Library Board Minutes for Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Minutes of the Board of Trustees

May 13, 2026

MINUTES of the regular meeting of the Pitkin County Library Board of Trustees on May 13,
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 (AL)
✔ Tres. Audrey Ellis (AE)
□ Ashley Connolly (AC)
✔ Chris Keleher (CK)
✔ Elizabeth Stewart-Severy (ES-S)

Alternate Present:

✔ Andrew Travers (AT) – Voting Member

Staff Present:

✔ Genevieve Smith (GS), PC Librarian
✔ Anna Steinberg, Assistant to PC Librarian
✔ Shannon Ressel, PC Youth Services Librarian/ Supervisor
✔ Jennifer Patterson, Library Strategies consultant
✔ Jimena Brenton, Library Strategies consultant

2. Approval of Minutes for April 8, 2026

Moved by Elizabeth Stewart-Severy 2nd by Audrey Ellis

Passed by the Board, unanimously

3. Public Comment:

• None

4. Trustees Comments & Librarian’s Report:

Trustee Comments-

• John had a meeting of the Colorado Association of Libraries Legislative Committee
  and informed the board that there has been no change made to the state budget for
  contributions to the State Library.

Librarian’s Report-

• Staffing & Operations:
  • Planned closures: May 25 th for Memorial Day. Also requesting approval to close from
    11-2 on May 20 th for the annual Pitkin County Employee Picnic (see new business)
  • Marmot Council Meeting: Genevieve will be attending the Marmot Council meeting (a
    library consortium founded by PC Library) in Palisade June 5 th & 6 th which provides member libraries support, updates and future planning.
  • Summer Reading Kickoff: scheduled for Friday May 22 and one of the biggest Library
    events of the year. Trustees are invited to attend or volunteer.
• Strategic Plan Update:
  • The Community Needs Assessment has been received and provided to the Board for
    review
  • Strategic Plan first reading (see new business)
  • Mission & Vision Statements- request from steering committee to one revision to the
    mission statement adopted by Board in April (see old business). A better word to
    indicate the Library’s role to nurture and grow connection.
• Security, Facilities & Building Updates:
  • Safety Barrier Project: please refer to updated designs. The plans now include additional bike racks and parking- but do not note the existing
    racks. And a proposal to sandblast sandstone pavers instead of drilling into the concrete as a compromise to bring in the element while avoiding modifications to existing concrete.
  • Security Camera Project: is in final stages and will be operational in April. Please refer
    to FAQ sheet- Pitkin County Library’s approach follows those recommendations by:
    • Not recording audio
    • Not actively monitoring cameras
    • Limiting footage retention to 30 days
    • Tightly restricting access to footage
    • Excluding small meeting rooms, computer screens, and collections from
      recording
  • This approach is designed to support safety while respecting the privacy and
    confidentiality that are central to library service.
  • Patron Behavior Issues: continue to trend downward
    • January 2025 (14) vs 2026 (9)
    • February 2025 (10) vs 2026 (7)
    • March 2025 (12) vs 2026 (10)
• Nominating Committee for Annual Officer Elections: see new business
• Americans and the Holocaust Traveling Exhibition (see new business presentation by
  Shannon): Running June 15-July 27 on the mezzanine. Programming has been developed
  around the exhibition and construction planned around the exhibition. Some temporary
  removal of furniture to accommodate the exhibit will be stored in the mezzanine meeting room
  which will eliminate one public space for the duration, but with the recent addition of the pods,
  staff feels confident that it will not be too disruptive.

5. Old Business-

• Safety Barrier Project: holding pattern
• Clean Heat Building Upgrades (formerly Electrification): See Librarians report section
• Library Mission & Vision Statements: request to amend
  • Changing the word “build” to “foster” in the statement
  • We foster community, inspire learning, and open doors to mountains of possibility.
  • Moved by Elizabeth Stewart-Severy 2nd by Chris Keleher
    Passed by Board, unanimously

6. New Business-

• Establish a Policy Review Subcommittee: Tabled
• AV Demo: Presented by Michael Faas, Adult Services Librarian- Full Demo Tabled
• Annual Staff Picnic request for closure:
  • Moved by Audrey Ellis 2 nd by Elizabeth Nix
    Passed by Board, unanimously
• Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit: Presented by Shannon Ressel, head of Youth Services
  Librarian Shannon Ressel presented slides with background information on the
  traveling exhibit the library will host from the end of June through the beginning of
  July. She provided a history of the exhibit and insight into the grant application
  process PCL participated in to be selected as a host library. Shannon gave an in-
  depth preview of the programs the library will host alongside the visiting exhibit to
  further engage the community, as well as a look at the exhibit timeline and the
  accompanying events.
• Strategic Plan: First Reading, as amended.
  • Moved by Audrey Ellis 2nd by Elizabeth Stewart-Severy
    Passed by Board, unanimously
• Appointments to the Nominating Committee for Officer nominations & Elections in June:
  • Trustees appointed to the nominating committee for office nominations and elections
    are: Elizabeth Nix, Elizabeth Stewart-Severy, and Audrey Ellis.

7. Review Future Meetings Schedule 2026

May 13, June 10 (Annual Meeting), July 8, August 12, September 16* (3rd Wednesday), October 14, November 18?

8. Adjourned @ 1:40 PM

Moved by Andrew Travers 2nd by Audrey Ellis