Regular Meeting of the Board of Library Trustees

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Notice: This meeting of the Lake Bluff Library Board of Trustees was held with a quorum of Trustees physically present. The meeting was simulcast for any members of the public who did not wish to attend the meeting inperson at the Lake Bluff Public Library building. Guidelines and access codes were published before the meeting so members of the public could log in. The meeting was recorded, with the recording made available through the Library’s website. As required by law, at least one representative from the Library was present at the Library while participating in the meeting.

  1. Call to Order: Board President Alexandra Friedeman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
  2. Roll Call: Trustees Friedeman, Jardine, Shaul, Reidy, Sobolak and Kearney were present. Library Director Natalie Starosta, Circulation/Reference Manager Molly Coyle and Adult/Youth Services Manager Eliza Jarvi were also present, Jillian Chapman attended remotely.
  3. Additions and Corrections to the Agenda: Trustee Shaul asked that a discussion of library operating hours be added to New Business.
  4. Members of the Public to Address the Board: There was none.
  5. Consent Agenda: Trustee Shaul made a motion to approve items A through Q on the consent agenda, excluding letter R; Trustee Reidy seconded. Trustees Friedeman, Jardine, Shaul, and Reidy voted aye. Trustees Sobolak and Kearney abstained. Motion carried.
  6. Library Director Updates: Library Director Natalie Starosta gave an update on the happenings of the library in May of 2025 including an update to the statistics provided to the Board. She also discussed the process for the asbestos abatement project. Trustee Reidy volunteered to attend the upcoming July Friends of the Library meeting and Trustee Kearney will attend the September meeting.
  7. Financial Reports
    1. Trustee Shaul made a motion to approve the May 2025 Detailed Revenue & Expenditure Reports, Trustee Jardine seconded; Trustees Friedeman, Jardine, Shaul and Reidy voted aye. Trustees Sobolak and Kearney abstained. Motion carried.
    2. Trustee Shaul made a motion to approve the May 2025 Monthly Check Disbursement Report with checks numbered 16511-16581, Trustee Reidy seconded; Trustees Friedeman, Jardine, Shaul and Reidy voted aye. Trustees Sobolak and Kearney abstained. Motion carried.
  8. Committee Reports: There were no committee meetings since the last Board meeting.
  9. New Business
    1. Swearing in Newly Appointed Trustees:
      1. Trustee Kearney recited his Board Member Oath of Office which was administered by Board President Friedeman.
      2. Trustee Sobolak recited his Board Member Oath of Office which was administered by Board President Friedeman.
    2. Secretary’s Audit Committee: Trustee Reidy made a motion to nominate Trustees Sobolak and Heck to the Secretary’s audit committee; Trustee Kearney. All aye. Motion carried.
    3. Committee of the Whole: Trustee Friedeman confirmed that Committee of the Whole meetings will be held as needed on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Trustees Kearney and Jardine will focus on Policy and Trustees Shaul and Sobolak will focus on Finance.
    4. Parking Spaces During Construction: The Board discussed allocating one space in staff parking to the Museum docent during the construction but decided this would require Library staff to find other parking during peak hours.
    5. Library Operating Hours: The Board discussed the historical shifts in operating hours and concerns over the fiscal responsibility of adding hours at this time. Discussion will continue at the July Committee of the Whole.
  10. Library Correspondence and Communications: Library Director Natalie Starosta provided an overview of Library correspondence including comment cards and included the new State of American Libraries report for Trustee reference material.
  11. Adjournment: Trustee Kearney made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm; Trustee Sobolak seconded; al voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Upcoming Board Meeting

  • July 1, 2025 at 7:00PM (Committee of the Whole)
  • July 15, 2025 AT 7:00PM