Lester Library Board Meeting — Minutes

Town of Rome Library Board Meeting Minutes Lester Public Library 1157 Rome Center Drive Friday, July 10 th , 2026 BOARD ATTENDEES: Daliege, Kristin; Davidson, Sandi; Fatla, Lori; Giardino, Sue; Giardino, Vito; Oleson, Leslie, Rokke, Bruce Excused: LIBRARY STAFF: Nicole Menzel, Director TOWN STAFF: FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: GUEST: Town of Rome Supervisor Tim Reppen presenting Libraries with Heart initiative- MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 8:32 a.m. CERTIFY POSTINGS: DATE: - 7/7 2026: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 4:58 PM; 7/8 Town of Rome website 11:26 AM; Town of Rome 11:28 am; 7/7 Library 5:00 PM; 7/7 Nekoosa/Port Edwards State Bank 5:35 PM; Kwik Trip 5:40 PM APPROVE THE AGENDA: Motion to Approve: Sandi Davidson; Second: Vito Giardino Motion passed CITIZEN COMMENTS: None CONSENT AGENDA: ● Approval of Minutes from June 12 th , 2026 library board meeting ● Directors Report ● Financial Report Motion to Approve: Vito Giardino; Second: Lori Fatla - Motion passed CORRESPONDENCE: N/A Friends of Library Report: Sandi Davidson ● Tale Trail event successful ● Farmer’s Market 7/24 Friends of Library ● Annual Book Sale Oct 15-17 ● Donations accepted in mid-September ● July 15 th at library: Grow, Harvest and Preserve Herbs event ● Next meeting 9/17 at 9:30 AM Town of Rome Report: Vito Giardino ● Wake boat ordinance vote occurring at next town board meeting ● Solar discussions still taking place ● Newsletter initiative-have spoken with a company who manages this; they will be at next board meeting to present ● ADA Pier-no update as meeting in July hasn’t been held yet ● Discussion for a Town community celebration for end of summer in 2027; in discussion with Visit Rome to plan for next year Director Meetings/Activities : ● Primary focus summer reading program ● See addt’l attached report APPROVAL OF LIBRARY BILLS: Motion to Approve: Sandi Davidson ; Second: Kristen Daliege…..Motion passed REVIEW, DISCUSSION & UPDATES ● Pop-Up Library-ramp being finalized to add to van ● Appropriate Behavior Policy reviewed…Motion to approve: Lori Fatla; Leslie Oleson; Motion Passed ● Mary P. Bolcskey Donation o Sandi Davidson-perhaps a gazebo to be utilized outdoors; retractable awning o Lori Fatla-Outdoor signage to promote library and its’ events o Next Step: Nicole to explore options/costs and will be added to next agenda; Bruce to speak with contact at bank to see about using their digital sign ● 2026 Staff Evaluation Process o Use same process as 2025 o Nicole will do a self-evaluation o Start process in August; needs to be finished before budgeting o Dawn leaving; last day 7/24 o Colton Drolenger starting 7/20; has worked here in the past ● Blood Pressure Kiosk o Discussed a blood pressure kiosk vs loaning home used blood pressure machines for resident use o $2500 for a kiosk; $150 for a home based machine to be checked out and used at home o Nicole can purchase two (2) home based monitors for now; if/when demand increases, add’l monitors can be purchased o Next Steps: Work on communication plan NEXT MEETING/ITEMS FOR AGENDA: August 14 th , 2026 ● Further discussion on Mary P. Bolcskey Donation ● At home blood pressure monitor communication plan ADJOURN: Motion to adjourn at 9:45 am: Kristen Daliege; Second: Leslie Oleson: Motion passed Respectfully submitted, Sue Giardino, Secretary Director’s Report for the Lester Public Library of Rome – June 2026 Programming ● Children’s Story Time: 63 attendees ● Fiber Arts: 11 attendees ● Read Between the Pines Book Club: 8 attendees ● Mahjong: 26 attendees ● Paper Craft Club: 10 attendees ● Card Group: 25 attendees ● Maker’s Space: 117 users ● Wildlife in Your Backyard: 26 attendees ● Great Book Giveaway: 26 attendees ● Bumblebee Kitchen Spoons: 14 attendees ● Dino STEAM Day: 16 attendees ● Dinosaur Dimensions: 28 attendees ● Media Displays: America’s 250th Birthday (Adult Books), Oh, look, a bird! (Adult Books), Dinosaurs (Kids Books), Summer Splash (Movies) ● Upcoming Events: ● Paper Crafts Club 1st and 3rd Mondays @ 1PM ● Mahjong Tuesdays @ 10AM ● Card Group Tuesdays @ 1PM ● Children’s Story Time on Wednesdays @ 10:30AM ● Fiber Arts Group Wednesdays @ 1PM ● Alcoholic Anonymous Thursdays @ 6:30PM ● Read Between the Pines Book Club July 14th @ 6:30PM ● Chick Hatch Party July 11th @ 10:30AM ● Pint Size Polkas July 14th @ 3PM ● Grow, Harvest, and Preserve Herbs July 15th @ 9:30AM ● Music w/ Duke Otherwise July 21st @ 4PM ● Beginner Chess Lesson w/ Vince August 3rd @ 4PM ● Dinosaurs and Unicorns August 10th @ 10AM Facilities ● Monthly inspection for pest control found no inside pest activity. Staff ● Dawn, Heather, Alexa, and Michelle facilitated multiple weekly events for the 2026 Summer Library Program. ● All staff signed up Summer Reading Program participants. ● All staff set up new media displays. ● All staff processed, covered, and cataloged 800+ books for the Pop-Up Library. Projects ● Continued outlining library mobile outreach plan for Summer 2026. Continued vehicle modifications, including final shelving installations. ● Reviewed and updated policies for board approval. ● Continued planning SCLS governance review project for Administrative Council. ● Created social media posts and updated the library website. ● Purchased new materials (books, DVDs, audiobooks, etc) released in June. Town & Community Group Meetings (Director Attended) ● Attended ARSL Membership Committee meeting on June 2nd. ● Attended SCLS Governance Review Sub-Committee meeting on June 5th. ● Led Read Between the Pines Book Club on June 9th. ● Attended SCLS Delivery meeting on June 11th. ● Attended Library Board meeting on June 12th. ● Attended Town of Rome Department Head meeting on June 17th. ● Attended SCLS Administrative Council meeting on June 18th. ● Facilitated Bumblebee Kitchen Spoons program on June 18th. ● Attended SCLS Governance Review Sub-Committee meeting on June 26th. ● Led SCLS Administrative Council follow-up meeting on June 30th. ● Attended all TOR board meetings (virtually).