Kelly Tester called the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library Board to order at 5:11PM. Board members Joye Hawk, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester were present, as well as Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, Director Deborah Meyer, and Regional Director John McGraw. Board member Tracy Hastings joined by phone.
Minutes of the December 18 meeting were reviewed. David moved to accept the minutes as amended. Joye seconded the motion, which passed.
Financial reports were reviewed.
First Service Money Market account had a net gain of $991.98 for an ending balance of $98,900.63. There is $20.48 remaining in the Super Now account which will be folded into the Money Market account.
The First Security account had a net gain of $882.46 for an ending balance of $8,091.87.
The millage took in $118,389.07, better than the two prior December collections. For the 12 months prior, the sum was $533,231.58, down from the 12 months prior to that. Millage balance is $311,426.83. The payment on the building has been made for 2025. 2026 wil be the final full payment. A 2027 payment will cover any remainder.
The law library had an ending balance of $5,978.34. Some new law books have been purchased but are not reflected on this report.
Damascus had an ending balance of $3,415.43.
Joye moved to approve the financial reports. David seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Regional board members for 2025 will be David Emmerling, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester. Tracy offered to be a proxy as needed.
John noted that the board should also select a chair for 2025. David Jeffries volunteered and was approved by acclamation.
Deb requested that the minutes specifically indicate the board’s directive to close the First Service Super Now (#1023) account and deposit the money in the First Service Money Market (#3184) account. David Jeffries moved to close the Super Now account and deposit remaining funds in the Money Market account. Joye seconded the motion which was unanimously approved.
New Business
Deb reported that a computer failure in the lockers had taken them offline. Replacement parts have arrived and need to be installed.
Niche Academy begins next week.
Deb requested authorization to purchase a Cover One book repair machine. The cost would be $1,300 approximately, to be paid from First Service. John reported that their Cover One is in use constantly, and that after repairing 50 books that would otherwise have to be reordered, the
machine will have paid for itself. Faulkner County staff can assist in training. David moved to approve the purchase. Joye seconded the motion, which passed.
David asked that Deb provide a list of spending needs for the first quarter at the February meeting.
Joye announced that she will be resigning from the board in the immediate future. Sources of suitable candidates were discussed.
The next county board meeting is February 19th.
The Regional board meeting on January 22nd will feature Jenn Wann of the State Library offering board training to both county boards at 5:30PM.
Joye moved to adjourn. David seconded the motion, which passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:51PM.
Minutes for February 25, 2025
David Jeffries called the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library Board to order at 5:06PM. Board members David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester were present, as well as Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, Director Deborah Meyer, Regional Director John McGraw, as well as possible future library volunteer Katie Eisenhower. Board member Tracy Hastings joined by phone.
Minutes of the January 15 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Tracy seconded the motion, which passed.
Financial reports were reviewed.
First Service account had a net loss of $2,499.03 and an ending balance of $96,401.60. The major expense was Niche Academy.
The First Security account had a net loss of $1,808.71 for an ending balance of $6,283.16.
The millage took in $221,037.53, leaving a balance of $178,639.07 after the payment on the building.
The law library had an ending balance of $5,760.15.
Damascus had an ending balance of $3,249.10.
There were questions about the Subscriptions budget line, which includes subscriptions to physical magazines as well as to intangibles such as software like DeepFreeze.
Tracy moved to approve the financial reports. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Niche Academy will be on the library’s website shortly.
The Book Locker is being serviced with a replacement computer unit.
New Business
Deb discussed her spending priorities for the first quarter of the year as well as the current e-Rate filing: The binding machine has been purchased. The plastic rolls are expensive, but the books that need not be discarded or replaced are more expensive. A Zoom account was available for a discount via Techsoup.
Looking forward to Summer Reading, there is interest in family bookclubs.
Carpet cleaning would be desirable after Summer Reading each year.
Wonderbooks have proven popular and more titles would be good.
Another piece of software would be Novelist, which can help people find other books based on what they liked about a book they already know.
E-rate filing will ask for funds for license renewals of security software, 2 new switches, additional cabling, UPS backup, and an Ethernet drop at the front desk.
Katie Eisenhower asked questions about funding needs for summer reading.
Kelly moved to adjourn at 5:45PM. Tracy seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned.
