HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17-2025 Fairhope Public Library Board of Trustee Meeting MinutesFairhope Public Library Board of Trustees
Regularly scheduled Meeting on Monday, February 17, 2025
Single Tax Board Room
Called to Order at 4:02 by Board Chair Anne Johnson
ATTENDANCE: Anne Johnson, Debra Langham, Dan Stankoski, Randal Wright, Andy
Parvin, Nan Denson and Rob Gourlay.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Nan Denson who served as treasurer for the upstairs
capital campaign reported that the account with Trusist bank has been closed. The
last of the money was given to the library to pay for the furniture for the 4 spaces
that were renovated. Mrs. Denson reported that the total money that was raised for
the renovations and furniture was $1,130,470. 39. The Board expressed their
appreciation for the work she did managing the account.
MINUTES: Minutes from the regularly scheduled December 2, 2024 meeting were
unanimously approved. Minutes from the special called meeting on December 9,
2024 were also unanimously approved.
REPORTS: Monthly Statisticals were reviewed and discussed. Employee Report:
Allyson Russell has been selected to fill the position of full-time Teen Librarian.
Financial Statement was reviewed, and no questions or comments were specified.
Trustee Wright asked about the additional cost of the furniture in the renovation that
will exceed the amount in the budget. After contacting the Mayor and City Council
members the City requested that the Library use money in their bank account to pay
the $19,000 overage. Director Gourlay replied that the library will be able to
handle the final payment without impacting any programs or planned purchases. A
motion was made to accept the three reports, seconded and passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Director Gourlay updated the board on the upstairs renovation progress. The
Teen space will have a “soft” opening on March 1 when they sponsor a “Book It
Brigade” to move all the books from the existing teen area to the new upstairs room.
The staff is looking at Mid-April for the official grand opening event for the upstairs
rooms.
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Director Gourlay reported that the Interlibrary Loan services have immediately
resumed under our current policy. In two months we will revisit the fees
associated with the service and whether any adjustments need to be made to the ILL
policy. The Board could vote on changes at that time. These are books that patrons
request that are not available at Baldwin County libraries
2) Chair Johnson brought to the board’s attention the current wording of the Fairhope
Public Library’s Personnel Policies and Procedures on Maternity Leave. She
recommended that the board change that to Parental Leave to cover not just new
mothers, but also new fathers. This leave allows for 30 days if the employee has that
much sick leave. Director Gourlay will be taking 30 days for parental leave. Susan
Diemert, Head of the Technical Services department will act as Director while he is
on leave. A motion was made to make the change, seconded and passed
unanimously.
3) The board voted unanimously to have Director Gourlay used library funds to pay
the annual membership fee for the American Library Association.
4) Request for Reconsiderations and the Board of Trustees Review and Appeal
Process. Director Gourlay reported that recently 5 books had been moved from the
Teen to the Adult section of the library. There is one book Grown that has been sent
the Trustees for an appeal. After a discussion the Board decided to have 2 Trustees
read books that have been submitted for appeal. The 2 members of the Board of
Trustees will then meet to discuss their thoughts about the book and will make a
recommendation to the Trustees. Trustees Parvin and Wright will both read Grown,
meet, and bring a decision to the full Board at the next meeting. The Trustees will
rotate the task of reading books submitted for appeal.
5) The question has been posed would the Board reconsider the previous 2023 books
that were on the agenda at the December 2023 meeting. At that meeting the board
unanimously voted to support Director Dean’s decision not to move any of the books.
After a discussion a motion was made to support the original decision which is in effect
for 5 years. These books were voted on prior to the new APLS guidelines.
6) Trustee Parvin asked if the library would consider working with the Rotary Youth
after school program that serves 115 students. Director Gourlay will put Trustee
Parvin in touch with members of the Youth Department to discuss ideas.
Meeting adjourned at 4:53
There were 7 people who spoked during the public participation after the meeting
adjourned.
Randal H. Wright