Coralville Public Library Board approves March bills, accepts nearly $19,000 from Friends and reviews electronic meeting policy

The Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees met April 1, 2026, and approved its agenda, the March minutes and payment of March bills before adjourning at 6:19 p.m.

Bob Turnquist, president of the Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the board voted unanimously to approve the agenda and minutes. Board members then approved payment of the March bills following a brief inquiry about a ProQuest charge.

Alison Ames Galstad, the library director, said the ProQuest invoice covered access to the Newspapers.com World Collection and the Fold3 military records collection available through Ancestry. "ProQuest is a company that specializes in digital content for libraries," Galstad said, explaining the subscription covers reference databases and historical newspaper access rather than the microfilm purchases the library used to make.

The board reviewed a recent City Council revision to the City of Coralville Electronic Meeting policy. Hai Huynh, the City Council representative to the board, said the revision removes the requirement that the presiding officer be physically present and that an in-person quorum is required for the Library Board of Trustees and the Arts Commission. "The requirement that the presiding officer be present in person at the meeting... no longer applies to the Library Board of Trustees or the Arts Commission, nor does the provision require an in-person quorum," Huynh said.

The board also approved the nomination for this year's T. Patricia Dee award. X. Cretzmeyer reported for the Friends of the Library that the Friends' annual meeting is scheduled for April 23 at 6 p.m. and that a book sale will be held May 1-2 to coincide with the citywide garage sale. Galstad said the Friends approved a staff wish list and are "providing just shy of $19,000 in funding for Library services and programs that fall beyond the Library's regular budget," supporting summer reading, educational programming, a teen services internship and equipment.

In the director's report, Galstad told the board that March usage and meeting-room statistics are included in the board packet and will be presented at the May meeting. She reported that hot water had been restored in early March and that electricians were installing digital signage in meeting rooms. Galstad also said most bills in the Statehouse that might have negatively affected libraries "died with the second funnel," while noting staff will continue to monitor legislation and possible amendments.

Galstad previewed the Corridor Libraries Staff Development Day expected to draw about 125 participants, with keynote sessions by Shamichael Hallman of the Urban Libraries Council on civic engagement and Ashley Stewart of EveryLibrary on advocacy. She also said a proclamation for National Library Week will be read at the April 14 Coralville City Council meeting; Amanda Elkins and Molly Logan said they could attend to accept the proclamation. National Library Week runs April 19-25; the library plans free replacement cards and related programming during the week.

Galstad reported that the community meal on March 27 served over 400 meals plus about 100 to-go meals for the community fridge. The board set its next meeting for Wednesday, May 6. Amanda Elkins moved to adjourn; Bob Turnquist seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.