Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library Board Meetings

Minutes for January 25th, 2023

Suzann Waggoner called the Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library Board to order on January 25th, 2023, at 5:40 PM. In attendance via Zoom were Regional Board members David Jeffries, Jeff Moncrease, Kelly Tester, and Suzann Waggoner, as well as Van Buren County Director Deb Meyer and Regional Director John McGraw.

Suzann nominated Ben Thompson to serve as Vice-Chair in 2023. Kelly nominated David to chair the board in 2023. There being no other nominations, the slate was approved unanimously.

Minutes of the October 26th meeting were reviewed. Jeff moved to accept the minutes as presented. Suzann seconded the motion, which passed.

Bookkeepers Reports were reviewed. John noted that while the board amended budget lines to add $2,500 to Kanopy and $2,600 to Kanopy in October, those amendments were not reflected in bookkeeper’s reports. There was interest in including Bookkeeper’s Reports and Transaction Reports in the Van Buren county board meeting packets. John committed to sending those along each month.

Statistics were reviewed. Suzann asked about Mount Vernon’s social media numbers. John recommended more content, particularly of well-attended programs. John mentioned that the Arkansas Digital Library Consortium had a record year with 1.3 million borrows.

State aid expenditures were reviewed. Suzann moved to approve the expenditures. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.

Old Business

There was a call for old business.

New Business

John reported that the State Library is pursuing a 75% increase in aid to libraries, and early reports suggest it is moving through the legislature without significant opposition. The state will revise its funding formula, so passage would not mean exactly 75% more aid for the Regional board to allocate, but the time between now and the July meeting should look at deficiencies in services that warrant funding. John mentioned a tool to create legal forms. Deb mentioned moving library cards onto Regional budgets, and expressed interest in moving Communico off of Faulkner county budgets to be used by both counties. John explained how Communico is being used to

book public rooms in Conway, as well as handling a host of duties around library sponsored events, from scheduling to promotion. John offered to present Communico offerings at a future Van Buren county board meeting.

John suggested the board consider joining Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries, which had lobbied successfully for millions in grant funds for Arkansas Libraries. Membership costs are calculated at a per capita rate, coming to $7,040. John recommended adding the budget line to the budget and appropriating $7,040 to it. Jeff moved to join AAAL as an institutional member. Suzann seconded the motion, which passed.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled to be in person at the Van Buren county library on April 26, 2023.

Jeff moved to adjourn at 6:10 PM. Suzann seconded the motion and the board adjourned.

Minutes for April 26th, 2023

David Jeffries called the Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library Board to order on April 26th, 2023, at 5:48 PM. In attendance via Zoom were Regional Board members Joye Hawk, David Jeffries, Jeff Moncrease, and Ben Thompson, as well as Van Buren County Board Chair David Emmerling, Assistant Director for Faulkner County Deanna Dillon, Director Deb Meyer and Regional Director John McGraw.

Minutes of the January 25th meeting were reviewed. Jeff moved to accept the minutes as presented. Joye seconded the motion, which passed.

Bookkeepers Reports were reviewed.

Statistics were reviewed.

State aid expenditures were reviewed. Jeff moved to approve the expenditures. Ben seconded the motion, which passed.

Old Business

The hoped for increase in state aid was budgeted but not funded.

New Business

John discussed Act 372 and the needed adjustments to Regional policies, primarily the Reconsideration of Materials policy. As amended the policy will begin with a conference with a Director—either county specific or directing all complaints to the Regional Director. Complainants need no longer be in the service area and only assert that the title “affected” them. The Director will form a review committee to determine whether the item is relocated to an area inaccessible to all minors, and the complainant is allowed to present their objections to the committee. All meetings of the committee are public meetings under Arkansas law. The committee votes on relocation and a member in the majority writes a summary of the committee’s findings and decision, which is communicated to the complainant. Appeals of the committee’s decision must be made to the county judge within five days of receiving the committee’s decision. Jeff moved to send all challenges to the Regional Director and otherwise adopt the amended policy as presented. Joye seconded the motion, which passed.

The board asked about the Reconsideration forms. John stated that other systems are sharing their forms and an updated form will be ready at the July meeting before the law’s August 1 date.

Ben moved to adjourn at 6:36 PM. Joye seconded the motion and the board adjourned.