MINUTES of the regular meeting of the Pitkin County Library Board of Trustees on May 14, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM in the William R. Dunaway Community Room.
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)
Alternates Present:
Chris Keleher (CK) –
Heather Kendrick (HK)- Public
Staff Present:
Genevieve Smith (GS), PC Librarian
Anna Steinberg, Assistant to PC Librarian
Ginny Beesley, PC Library Circulation Supervisor
GR Fielding, PC Construction & Asset Director
Consultant: Patrick Rawley, safety barriers
Approval of Minutes for April 9, 2025
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Moved by Austine Stitt 2nd by Audrey Ellis
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Passed by the Board, unanimously
Public Comment:
- None
Trustees' Comments & Librarian’s Report:
Trustee Comments-
- John Wilkinson – spoke about the Library of Congress’s Librarian getting fired and what that means for the library world and the US in general.
Librarian’s Report-
- Library New Programs Updates included:
- Library Concert Series- May 24th INNAMORATA with Naama Liany
- The Seed Library is open through June 30th
- Building Updates:
- Pods & Service Desks Update: Some service desks and pods have been ordered, along with some expanded shelving. Delivery is TBD.
- Operations Updates:
- Harvest for Hunger Update: Since February, the library has redistributed 234 pounds of food that would have gone to waste otherwise. The program requires minimal staff, and patron feedback has been positive. The first months have been a success.
- 2024 year-end budget surplus- The surplus of $524,649 that was allocated for consultant fees and engineering fees in 2024 was carried over into 2025 to support the progress of the electrification project. There were several other areas in the 2024 budget that came in under the anticipated budget, leaving a larger than anticipated surplus- actual amount still pending.
- Annual Report:
- Law requires the library board to submit an annual report to the State, which was submitted on March 20th on behalf of the board, presented by Ginny Beesley, Circulation Supervisor. Many questions from the Board about programming and how we are allocating staff and resources. Seeing a big increase in Spanish circulation- both in physical & digital (almost even). The most appreciated handout was the simplified front and back 1-page sheet with stats on what the library offered and what was circulated in 2024.
Old Business:
- Trustee Homework from training- Tabled
New Business:
- Safety Barriers Update/ Presentation- Presented by consultant Patrick Rawley with display boards to meet security concerns while also being functional, artistic, and play-centered. GR Fielding, PC Construction & Asset Director, was also present to explain the project from the standpoint of the County and what the status is. Options include natural environment, Bauhaus-influenced and colorful ballards. The Board unanimously agreed that the natural environmental ones were the preferred direction. PC grant will not be funding this project, or at least it is unclear how this will be funded at this time, so TBD.
- Appointments to the nominating committee & nominations for the annual June meeting. Committee included: Ashley Connolly, Austine Stitt & Elizabeth Stewart-Severy.
Nomination of Board Members will occur at the June Board Meeting, but will be the same Board members who are currently serving in the roles.
Review Future Meetings Schedule 2025
- June 18 (annual meeting), July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10
Adjourned @ 1:35 PM
Moved by Austine Stitt 2nd by Audrey Ellis