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 in-person 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 Bonnie Shaul called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
  2. Roll Call: Trustees Friedeman, Hayes, Jardine, Graziano, Jerch, Zaute and Shaul were present. Library Director Renee Grassi and staff member Jill Chapman attended virtually. Library staff members Eliza Gabriel and Anthony Garriga were present.
  3. Additions & Corrections to the Agenda: There was none.
  4. Opportunity for Public to Address the Board: Charlie Hamlin, Lake Bluff resident, provided public comment as the liaison for VOTE Lake Bluff. He reported that November 12th is the public meeting for all Library board candidates to present to the public at the Lake Bluff Elementary School.
  5. Approval of Library Board Meeting Minutes: Trustee Friedeman moved to adjust the July 2024 Board Meeting minutes header to read “Tuesday, July 16th.” It was titled incorrectly as “Tuesday, June 18th.” Trustee Jerch moved to approve the Regular Board Meeting Minutes with the corrected title from July 16, 2024, Trustee Jardine seconded; Trustees Friedeman, Hayes, Jardine, Graziano, Jerch, and Shaul voted aye; Trustee Zaute abstained.
  6. Library Director Updates: Library Director Grassi provided an overview of July happenings at the library and monthly usage statistics, including significant staffing changes. Eliza Jarvi provided a detailed overview of the strategic evaluation of collections in the library in anticipation of the Engberg Anderson facility project. Jillian Chapman provided an overview of scheduled communications, including the Fall newsletter to be delivered to Lake Bluff homes in the next week.
  7. July 2024 Financial Reports
    1. Trustee Hayes moved to approve the July 2024 Detailed Revenue & Expenditure Report, Trustee Zaute seconded; all voted aye.
    2. Trustee Jerch moved to approve the July 2024 Monthly Check Disbursement Report with checks numbered 16135-16175, Trustee Zaute seconded; all voted aye.
  8. Committee Reports
    (Met)
    1. Finance and Technology Committee (CHAIR: Hayes MEMBERS: Shaul, Zaute): The committee met on July 18th to discuss the latest IGA meeting, reviewing staffing & recruiting updates and several project reviews. Three staffing positions were approved for additional hours.
    2. Human Resources Committee (CHAIR: Graziano MEMBERS: Jerch): The committee met on August 1st to discuss staffing updates, onboarding & training new staff and a staffing analysis snapshot review. The committee also discussed hiring an external consultant to complete a staffing analysis, which is included in the Engberg Anderson project.
    3. Building and Grounds Committee (CHAIR: Jerch MEMBERS: Jardine, Shaul): The committee met on August 14th to discuss the timeline for some smaller planned projects, including the installation of new computer study carrels, the building security system, strategic facilities collections updates, and State of the Library community engagement video plans.
      (Did Not Meet)
    4. Engagement Committee (CHAIR: Jardine MEMBERS: Graziano)
    5. Long Range Planning Committee (CHAIR: Shaul MEMBERS: Friedeman)
    6. Intergovernmental Committee (MEMBERS: Jerch, Grassi)
    7. Bylaws & Policy Committee (CHAIR: Friedeman Members: Zaute)
  9. New Business
    1. Welcome to the Library’s new Technology Manager, Anthony Garriga: Anthony provided an introduction and overview of his background as the new Technology Manager.
    2. Current Status of negotiating new Intergovernmental Agreement with Village of Lake Bluff: The most recent meeting focused on historical water bills to determine if payback of previous payments were due from the Village. The Village provided a second draft IGA to the Library on August 15th. The goal is to have an IGA for full Board review & approval during the September 2024 meeting.
    3. Meristem Advisors Project Proposal: Jamie Rachlin has created a proposal for estimated costs for a financial analysis and staff modeling. The Board discussed the proposal and how to proceed with financial projections given the status of long term planning projects for the Library. A recommendation was made to have a special meeting focused on this proposal.
    4. Grant-funded Engberg Anderson Signage Project: The $45,000 accessibility grant payment was received in the past few weeks and the project is moving forward with interior and wayfinding signage.
  10. Library Correspondence: Library Director Grassi provided an overview of Library correspondence, including Fall 2024 flyers for Library Museum partnership programs, a Computers in Libraries article and a Patch article detailing Lake Bluff Library’s per capita and accessibility grant funds.
  11. Executive Session(s) if needed: There was none.
  12. Any and all other business which may properly come before the Board: Trustee Jerch provided a Library Foundation update on interest in providing matching funds for the accessibility grant with the remaining funds in the Foundation’s account. The Foundation would remain in place, but inactive, once funds are disbursed.
  13. Adjournment: Trustee Jerch moved to adjourn the meeting, Trustee Friedeman seconded; all voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Alexandra Friedeman

Secretary