West Central Reporter

The Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees met June 13 to hear from Joseph Kozma, who introduced himself as “poet laureate” of Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees meets at 4:30 a.m. on the second Monday of each month.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

MINUTES OF THE JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

June 13, 2016

The regular meeting of the Jacksonville Public Library Board of Directors was held June

13, 2016 in the library’s conference room. Present were President Mary Fergurson,

Noel Beard, Craig Albers, Robert Underbrink, Elizabeth Kennedy, Katie Weeks,

Assistant Library Director Hillary Peppers and Library Director Chris Ashmore. Absent

were Forrest Keaton, Ted Roth, and Kevin Eckhoff. Also present was guest Dr. Joseph

Kozma.

Fergurson called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM.

It was moved by Albers and seconded by Underbrink that the minutes of the May board

meeting be accepted as submitted. Motion carried.

Ashmore explained where both the Steps and Panels Repair projects stood. Final

payments covering retainage and job completion will be made in July.

The board directed that future Financial Reports showing the payment of payroll and

bills should break down Direct Deposit payroll payments by individual employee.

It was moved by Beard and seconded by Kennedy that all financial reports be approved

and that all properly approved bills for June in the amount of $50,421.53 be paid out of

general funds as funds are available. Motion carried.

At this point, Fergurson also reported on the latest Endowment Fund Report.

Guest Dr. Joseph Kozma introduced himself and explained his new job as “poet

laureate” of Jacksonville. He is meeting with many different groups and boards that

may be potential partners in promoting poetry in Jacksonville. The library already hosts

a poetry group and has co-sponsored an open-mic night at the Soap Co. Coffee House.

Dr. Kozma may call on Ashmore or the board for possible future poetry partnerships.

Director’s Report

May was a transitional month at the Jacksonville Public Library. As school ended, the

library turned its attention to preparing for Summer Reading programs. The last Book

Club meeting of the season took place on Thursday May 26. The group discussed the

book One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by

Kevin M. Kruse. A very lively discussion made for an interesting evening. In addition to

Book Club, the Poetry Group met twice during May.

On Monday evening May 9, the Butterflies, Bees, Gardens and Trees lecture series

continued with a program entitled “Invasive and Native Plants”. Family farmers Ed and

Elizabeth Anderson spoke about restoring natural habitats by removing invasive plants

and performing Timber Stand Improvement. The June program on Monarch Butterflies

is one of the most anticipated lectures of this year’s series.

On the afternoon of May 17, a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association gave a

program entitled “Know the 10 Signs” about the early warning signs of this serious

disease. On Thursday May 12, the director of the Prairie Skies Public Library (Ashland

and Pleasant Plains) and several of her staff members visited the library. Chris gave a

detailed tour of the building and then several staff members met in the conference room

with the visitors to talk with them and answer their questions.

Chris spent time in May pushing for both the steps and panels repair projects to be

completed. Delays are inevitable in any project, but it was still frustrating to see a

project just sitting there so close to being done. Chris and Hillary both spent time in

May working on the upcoming music festival, Bookstock 2016. Sound, stage, and a tent

in case of bad weather were finalized and publicity posters were designed. The event

will be heavily publicized later this summer.

Chris and Hillary met with representatives from Revize, the web design company that

the City of Jacksonville is using for their new web site. The library will have a single

page with photos; hours and location; basic information about programs and services;

and a link to the library’s own web site.

After a couple of conference calls with Envisionware Inc., Meek and Co. downloaded

and installed the software for mobile printing. Patrons can now easily print from their

own PC, laptop, tablet, or phone to the library’s printer and pay for the prints using the

coin-op. This service has been a great addition to the library.

Other tasks keeping Chris busy in May included setting up this summer’s travelogue

series; planning for other programs; collection development; and maintenance of the

library’s web site and Facebook page.

Adult Services

Hillary assisted several students who were finishing their final projects and helped

locate materials for people preparing for summer courses. She had two technology

appointments to help patrons learn to use their mobile devices to download e-books and

audiobooks. There were multiple requests for general computer assistance, accessing

employment information online and applying for unemployment benefits. She received

and researched multiple requests pertaining to local history and genealogy.

