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Van Buren County Library Board Minutes
Van-Buren County Library Board Minutes - 2025
Minutes for January 21, 2026
David Jeffries called to order the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library board at 5:16PM. Present were board members David Emmerling, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester; also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Regional Director John McGraw. Joining by Zoom were board members Katie Eisenhower and Tracey Hastings.
Minutes of the December 17, 2025, meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Tracey seconded the motion, which passed.
Kelly requested the board revisit the December decision on mileage rates for John. Kelly moved that the rate should match the state rate (currently $0.72 per mile). Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $222.17, with an ending balance of $109,084.45.
First Security had a net gain of $804.50 with UPS activity and library purchases from Amazon. The ending balance was $9,128.21.
The millage took in $129,334.55.
There was discussion of the promotional calendars purchased from MAS Modern Marketing, and the cancellation of two checks to them.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. Tracey seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
The ceremony for the burning of the note on the building had some 45 attendees.
There was discussion of the 10th Anniversary for the building in March. Program ideas for families were discussed.
David Emmerling moved to put $50,000 from First Service into a CD for a higher rate of interest on the $50,000 as well as the remaining balance in the account. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed. Signatories to the Certificate of Deposit paperwork will include Director Deborah Meyer, and board members Tracey Hastings, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester.
New Business
The fabric chairs purchased ten years ago are needing repair to the upholstery or replacement.
John reported that the Regional board can meet via Zoom next Wednesday. There will be an overview of the Integrated Library System (ILS) selection process, the options already explored, and expectations for the April and July meetings to finalize the process. This is the software that handles all library transactions, the online catalog, and patron records.
Info
Regional Board meets via Zoom on January 28th
Friends of the Library meet February 3rd
The next board meeting is February 18th.
David Emmerling moved to adjourn. Kelly seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:04PM.
Minutes of the December 17, 2025, meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Tracey seconded the motion, which passed.
Kelly requested the board revisit the December decision on mileage rates for John. Kelly moved that the rate should match the state rate (currently $0.72 per mile). Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $222.17, with an ending balance of $109,084.45.
First Security had a net gain of $804.50 with UPS activity and library purchases from Amazon. The ending balance was $9,128.21.
The millage took in $129,334.55.
There was discussion of the promotional calendars purchased from MAS Modern Marketing, and the cancellation of two checks to them.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. Tracey seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
The ceremony for the burning of the note on the building had some 45 attendees.
There was discussion of the 10th Anniversary for the building in March. Program ideas for families were discussed.
David Emmerling moved to put $50,000 from First Service into a CD for a higher rate of interest on the $50,000 as well as the remaining balance in the account. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed. Signatories to the Certificate of Deposit paperwork will include Director Deborah Meyer, and board members Tracey Hastings, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester.
New Business
The fabric chairs purchased ten years ago are needing repair to the upholstery or replacement.
John reported that the Regional board can meet via Zoom next Wednesday. There will be an overview of the Integrated Library System (ILS) selection process, the options already explored, and expectations for the April and July meetings to finalize the process. This is the software that handles all library transactions, the online catalog, and patron records.
Info
Regional Board meets via Zoom on January 28th
Friends of the Library meet February 3rd
The next board meeting is February 18th.
David Emmerling moved to adjourn. Kelly seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:04PM.
Minutes for February 18, 2026
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 Jeffries, and Kelly Tester; also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Regional Director John McGraw.
Minutes of the January 21 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Security had a net loss of $409.69, with an ending balance of $8,718.52.
First Service had a net gain of $798.80. $50,000 was moved into a six-month CD earning 3.9899% until it matures on June 16th. Niche Academy has been renewed for another year. The ending balance was $56,896.25.
The January millage plus the transfer from County General for the loan payment equaled $223.509.59.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Katie Eisenhower’s re-appointment to the board goes to the quorum court for approval February 19th.
Upholstery repair continues to prove a challenge. Some protective plastic sheets are being tried as a stopgap measure.
New Business
There was a discussion about employee retention, the importance of documentation of disciplinary actions and a progressive framework for disciplinary actions.
A comprehensive light-conversion proposal was discussed. There was a discussion of breaking the project into smaller components based on need.
John reported that the state library board had not approved quarterly payments to libraries in February while they await new rules from the Department of Education. As a result John had suspended purchases of downloadable titles in Libby. If the matter is not resolved soon it could jeopardize the search for a new ILS software this year, and possibly other downloadable collections or summer reading performers in the future.
Info
Friends of the Library meet March 3
The next board meeting is March 18
Katie moved to adjourn. Kelly seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:13PM.
Minutes for March 19, 2026
David Jeffries called to order the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library board at 5:22PM. Present were board members 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 February 18 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Tracy seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Security had a net loss of $873.39, with an ending balance of $7,845.13. Children’s books from East West Publishing were purchased.
First Service had a net gain of $925.88. The ending balance was $57,822.13.
The February millage took in $1,392.82.
