Windsor Library Advisory Board Meeting

Draft Minutes

Windsor LAB Meeting

July 8, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

Windsor Regional Library - Meeting Room

9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492

1.    CONVENING & INTRODUCTIONS

Present: Eleanor McFarlin, Judy Gerstle, Maryos Kuiper, and Mike Neely

Others present: Barbara Maes, Deborah Doyle, and Phil Hoeft 

Not present: Vin Mahraj

Members of the public present: 

2.    PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

3.    APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PRIOR MEETING

Minutes approved.

4.    REPORTS & UPDATES

Reports and updates on library governance, management, programs, services and support group activities as well as City Council activities. All items are for discussion only.

       4.1.  TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON'S REPORTS

Not present.

       4.2.  LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Maes provided the report. July is Disability Pride Month at the Library. Disability Advocacy Team presented at the July Commission meeting. Summer Reading program is ongoing and ends on August 9^th. The Healdsburg Regional Library has reopened after its renovation project. The Petaluma Regional Library is likely to reopen in August. The Library’s new fiscal year started on July 1st.

       4.3.  LIBRARY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT

Doyle provided the report. Sarah Laggos will be the new Library Commission Chair, starting in August. Brooke Greene will continue as Vice Chair of the Library Commission. JPA review meetings are ongoing. The budget for the new fiscal year was approved. The Library and Union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. There were updates on several library advocacy related things: federal funding of IMLS, State of California library funding, and the recent ALA conference. 

       4.4.  BRANCH MANAGER'S REPORT

Hoeft provided the report. Branch statistics were strong for the months of May and June—patron count increasing. Summer reading is busy at the branch. 36 events in May and 23 in June. Outreach at Native Arts Festival and Windsor Pride. Several staffing changes at the branch include recent hires for Library Associate, Shelver, and Specialist vacancies, and recent resignation of Shelver postion. 

       4.5.  FRIENDS OF THE WINDSOR LIBRARY REPORT

Neely provided the report. Book cart is doing well. No farmer’s market sales this summer. 

5.    DISCUSSION ITEMS

       5.1. OUTREACH SURVEY: LESSONS LEARNED, DATA, RESULTS, AND NEXT STEPS 

77 responses. The frequency of visits did not include virtual visits. Books and programs were the most cited reason for visiting the branch. The survey may have been skewed due to timing and event location. Overall respondents were pleased with the library. Recommendation to hold another outreach survey at a different location. Neely to send presentation to Hoeft to be distributed to LAB members. More children’s books and Spanish books needed as giveaway items.

       5.2. LAB ROSTER AND QUORUM SIZE: HOW TO ADJUST IF NEW MEMBERS                                                          RECRUITED 

Fixed roster size. Gerstle Recommended that roster size be flexible (5-8), and that a quorum consists of a majority of the roster. Hoeft to investigate recommendation. Kuiper recommended establishing a waitlist and inviting applicants to an upcoming LAB meeting. McFarlin to compile information about Friends, Foundation, LAB, and Commission to provide to LAB applicants. 

      5.3. SPENDING OF LAB MONEY IN NEW FISCAL YEAR

Discussion of amount ($500), the purchasing process, and whether to purchase more books, or have a different type of event. LAB members to bring ideas to the next meeting. One possible goal would be to connect with local organizations.

      5.4. OVERVIEW OF PROCESS FOR JUST CAUSE AND EMERGENCY TELECONFERENCING EXCEPTIONS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE LAB 

LAB discussed and will review the information that was sent out recently.

6.    MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

None.

7.    ADJOURNMENT

Adjourned at 5:06 PM

Next regular meeting: September 9, 2025 @ 4:00 PM.