La Crosse Public Library

800 Main Street

City of La Crosse, Wisconsin

La Crosse WI 54601

Meeting Minutes

Library Board

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

5:00 PM

La Crosse Public Library

Auditorium (Lower Level)

Call to Order

The Chair, Ms. Anglehart, called the meeting to order at 5 p.m.

PRESENT: Sue Anglehart, Mac Kiel, Kathy Ivey, Jess Thill, Ross Seymour,

Aaron Engel, Katie Bittner

ABSENT: Erin Raymus, Araysa Simpson

STAFF: Shanneon Grant, Cole Zrostlik, Daniel Whitmore, Amber

Leibundgut-Peterson, Anita Doering, Russ McClintock

Agenda Items:

Approval of Minutes from Regular Board Meeting – October 8, 2024

Motion to approve the minutes from the regular Board meeting of October 8,

2024.

(Aaron Engel/Jess Thill) Carried

Approval of Minutes from Committee of the Whole – No Meeting November 5,

2024

Approval of Bills & Financial Reports – October 2024

Motion to approve the bills and financial reports from October 2024.

(Aaron Engel/Kathy Ivey) Carried

Reports

4.1 Director’s Report

4.11 Vacancy/New Hire Report

Part-time Archives Associate Meghan Hoefling has accepted a full-time academic

reference librarian job at the University of Texas. Part-time Patron Relations Assistant

Rebecca Behm has also left LPL for another employment opportunity. Additionally, the

Community Resources Specialist position is currently vacant but will be recategorized

in the restructure. Best wishes to Russ McClintock who will be retiring Nov 21.

4.12 2025 Staffing Restructure Update

Progress continues and LPL is on track to complete the staffing restructure within the

timeline first presented to the Library Board in September. Over the past weeks,

Managers, Supervisors and Librarians have been interviewed and selected. Library

Associates should be finalized by the end of this week. The remaining positions in the

new chart, including Assistants, Clerks, Maintenance and Custodial positions, will be

set by Dec.1. Director Grant commended the library staff and leadership for supporting

employees and each other through this time of transition.

4.13 Operational Updates

Integrated Library System ILS - After nearly two months with the new product, the

overall the migration has been successful as staff and patrons have become more

confident in using this tool. As expected, a few issues remain. Workarounds continue

as solutions are sought to restore self-pickup of holds service and connecting

electronic ordering through our vendor with the acquisitions feature of the new ILS

product. WRLS staff continues working with the ILS vendor to resolve lingering issues.

4.14 Facility Updates

Flexible Facilities Program Grant - Current work involves completing pre-agreement

forms with the help of City leaders. The timeline is possible but ambitious. To

participate in the grant, onsite construction must begin before July 1, 2025. LPL has

posted requests for proposals for architectural and construction management services.

Library leadership will continue working with City staff to work through planning stages.

Main Library Flagpole - The broken pulley system at the top of the flagpole in front of

the Main Library is now functional.

4.15 Programming Highlights

On October 29, LPL hosted 180 attendees during a “Spooky Stroll” on the Marsh Trail

featuring storytelling stations with the stories getting spookier as the walk continued.

The 2024 Driftless Regional Read continues through November. There was a full house

and plenty of positive feedback for a Regional Read event on November 9, featuring

copper embossing. Board members were encouraged to locate other upcoming

programs offerings in the November Newsletter.

4.2 Committee of the Whole Report – No Meeting November 5, 2024

New Business

Old Business

5.1 Review & Approval of Library Closed Dates for 2025

Motion to approve Library Closed Dates for 2025.

(Aaron Engel/Ross Seymour) Carried

Topics for Future Meeting

7.1 End of Fiscal Year Special Trustees Reimbursements

7.2 Approval of 2025 Library Operating Budget

7.3 Update on status of the Friends of the Library (recommended by Jess Thill)

Public Comment / Other

Adjournment at 5:35 p.m.