October Library Board Minutes
The Oelwein Public Library Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oelwein Public Library.
AGENDA
Roll Call
Agenda Approved
Minutes Approved
Correspondence and communications – National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims
Trustee Training: Five Primary Responsibilities of Boards -1
Director’s Report: Programs, Sprinkler Installation, Passport Agent, Staff Updates, ILA Conference, Satellite Voting Place
Friends’ Report: Book and Bake Sale
Bills Approved:
Unfinished Business
New Business
Upcoming Library Holidays/Closed Dates
Policy Review: Conduct in the Library
Adjournment
September
Circulation: Computer Use: Reference Questions:
26 September: 3639 26 September: 81 Wireless: 675 26 September: 497
25 September: 3180 25 September: 89 Wireless: 700 25 September: 448
Attendance: New Patrons: Program Attendance: Passports:
26 September: 2165 26 September: 22 26 September: 35 26 September: 17
25 September: 1939 25 September: 22 25 September: 73 25 September: 12
Acquisitions: BRIDGES Downloads: 663
Books 87 eBooks: 225
Movies 7 Audio: 415
eMagazines: 23
Five Primary Responsibilities of Boards
Even though the board delegates the day-to-day management to the director, the board never gives up its responsibility to ensure that the library succeeds and prospers. In exercising that responsibility, Iowa’s public library boards have five primary roles:
I. Hiring the Library Director
The board hires a qualified person to manage the daily operations of the library, working with and in support of the director while mutually respecting each other’s roles.
The Oelwein Public Library Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oelwein Public Library.
Present: Franzen, VanDenHul, Ingersoll, Payne, Macken
Absent: Kerns, Solsma
President VanDenHul called the meeting to order at 5:42.
Agenda and Minutes Approved: Franzen made a motion to approve the agenda and the minutes. Seconded by Ingersoll. Motion carried.
Correspondence: National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims organization sent a thank you note for hosting their display.
Trustee Training: Five Primary Responsibilities of Boards -1: The board hires a qualified person to manage the daily operations of the library, working with and in support of the director while mutually respecting each other’s roles.
Director’s Report:
· Program attendance
o Makerworld: 4
o Americana Bells: cancelled, no registrations
o Book Club: Spirit Lake Massacre: 13
o Bike repair: 10
o Morning Book Club: Our Heritage: 4
o Snowflake Quilling: 15
o Iowa Scenic Views: 7
o Hospice 101: 0
· Upcoming Programs
o Paranormal Investigations: October 20, 6:00
o Morning Book Club: Borrowed Book: October 26, 10:00
o Book Bling: November 9, 6:00
o Woodcarving, November 14, 9:00
o Hospice/Palliative Care: November 17, 6:00
· Sprinkler Installation: The City Council accepted the estimate from Iowa Fire Protection for replacing the sprinkler heads. The sprinklers are on backorder with an estimated delivery of mid-November.
· Passport Agent: Lori is now a certified passport acceptance agent.
· Staff Updates: Katie H will retire on November 3. Katie S has accepted a new position. Her last day is November 6. One of the Pages will go on maternity leave either on November 5 or 12. Katie H will work as a Page during the maternity leave. Kathy W has been hired to fill one of the two open part-librarian positions.
· ILA Conference: Lori and Susan attended a variety of informative sessions. They will be sharing this information at the next two staff meetings.
· The library is serving as a Satellite Voting Place on October 28 from 9-3. The library is also a polling place for the general election on November 3.
· The City Council will be touring the library on November 11 at 6:00.
Friends’ Report: The Book and Bake Sale is October 22-24.
Bills Approved: Ingersoll made a motion to approve the list of bills. Seconded by Franzen. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business: none
New Business: Discussion was held on whether to close the library on the Saturdays following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Franzen made a motion to close the library on November 28, December 26, and January 2. Seconded by Ingersoll. Motion carried.
Policy Review: The Conduct in the Library policy was reviewed. Ingersoll made the motion to approve the policy as reviewed. Seconded by Franzen. Motion carried.
Adjournment: Ingersoll made a motion to adjourn at 5:57.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Macken
Next meeting Wednesday, November 18 at 5:30