Kirby installed 2 new phone lines. Summer giveaways including stickers, bags, and coloring sheets purchased from Coast To Coast.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. Tracy seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
Setting up a Storywalk has been delayed as the laminator is not working. Repairs or replacement being explored.
Movie programs are continuing, as is embroidery. Bunco will begin soon.
New Business
John spoke about the agenda for the March 25 Regional board meeting.
· There is a desire to accelerate the selection of a new Integrated Library Software vendor to insure there will be time to migrate data and train staff on a new system, if a new vendor is selected. The board will be asked to approve an RFP in March and select a vendor at the April meeting instead of the July meeting.
· There is a statute coming into effect mandating some ADA accomodations to the website. The best deal found so far is with Visionamp, who provides the website currently. They offer a solution for an additional $1,000.
· Having researched a year of transactions, overdue fines are about 6% of Van Buren County Library’s revenue. John will be asking the Regional board to end overdue fines for most items. Overdue notifications as well as replacement charges will still insure that items are returned.
Info
Friends of the Library meet April 7
The next board meeting is April 15
Kelly moved to adjourn. Tracy seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:01PM.
Minutes for April 15, 2026
David Jeffries called to order the monthly meeting of the Van Buren County Library board at 5:04PM. Present were board members David Emmerling, David Jeffries, and Kelly Tester; Katie Eisenhower joined the meeting via Zoom. Also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Regional Director John McGraw.
Minutes of the March 19 meeting were reviewed. David Emmerling moved to accept the minutes as presented. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $1,202.12, with an ending balance of $59,024.25.
First Security had a net gain of $6,066.34. The ending balance was $13,911.47. Methodist Women gave $5,000 for Summer.
ENFRA found no issues.
Grants for converting lights to LED are being explored.
The February millage took in $6,586.73. The Subscriptions budget line (3008.0600.3041) is almost out of money. There was discussion of other budget lines for things paid for out of Subscriptions.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. David Emmerling seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
John recapped the Regional board meeting, Overdue fines will no longer be assessed, though patrons can still be charged for loss or damage of materials. The immediate result seems to have been almost two months’ worth of “lost” materials being returned in just over one week. A team is looking at various softwares to run our catalog and lending operations for the next few years. The next Regional board meeting is scheduled for May 6th and aims to select a vendor.
New Business
Numerous changes coming to programs. No attendance at Legos and Movies may mean new dates or times for those programs going forward. An afternoon storytime is being added. A homeschooling group is meeting on Tuesday afternoons. Embroidery will be monthly on a Saturday. And a Green Thumb Club is starting up via the local 4H chapter. Looking forward to summer, there will be a prize chest to inspire kids to read a book every week.
Info
Friends of the Library meet May 5
Regional Board Meeting in Clinton on May 6
The next board meeting is May 20
David Emmerling moved to adjourn. Kelly seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 5:33PM.
Minutes for May 20, 2026
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 Jeffries, and Kelly Tester. Also attending were Director Deborah Meyer, Administrative Assistant Kim Tyler, and Regional Director John McGraw.
Minutes of the April 15 meeting were reviewed. Kelly moved to accept the minutes as presented. Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Deb provided a summary of bank accounts. First Service had a net gain of $872.13, with an ending balance of $59,896.38. The First Service CD matures in July. A statement for its performance was not received.
First Security had a net loss of $896.64. The ending balance was $13,014.83. In addition to UPS bills, John’s mileage and summer programming materials were paid for. It was observed that the First Security account is still titled “Library Building Fund” though it now functions for other purposes. Deb said she would determine what is needed to retitle the account.
The April millage took in $25,459.67, and the ending balance is $95,865.30. The insurance is reportedly paid for the year, leaving more than $9,000 unspent in that budget line.
Kelly moved approve the financial transactions. Katie seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
John summarized the search for a new ILS software, which is down to three finalists: Simplicity, Insignia (in use in Cleburne County), and Atriuum (in use in Craighead and White Counties). More demos are scheduled and the committee has been invited to visit Heber Springs and Searcy to look at the product in action and talk with staff. A finalist should be selected by the July 1 meeting.
Middlebrooks Electric replaced ballasts on the noisiest of lights. LED conversion is desirable, but perhaps in stages. Other quotes for conversion are being pursued.
New Business
Promotion of the May meeting included inviting the public to comment on the library’s implementation of filters as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This satisfies requirements for e-rate applications. There was no public comment.
John discussed the draft rules for state aid to public libraries. Several themes repeat including the burden of new rules on small rural libraries, reporting deadlines that seem to precede the activity reports summarize. John promised a summary of issues the following week.
John discussed a draft policy on AI use by staff. This is a minimal document meant to underscore the legal and ethical issues around use of AI, whether it be by staff for work purposes or where staff are assisting patrons with AI.
Info
Friends of the Library meet June 2
The next board meeting is June 17
Regional Board Meeting in Clinton on July 1
Kelly moved to adjourn. Katie seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 6:21PM.