Mitchell library board approves small claims payment, signs off on conference funding and hears director report on record summer use

The Mitchell Public Library Board on a unanimous voice vote approved paying $23 to cover a book lost in an interlibrary loan and approved $700 for conference travel plus $138 for board memberships in the South Dakota Library Association, after hearing Director Kevin’s written report on September library operations.

Kevin’s report said the library’s summer reading participation and reading minutes rose notably from last year — minutes reported increased from 512,900 to 692,550 — and July circulation exceeded 17,000 items, the highest monthly total the director said he has seen in his five years at the library. July was also the first month the library’s new people counter recorded more than 6,000 visitors, Kevin reported.

Why it matters: the usage numbers are cited as supporting several budget and programming items the board discussed and as context for recent and pending expenditures, including a new digital sign and higher utility bills.

Board members heard several operational and budget items during the director’s report. Kevin said the library’s postage budget was exhausted through August after extra interlibrary loan shipping; the library paid $173.94 on a credit card for postage and will reimburse that from trustee funds. He also reported a new digital sign has been installed and powered on but required a Daktronics setting change to receive graphics and still appears dim; electrical hookup work by a local contractor remains unpaid. Kevin described the total sign cost as being described to the board as under $70,000 and said the board/trustees had paid roughly half of the board’s portion as a down payment; the remaining electrical bill from Moose Electric is pending.

The board approved a $23 payment to replace a book borrowed from Mayville State University after the returned envelope arrived empty. Kevin said he spoke with the postal supervisor and the post office would contact the sorting facility to try to locate the item; the library’s discounted mailing rate does not include insurance.

On budget matters Kevin reported the trustee bank balance at the time of the report was about $86,644 (July) and near $87,700 in August and reminded the board of an earlier reserve target of roughly $75,000. He also noted a recent water/sewer bill of about $2,000 that consumed most of the year’s $2,100 budgeted amount for that line and said he would discuss options with city staff. Kevin told the board that his budget request to the mayor and city administrator was largely approved; the only item not approved was a $5,000 increase in part-time wages.

The board approved two funding requests related to the South Dakota Library Association conference: $700 to cover travel and registration for staff attendance this year and $138 to pay SDLA memberships for trustees. The board also scheduled an hour-long training session for trustees on October 21 at 5:15 p.m. at the library, and set the next regular board meeting for Nov. 18 at 5:15 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Board discussion included suggestions to publicize the high circulation numbers on social media and to offer training sessions that cover cataloging and back-of-house processes; trustees also discussed using conference attendance to meet accreditation training-hour requirements.

The meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.