ADA-compliant,
2. Approving the specifications for the Request for Proposals for the Regional Library’s next Integrated Library System (ILS). The bids should not rise to the level that would require the Faulkner County Judge’s office to handle the bidding process. At the end of April, the second quarterly meeting of the Regional board will consider bids and select one. This will accelerate the process somewhat and provide more time for data migration and staff training, should a new vendor be selected.
3. A proposal to eliminate overdue fines. Overdue fines are about 5% of annual revenue in the libraries, and create a barrier to access for many people.
The next county board meeting will be on April 20th in Conway.
Cindy Stage moved to adjourn at 6:47PM. John Gray seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.
Minutes for April 20, 2026
Jeff Whittingham called the monthly meeting of the Faulkner County Library board to order on April 20, 2026, at 5:34 PM at the Faulkner County Library. Present were board members John Grey, Kellie Cardin, and Jeff Whittingham. Also attending were Director John McGraw, Assistance Director DeAnna Dillon, Library staff Jen Beritiech, Jessica Rutherford, Katie Scott, Mary Spears Polk, Ashley Clingin, and Artist in Residence Kyla Anderson.
Minutes of the March 16, 2026, meeting were reviewed. Kellie Cardin moved to accept the minutes. John Grey seconded the motion, which passed.
Kellie Cardin moved to suspend the agenda and allow the Artist in Residence Kyla Anderson to present the services she has offered the Youth Services department. John Grey seconded the motion, which passed.
Summary Statements of Operations were reviewed.
Statistical Report and Programming were reviewed. Program attendance was up, Circulation and Attendance were down.
Purchase Orders were reviewed. Kellie Cardin moved to approve the purchase orders. John Gray seconded the motion, which passed.
Fines and Donations spending was reviewed. Kellie Cardin moved to approve the expenditures. John Gray seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Buildings:
The director presented the latest draft from UBH for the Mt. Vernon location. Kellie Cardin request that we try and have the building plans completed before end of 2026.
Personnel:
The search for the Youth Services position has been completed and Sydney Mullins-Britt started on April 20th.
The Director reported that Mayflower Assistant Librarian Hailey Beliew has given notice and will join the Central Arkansas Library System’s Children’s Library. This position will begin interviews in the coming weeks.
Ashley Clingin presented an updated proposal to move the Youth Services Administrative Assistant from Part time to Full time to the board. John Gray made a motion for John to move forward with the proposal to the Quorum Court. Kellie Cardin seconded the motion, which passed.
New Business
Security Issues:
The Director informed the board of security issues that have come up over the last month. The coming months will have several proposals addressing these issues. Board members suggested looking into third-party security companies along with updating signage around the property and the building.
Strategic Plan:
The director informed the board that a committe has been created to start a 3 year strategic plan that will include input from other community partners, board members, staff and patrons.
Kellie Cardin asked what should be done about the ongoing absence of the newest board member. The board asked that the Director reach out to the County Judge’s office about next steps.
The next county board meeting will be on May 18th in Conway.
Kellie Cardin moved to adjourn at 6:39PM. John Gray seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.