Upson Public Library Board welcomes new member, approves consent agenda and 2026 budget steps

The Upson Public Library Board in Appleton met Dec. 16, 2025, welcomed a new board member and approved a consent agenda that includes routine bill registers, budget amendments and authorization to solicit proposals for a strategic planning process for the 2026 library budget.

Chair called the meeting to order and led a pledge of allegiance before the board approved minutes for the previous meeting after Andrew Mann moved to approve and Nancy Sherman seconded. The board later voted to add items 25-1504, 25-1505, 25-1507 and 25-1511 to the consent agenda and then approved that agenda in a subsequent motion by Margaret Mann.

Kevin Engelberg introduced himself as a new board member, saying he is the development land services director for Outagamie County and previously worked for the East Central Regional Planning Commission and as a planner for Madison Public Library. "Good evening, everyone," Engelberg said as he outlined his background after being welcomed by the board.

During the consent-agenda discussion a board member questioned a budget table whose year-to-date actuals looked low. A staff member responded that the figures were pulled earlier in the year and "don't necessarily get updated," noting the last update shown was Sept. 22. That explanation was offered as context while the board approved the consent agenda, which the chair said included the bill register, budget amendments and a request to solicit proposals for strategic planning tied to the 2026 budget.

Staff provided administrative updates: an open page position (a subposition under half time) has an application deadline of Dec. 28, and interviews have been completed to replace Adrianna, the community partnership supervisor, with staff saying they hope to have news about the candidate soon. A staff member also announced that Maureen, who began working for the City of Appleton in 2001 and moved into a library administrative role in 2004, will retire effective Jan. 2; the board said a small celebration is planned for her last day. "Congratulations, Maureen, and thank you," the committee member said.

Programming reports highlighted youth engagement. Margaret Mann, identified during the meeting as head of children's services, said the library ran its Bear Bingo reading program this year with 765 participants in total — 375 in early-childhood activities and 390 in the 5–12 age group — and noted prize winners and other activities to encourage reading across genres. "So this year, we had 765 total participants in Bear Bingo and 375 of those for the early childhood and 390 from 5 to 12," Margaret Mann said.

Children's staff also described a new Pokemon Club, a partnership involving the American Association of School Librarians, the Association of Library Services to Children and Pokemon Company International that provides official cards and seeks to create a noncompetitive space for fans to play and socialize.

Katie Silk, the library's local history librarian and one of the interim supervisors for community partnerships, outlined teen programming plans. Silk said the "Launchpad" program will be Jan. 31 and invites young entrepreneurs to pitch ideas for three cash prizes; the application deadline was extended to Dec. 29 and eligibility was opened to sixth- through twelfth-graders residing in the Fox Cities. She also previewed a Twine & Dine storytelling workshop on Dec. 23 and an AI bingo program on Dec. 30 to teach teens about generative tools and creative prompting.

The library's genealogy series wrapped its sessions for the year; staff announced upcoming genealogy classes on Jan. 10 (Polish genealogy) and Jan. 27 (researching family history online). Staff also promoted a 6 p.m. acoustic concert and a mandala-making craft in the learning center and commons.

Nan Munoz moved to adjourn; a second was recorded and the board voted to adjourn. The meeting closed with holiday greetings from the chair.