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Click here to view 2015-2017 Faulkner & Van Buren Regional Library Board Minutes
Click here to view 2018-2019 Faulkner & Van Buren Regional Library Board Minutes
Click here to view 2020 Faulkner & Van Buren Regional Library Board Minutes
Click here to view 2021 Faulkner & Van Buren Regional Library Board Minutes
Click here to view 2022 Faulkner & Van Buren Regional Library Board Minutes
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.
David Jeffries called the Faulkner-Van Buren Regional Library Board to order on July 26th, 2023, at 5:31PM. In attendance via Zoom were Regional Board members David Jeffries, Jeff Moncrease, Kelly Tester, Ben Thompson, and Stephanie Vanderslice, as well as Assistant Director for Faulkner County Deanna Dillon, Van Buren County Library Director Deb Meyer and Regional Director John McGraw.
Minutes of the April 26 meeting were reviewed. Ben moved to accept the minutes as presented. Stephanie seconded the motion, which passed.
Bookkeepers Reports were reviewed. John said the courier is indicating service in 2024 will be 22% higher. Options would include paying the increase, shopping for another courier, or having Faulkner County absorb the duties with a county vehicle and a part-time position. The merits of these options were considered and John promised to have some options for the budget meeting in October.
Statistics were reviewed. Doubling Hoopla budgets for the summer had increased borrowing by 52% over prior months and had not touched the budget caps throughout the period. Kanopy use has increased 34% over the same period last year. John alerted the board that Mississippi has banned the use of Libby or Hoopla for people under 18. This is a development that could be pursued in other states.
State aid expenditures were reviewed. Stephanie moved to approve the expenditures. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
Old Business
John reported that the day prior the lawsuit seeking to block sections 1 and 5 of Act 372 had been heard in Fayetteville. A decision is expected by week’s end. John recommended that the board make the adoption of any new policies in line with Act 372 conditional upon the law being upheld by August 1. John presented a revised policy and a new challenge form, noting that the form could be adopted immediately without regard to legal challenges around Act 372. David asked for input. John made a point of order that technically discussion should follow a motion and second to put the proposal before the board’s consideration. Kelly moved to put the proposed policy and form before the board for its consideration. Ben seconded the motion, which passed. Discussion included what is new in the proposed policy, what is new in the proposed form, what would happen if Act 372 is not upheld, and what a decision in one county would mean for the other county. Stephanie moved to approve the revised form and—
contingent upon the decision of the legal challenge—the revised policy. Kelly seconded the motion, which passed.
New Business
John asked that the board issue some clarity on Non-residents use of collections. The counties at present have different policies. There was broad discussion about the issues involved. Board members requested the policy manual to review, and John promised to send that around to everyone.
Jeff moved to adjourn at 6:17 PM. Kelly seconded the motion and the board adjourned.