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Library Board Minutes <br />July 23, 2024 <br />Page 2 <br />Moved by Commissioner Blaske and seconded by Commissioner Hegarty to remove the financial <br />reports from all meeting packets moving forward. Motion carried 5-0. <br />5.2 Future of Library Board <br />Commissioner Blaske shared that he feels that during the time that he has been on the board Ms. Barry has <br />been doing an excellent job working with the City to manage the library on her own. He does not feel that <br />the library board is doing much regarding its purpose any longer. During the year that he was in the Chair <br />position he only attended Elk Riverfest and that was the only event in that year that he is aware that any <br />board members attended a library event. <br />He proposes that the library board disband. <br />Commissioner Boelter said that she believes the board and library have a great relationship with the City <br />right now, but she is hesitant about the future since that has not always been the case. She asked Mayor <br />Dietz if there is any specific reason as to why there is a library board. <br />Mayor Dietz said originally the boards job was to help make decisions regarding the building and the <br />grounds. Programming was the responsibility of the Great River Regional Library. The Librarian's cannot <br />wait three months for a recommendation from the board to make most decisions. <br />Mayor Dietz also shared that he recently learned that there are not many libraries in the system that have a <br />board. The Friends of the Library needs support so Mayor Dietz suggested that the board could all <br />potentially join up with them. He does not think the City Council would have issues with the board <br />disbanding. The decision is up to the library board members, and he does not want to waste anyone's time if <br />there is not enough for the board to discuss or do. They could always serve on another board or <br />commission with the City of Elk River as well. <br />Ms. Boelter shared that until the board redid their bylaws a couple of years ago, they used to spend a lot of <br />time talking about the flower gardens, weeding, chair colors, upholstery, and flooring etc. It was a lot of time <br />spent talking about the physical aspects of the library. Then when they met with Mr. Portner, the City of Elk <br />River City Administrator they reexamined their purpose and decided that their focus was more like the <br />Friends of the Library. If the focus is now to support the library and that is the purpose of the Friends of <br />the Library, then they do not necessarily need two groups doing the same thing. She said that if the library <br />board does not exist, she would spend her time with the Friends of the Library. <br />Commissioner Blaske asked what the librarians think. Ms. Burkhardt said she did not work with any boards <br />as an LSC, but she currently supervises three libraries with boards including Elk River. The ones that she is <br />aware of that exist were grandfathered in. From what she knew most library boards disbanded after they <br />completed the purpose for which they were created. She said that the boards still in existence are <br />questioning their purpose as far as whether they are they are a building inspection and advisory board, or <br />more of an advocacy one. <br />Ms. Barry said that whatever happens she just wants to be valuable to the board members. She said she <br />provides the same information in her report to both the Friends of the Library and the board. She said there <br />p 0 V E R I I IT <br />NATURE <br />