Library Board Minutes for Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Pitkin County Library

Minutes of the Board of Trustees

March 11, 2026

MINUTES of the regular meeting of the Pitkin County Library Board of Trustees on March 11, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 12:00 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
• Andrew Travers (AT) – Officially starts April 1st

Staff Present:

• Genevieve Smith (GS), PC Librarian
• Anna Steinberg, Assistant to PC Librarian
• Deputy Library Directors Jeff Bradley & Molly Ireland
• Michael Faas, Adult Services Librarian
• Audrey Bohman, Technical Services Librarian
• Jennifer Patterson & Jimena Breton, Library Strategies (via Zoom)

2. Approval of Minutes for February 11, 2025

Moved by Audrey Ellis 2nd by Elizabeth Nix
Passed by Board, unanimously

3. Public Comment:

• None

4. Trustees Comments & Librarian’s Report:

Trustee Comments-

• Audrey gave kudos to the new PODs after recently using them to meet with her CPA. Both of
  them appreciated the space and felt they are a great addition to the Library services.
• John gave an update on his trip to Washington DC Trip where they visited 10 offices (both
  House & Senate) and he passed out the Read Wider booklets to representatives. Most
  unnerving part was the presence of National Guard Troops.

Treasurer’s Report -

• Based on Budget Timeline approved in 2025, the final report for 2025 was addressed early due
  to a packed meeting for the April meeting.
• The final numbers are close but not complete, however, they are in general tracking on budget
  with the biggest differences from budget to final included shifting the electrification project to
  2026, and a few emergency repairs that had to be supplemented due to unforeseen
  circumstances.
• Thank you, Audrey & Genevieve, for keeping a good eye on the finances!

Librarian’s Report-

• Board Members- With the resignation of Austine Stitt, it leaves a position open of which Chris
  Keleher has applied for, Anna Lookabill Scott is also scheduled to be considered for renewal of
  term, and a replacement board alternate has already been approved by BOCC appointing Andrew Travers with term beginning April 1, 2026.
• Motion to dedicate the non-fiction reading area in honor of Austine and her long-time
  commitment to the Library Board (45+ years)
  • Motioned by Ashley Connolly 2nd by Chris Keleher
  • Passed by Board, unanimously
• Staffing & Operations:
  • Planned closure for César Chávez Day March 31st
  • Director out of Office- March 21- April 3 due to Public Library Association (PLA)
    Conference with Molly Ireland and Jeff Bradley serving as leads with daily staff
    assigned as supports.
  • Summer Seasonal Positions – two 40-hr-wk positions will be posted in March for
    summer season (May 3rd to November).
• Strategic Plan Update:
  • Information gathering is complete with the close of the community survey at end of last month and they are now synthesizing results from all the surveys, SOAR sessions, and interviews.
  • Mission & Vision Update begins in March meeting (see new business)
  • Data Mapping is moving along
• Security, Facilities & Building Updates:
  • Safety Barrier Project: please refer to updated designs and maps with possible removal of proposed pavers (see old business)
  • Dunaway Room and Foyer paint projects are complete.
  • Badge Readers & Door Scheduling Software: are nearing completion, improving
    reliable and consistent building access.
  • Panic Button System Upgrade: have been updated through the building and is complete.
  • Fire Alarm testing: Annual alarm testing is complete
  • Security Camera Project: scheduled to begin in mid-March through early April.
  • Patron Behavior Issues: continuing to trend downward
    • November 2024 (11) vs 2025 (7)
    • December 2024 (20) vs 2025 (10)
    • January 2025 (14) vs 2026 (9)
    • February 2025 (10) vs 2026 (7)
• Community Support & Development: Friends of the Library giving in 2025 was 116 donations
  totaling $46,914 which funded the Library Concert Series, Aspen Science Center STEAM
  during afterschool Wednesdays, StoryWalk along Hunter Creek, Adult Summer Reading
  program, supplies for Children’s Room, and non-fiction collections. $31,000+ will be carried
  forward to 2026 budget for a total of $85,522.

5. Old Business-

• Safety Barrier Project: Updated by Kevin Warner, Construction and Assets Manager with
  Pitkin County
  • No major changes from the 20% review have been made
    • The Pitkin County Assets, Facilities, and Risk Management teams have further reviewed the design and have made one recommendation and asked for one item of further clarification.
    • Both the recommendation and the request for clarity are merely next steps in the design process and decisions on both topics are yet to be determined.
  • The above-mentioned teams are recommending removing the inset sandstone pavers
    from the concrete. These pavers are an excellent design element, but the teams have
    concern about long-term maintenance issues that may be caused by cutting into the
    existing concrete to place the pavers.
  • In addition, the teams have asked for clarification regarding the safety criticality of the
    sandstone outcrop closest to the main entrance. The concern about this sandstone
    outcrop regards long-term access at the main entrance for moving large objects in and out of the building for events like the American and the Holocaust Exhibition.
  • Next Project Milestone – Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners presentation,
    currently scheduled for the April 14, 2026 work session.
• Electrification Project Update: No new updates

6. New Business-

• Establish a Policy Review Subcommittee: Tabled
• AV Demo: Presented by Michael Faas, Adult Services Librarian- Full Demo Tabled
• Library Mission & Vision Statements: Presented by Jennifer Patterson & Jimena Breton
  with Library Strategists
  • Walked staff and Board through mission and vision process
  • Next steps is to share draft statements to the sub-committee and staff to gather feedback to provide final statements to choose from at the April Board meeting to approve.
• Patron Appeal to Library Suspension: An appeal was presented to the Board to consider a
  patron’s suspension from the Library. As the appeal was late, the patron’s County Advocate
  included a letter of appeal explaining the delayed appeal.
  • Motion to consider the appeal based on testimony from County Advocate
    • Motioned by Ashley Connolly 2 nd by Elizabeth Nix
      Passed by Board, unanimously
  • Motion to reduce length of patron’s suspension to end April 1, 2026 based on
    letter of appeal, County Advocate and staff testimony as well as history of patron and their cooperation during incident.
    • Motioned by Ashley Connolly 2nd by Elizabeth Stewart-Severy
      Passed by Board, unanimously

7. Review Future Meetings Schedule 2026

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

8. Adjourned @ 1:49 PM

Moved by Elizabeth Stewert-Severy 2nd by Chris Keleher