Library Board Minutes for Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Meeting Date
Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Pitkin County Library

Minutes of the Board of Trustees

February 11, 2026

MINUTES of the regular meeting of the Pitkin County Library Board of Trustees on February 11, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 12:01 PM in the Dunaway Room.

1. Roll Call:

Trustees Present:

  • Pres. John Wilkinson (JW)
  • V.P. Elizabeth Nix (EN)
  • Sec. Anna Lookabill Scott (ALS)
  • Tres. Audrey Ellis (AE)
  • Ashley Connolly (AC)
  • Austine Stitt (AS)- Out of town (resigning)
  • Elizabeth Stewart-Severy (ES-S)

Alternate Present:

  • Chris Keleher (CK) – Voting Member

Staff Present:

  • Genevieve Smith (GS), PC Librarian
  • Anna Steinberg, Assistant to PC Librarian
  • Jodie Grady, PC Assets & Kevin Warner, PC Director of Assets & Construction
  • Patrick Rawley & Delia Bolster, Consultants with Rawley Design Planning
  • Madison Ledford, PC Adult Services Librarian & Bradley Peate, PC Adult Services Supervisor

2. Approval of Minutes for January 14, 2025

Moved by Elizabeth Stewart-Severy 2nd by Ashley Connolly
Passed by Board, unanimously

3. Public Comment:

  • None

4. Trustees Comments & Librarian’s Report:

Trustee Comments-

  • John Wilkinson brought up that funding for the IMLS Tech Act was approved, and they added $1 mil to the budget.

Librarian’s Report-

  • Board Members- With the resignation of Austine Stitt, a position is left open, for which Chris Keleher will apply, leaving us in search of new alternates.
  • Staffing & Operations:
    • Planned closure for President’s Day, February 16th
    • Director out of Office- February 12-23- with Molly Ireland and Jeff Bradley serving as leads, with daily staff assigned as supports.
    • Training & Closure outcomes from January 15- Staff participated in professional development in a joint security training with the security vendor and Aspen Police Dept on awareness, de-escalation, and active shooter response. Then, an All One Health session about mental health resources, and safe boundaries with staff and patrons, along with a SOAR session for strategic planning.
  • Strategic Plan Update:
  • Major points of the plan have been completed with SOAR sessions, focus groups, interviews
    with stakeholders, and staff survey.
    • A community survey is currently underway, closing at the end of February.
    • Data mapping has begun, working with Ginny Beesley (Library statistics point person) and Tyler Lambruth (Pitkin County GIS).
  • Security, Facilities & Building Updates:
    • Dunaway Room was painted over the weekend- fresh!
    • Badge Readers & Door Scheduling Software: are underway. Replacement of badges to the new system has been completed, and the transition to the new scheduling software has been completed. Final step still pending – adding the additional badge readers for the Dunaway, staff, and server room doors.
    • Panic Button System Upgrade: should be completed by February 24
    • Emergency Door Locking Buttons: New automatic door-locking buttons have been installed at three service points to quickly secure the building in an emergency.
    • Patron Behavior Issues & Suspension: Last month it was reported that incidents have been trending down since adding security to the building, with January continuing in the trend.
      • November 2024 (11) vs 2025 (7)
      • December 2024 (20) vs 2025 (10)
      • January 2025 (14) vs 2026 (9)
    • Suspension: Two individuals were suspended from the Library list due to a physical altercation in the mezzanine. The policy ensures patrons have 30 days to appeal their suspension, and one appeal was received within the allotted time frame. The Library Board has 30 days to review the appeal to decide either way.

5. Old Business-

  • Safety Barrier Project: Presented by Jodie Grady & Kevin Warner with Pitkin County and Patrick Rawley & Delia Bolster, Rawley Design Planning
    • Presented the 20% plan with guidance from the BOCC & PCLB. The purpose of the barriers is to create a safe space around entry points in the event of malicious or accidental vehicle intrusion.
    • John Wilkinson asked Jody & Kevin to clarify funding- as long as features fall within the original scope, the general fund is paying for the project.
    • Risk Management at PC will also review designs to ensure they meet safety standards (e.g.,height of structures for kid/playing safety, ADA…).
    • Process: next will be the 50% designs presented in March, followed by a 100% design. Construction is estimated to occur in the summer/fall with some rolling closures. John W. pointed out that the emergency exit at the lower entrance cannot be closed for fire/safety reasons, as noted by the team when considering the project's timing/coordination.
    • Motion to approve the 20% plans as drawn with consideration of the budget by Audrey Ellis, 2nd by Ashley Connolly
    • Passed by the Board, unanimously
  • Electrification Project Update: Presented by Jodie Grady & Kevin Warner with Pitkin County and Patrick Rawley, Rawley Design Planning
    • Determined that only mechanical & electrical permits will be required for the project, simplifying the permitting process
    • Will begin construction on May 1st through the end of June.
    • Begin with the roof prep, boiler room, and electrical upgrades
    • Scaffolding will be placed on the east stairway to reinforce the roof for heat pump placement- this will be the most impactful of the entire project, as it will close the area.
    • Boilers will be down May 13th - no heat, but hopefully the spring will be warm enough that space heaters can be utilized as needed.
    • There may be scheduled power outages- though timing TBD- and unsure if that will mean closure of the library.
    • Signs & communication about disruptions will be placed around the library and online
    • New wiring for the plug-and-play portion of the project will not be here until December, so the project will be mostly complete, except for that part.
    • Remember that the schedule is a moving target, but it will be communicated as things change.

6. New Business-

  • Establish a Policy Review Subcommittee: Tabled
  • Read Wider Program: Presented by Adult Services Librarian, Madison Ledford
    • The project was started by a past employee in 2022, but Madison began revamping it last year. There is an online component that expands on the printed booklet and is updatable. Has been very well received, with John W. asking for additional booklets to take to Washington, DC, to give to representatives.
  • Library Suspension Appeal from Patron: Staff witnesses reported on the incident from their
    perspective, along with historical information about the patrons involved and the security guard's response.
    • Motion: To deny the appeal based on witness documentation presented about the physical incident that occurred on January 16th, 2026, by John Wilkinson
    • 2nd by Ashley Connolly
    • Passed by the Board, unanimously

7. Review Future Meetings Schedule 2026

  • March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10 (Annual Meeting), July 8, August 12, September 16* (3rd Wednesday)

8. Adjourned @ 1:26 PM

Moved by Anna Lookaabill Scott 2nd by John Wilkinson