The next county board meeting is March 19th
Minutes for March 19, 2025
David Jeffries called to order the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library board at 5:08PM. Present were board members David Emmerling, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester; also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Katie Eisenhower. Board member Joye Hawk joined by phone, and Regional Director John McGraw joined by Zoom.
Minutes of the February 26, 2025 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. David Emmerling seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $1,020.26 for a final balance of $97,421.86. First Security had a net loss of $25.50 for a final balance of $6257.66. $6,510.33 was collected in millage, up from February 2024. Major purchases included an external dvd player that connects to library computers to watch disks. The plastic covers for the bookbinding machine discussed last month have come in and are being used on incoming books. Books for summer reading programs have been ordered. The book budget will be about $1,000 per month usually hereafter. No spending on Law Library books, though they have been ordered. The cost and access of print copies versus potentially an online database like Lexis-Nexus were discussed.
David Emmerling moved to approve the financial transactions. Joye seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
The Zoom account is in use at present. The binding machine is getting used. Niche Academy has some helpful training for staff yet to be assigned. E-rate filing period is underway. Several licenses are up for renewal which will make this request larger but will carry those licenses to 2031. Van Buren County’s 20% contribution may be as high as $3,000, though that is an estimate.
A grant was awarded for $1,000 for more Wonderbooks, thanks to the Women’s Methodist Group.
The signage to add “Warren’s Lea” to the front sign was discussed.
New Business
Future projects may include
1. ACT as contracted IT,
2. additional shelving,
3. an outdoor pavilion that could host programs, and
4. outdoor storage.
Possibilities discussed included (1) joining the county with their IT contractor and paying an equitable payment for expanding their coverage to the library, (3) Pinnacle or others could be potential sponsors, (4) Faulkner County has replaced three storage buildings with Tuff Shed buildings in the last few years, with Greenbrier earlier this year.
Upcoming events include a new book club, Giving Day, a Kite flying event on April 5. Next week is spring break and features a kids’ carnaval on Tuesday the 25th.
Katie Eisenhower expressed her willingness to serve the remainder of Joye Hawk’s term. David Emmerling moved that the board recommend her to Judge James. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
There being no further business, The meeting adjourned at 6:09
The next county board meeting is April 16. The library will be closed on Friday the 18th, though the staff will be travelling to Conway to join Faulkner County’s in-service training day which will include Beanstack software training and summer reading preparation. The next Regional meeting is Wednesday the 23rd
Minutes for April 16, 2025
Katie Eisenhower took the oath of office as a library board member.
David Jeffries called to order the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library board at 5:04PM. Present were board members Katie Eisenhower, David Emmerling, Tracy Hastings, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester; also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Regional Director John McGraw.
Minutes of the March 19, 2025 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. David Emmerling seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $1,386.80 for a final balance of $98,808.66. First Security had a net gain of $4,960.47 for a final balance of $11,218.13. This included $4,000 from Women In Faith for Wonderbooks, and $250 from Ozark Health for lunch for staff. $6,510.33 was collected in millage, up from February 2024. David Jeffries noted that 50% of the book budget is spent, and 90% of the subscription budget. Deb explained that she has budgeted the remainder in equal installments for each month remaining in 2025.
Tracy moved to approve the financial transactions. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Deb is currently purchasing supplies for Summer Reading Program.
John discussed legislation in the state impacting libraries. SB181 passed, removing the requirement that Regional Directors have a Master’s in Library Science. Hiring committees may substitute “relevant experience” instead. SB536 failed, and it would have dissolved the State Library board as well as the State Library, and imposed a slate of new requirements for state aid that would have been burdensome for small and rural libraries. SB640 passed, which reconstitutes the state library board with seven new appointees on staggered appointments.
New Business
Bernhard submitted a quote to replace sensors and fuses on the HVAC for $1109. Kelly moved to approve the repairs. Tracy seconded the motion, which passed.
Info
The job fair had low attendance. The Kite event had no wind. New book clubs are meeting, 1 for adults, and 1 specifically for homeschooled kids.
Upcoming events include the Easter Bunny and the Duck Derby.
The library will be closed for Good Friday and staff will be travelling to Conway for an in-service training day. A Regional board meeting is scheduled for April 23. The board is asked to review and possibly revise the code of conduct for patrons.
The next county board meeting is May 21.
There being no further business, The meeting adjourned at 5:56PM.