Hillary worked with Children’s Librarian Cindy Boehlke on the final preparations for the

Books on Wheels summer bookmobile for children, which is set to begin June 6th. She

worked on training staff on the library’s new addition of wireless and mobile printing.

She created a new page on the library website for patrons to access wireless printing

information; added updates to reflect the different Summer Reading Programs; and

streamlined the online Youth Services information. Hillary also created and distributed

the May newsletter to a variety of media and social service outlets.

Interlibrary Loan/Holds

In May there were 789 items borrowed from other libraries; 550 items were lent to other

libraries; and there were 669 reciprocal circulations.

Circulation Services

The Circulation Department has continued to provide great customer service to all

Jacksonville Public Library patrons. The Circulation staff spent most of May preparing

for the Adult Summer Reading Program. The library received donations from various

businesses in town after sending a letter asking for sponsorship. Sarah created

promotional material; picked up prizes from businesses; did outreach to the community;

and designed a banner to recognize those businesses who donated. She also

purchased smaller prizes to give to patrons who read their first five books. Sarah also

taught her last computer class in May. She also attended a User’s Group meeting for

RSA that informs members of the library system about upcoming changes to policies

and software. Sarah had two technology sessions in May: one patron wanted to learn

how to use her tablet to read the library’s e-books and the other patron needed help

applying for jobs online. Last but not least, Sarah did a tour of the library for Congolese

students learning English at Lincoln Land Community College. Many of the students

received library cards and checked out items.

Extension Services

May featured book club talks and programs on a wide variety of topics. The Knollwood

Book Club discussed "Famous Illinois Women" on May 6 and the Jacksonville Area

Senior Center talked about "Women Astronauts" on May 24. Diane put on her cowgirl

outfit for a western program on "Cowboys" at Heritage Health on May 10 during their

National Nursing Home Week celebration. At the May 5 Morgan County Professionals

for Senior Wellness meeting, Diane met the director for the new Cedarhurst senior living

facility on West Morton, which will open in late July, and exchanged information on

homebound delivery services.

In the large print fiction area, 100 books were withdrawn in the continued attempt to make

room for new books and give the shelves a fresh look. Thorndike Press is currently

offering a $10 discount on new books as an incentive for "weeding", so the discarded

books are still passing on benefits to our readers!

Youth Services

May was a busy, busy month for Cindy and the Youth Services Department. Story Time,

Lego Club, Fingernail Art and Garden Club kept things hopping over the month, but

Cindy was also busy visiting schools to promote Summer Reading. Youth Services has

taken a break from Lap Sit for the summer, due to a busy schedule, but the regular

families continue to come in and play in the play areas. Next month is the start of

Summer Reading and Books on Wheels, the bookmobile project.

Technical Services

Things continued to operate smoothly in Technical Services. Diane Darnell efficiently

kept up with cataloging. Heidi and Kim Pohlman processed materials. Volunteer Linda

Little continued to work on special projects and assist where needed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Automation/Technology

None

Building and Grounds

Ashmore updated the board on his findings concerning incentives for energy efficient

lighting. Because the library is a public entity, it does not qualify under Ameren’s Act on

Energy Program. The library may, however, be eligible for public sector energy efficient

lighting incentives under the Illinois Energy Now program through the Illinois

Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Applications for this program are

due in the spring of 2017. However, state funding is uncertain. Ashmore will sit down

with the electrician the library uses, Bill Cors, to get his thoughts.

Ashmore also reported on the repair needs of the green space fencing. He met with a

man from Turner Tree Service and Nursery who plans on coming back to repair the east

gate, replace the locks on both the west and east gates, and re-anchor a section of

fence to its adjoining pillar.

Finance

None

Personnel

None

Public Relations

None

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

None

RAILS/RSA

Ashmore reported that Circulation Supervisor Sarah Snyder attended an RSA User’s

Group meeting in May.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Ashmore handed out a progress review on the library’s Strategic Plan Goals for 2016.

He then reviewed this with the board. Near the half-way point in the year, things are

moving along nicely.

Underbrink made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 PM, seconded by Weeks.

Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted by Chris Ashmore