_08112026-3425

Minutes of the: Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting January 20th, 2026 - 4:00 p.m. Meeting Held Remotely Via Teams Members Present: Connie Cogger, Vicki Redenbaugh, Amanda Westlund, Addie Arens, Katherine Elchert, Darrell Pendergrass, Charly Ray, Diane Posner, Sue Rosa, Jeff Holte, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler, Lin Gokee, Jenni McBain, Amanda Westlund Members Excused: Jan Lee, Tara VonThoma Other Members Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kelly Westlund-County Deputy Administrator, Alison Loewen-Librarian for the Mead Public Library Items 1 & 2: Call to Order and Introductions: The meeting of the Bayfield County Library Committee was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Committee Chair Connie Cogger. Introductions of members were made. Item 3: Public Comment: None. Item 4: Guest Presentation – Alison Loewen, Wisconsin Librarian of the Year, 2025. Mister Rogers and His Work Promoting Early Literacy: Wisconsin Librarian of the Year, Alison Loewen delivered a presentation on Fred Rogers and his work on promoting early literacy to the committee. Item 5: Motion Regarding the Minutes of the August 21, 2025 Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting: Motion by Ray, seconded by Holte to approve the minutes of the August 21, 2025 Library Committee Meeting. Motion carried. Item 6: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Updated Five-Year Library Plan: A draft copy of the updated plan was included in the packet and Abeles-Allison reviewed the revisions with the committee. Cogger suggested that there may need to be a language change regarding the increase in circulation and mentioned that the topic of Gale Courses should be removed as they are no longer available. Abeles-Allison asked that all members review the draft plan and send him any and all update recommendations. Item 7: Review 2025 and 2026 Building Strong Library (BSL) Projects: Each of the libraries reviewed BSL projects that were completed in 2025 as well as gave status updates on the projects that were approved for 2026. Item 8: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Final Cable Library BSL Payment: Abeles-Allison informed the committee that he received a letter from the Forest Lodge Library requesting the remaining 2025 BSL funds that were allocated to the library expansion project. A. Westlund gave a brief update on the project. Discussion took place regarding the funding request. Motion by Posner, seconded by Rosa to approve the final payment to the Forest Lodge Library for their 2025 Library Expansion BSL project. Motion carried. Item 9: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2027 BSL and Digital Navigator Program: Abeles- Allison reviewed some of the revisions to the 2027 Building Strong Libraries Program, which included the removal of a committee goal to encourage county libraries to become AI resources and adding a goal of offering device lending and digital navigation services. Sections pertaining to the Digital Navigator were also removed. Motion by Holte, seconded by Ray to approve the 2027 Building Strong Libraries Program with the proposed changes. Concern was raised regarding the lack of specifics pertaining to the Digital Navigator portion of the document. Abeles-Allison stated changes would be made to include more details in the final document. Motion carried. Item 10: Discussion Regarding Act 420 Funding in 2027: Abeles-Allison stated that the county currently funds adjacent county libraries at 70% and stated that the county is seeking the committee’s opinion on funding those libraries at 100%. Discussion took place regarding increasing the funding for adjacent counties. Item 11: Review 2026 Library Budget Approved by County Board: Abeles-Allison reviewed the 2026 budget figures with the committee. Item 12: Discussion Regarding Ideas for Upcoming Bayfield County Fair – August 2026: Holte explained that organizations outside of 4-H are now able to participate in the Bayfield County Fair and stated that the Iron River Library had a booth at the previous fair and proposed each of the libraries trying to get a booth at the 2026 fair. Pooler reviewed the Iron River library’s booth activities for the previous year as well as potential ideas for the next year. Item 13: Discussion Regarding “Free Trees for Earth Day” Celebration Activity Opportunity – April 2026: Holte informed the committee that the organization that is also responsible for the SEED Program are giving away trees for Earth Day and the state wants to know if the county libraries would like to participate. Pooler explained that the Iron River Library was looking for a forester to come to the library to educate kids on how to plant a tree and read literature on the life cycle of a tree. Holte stated that any other library that may be interested in participating can contact the Iron River Library. Item 14: Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM. The next meeting will be a hybrid meeting. Item 15: Library Reports: None. Item 16: Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, committee chair Cogger adjourned the meeting at 5:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Paige Terry as transcribed from a recording.