Coralville Public Library Board approves May bills, hears summer reading and lawn project updates

The Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees met June 3, 2026, in the library board room and unanimously approved the agenda, the minutes of the May 6 meeting and payment of the May bills. Vice President Lisa Mellecker called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

Director Alison Ames Galstad gave the Director’s Report, saying overall circulation was up 6.5% compared with the prior year and that about 60% of circulation remains physical materials. "Hotspots, Kanopy, and OverDrive use were all up," Galstad said. She also reported unusually high new-card registrations, which staff attribute at least in part to an AIM card load.

Galstad reported the Summer Reading kickoff earlier that week was "very well attended" and that the night of kickoff 377 children, 329 adults and 190 teens signed up for reading challenges through Beanstack and paper forms.

Library Assistant — Serials Beth Bartlett outlined her responsibilities managing magazines, newspapers and related supplies and said the library sometimes loses magazine subscriptions when titles cease publication and that newspapers are now often delivered by mail rather than courier and therefore frequently arrive a day late. Bartlett also described her role managing furniture, locks, keys, the photocopier, staff locker assignments and planning the library’s Fourth of July parade float. She said staff plan to replace all computer carrels in the Reference area in the next fiscal year; Trustee Pat Kenner asked whether the library had considered switching to key-card access.

Trustees reviewed the bills for May after questions from Kenner about Book Farm, a local vendor of children’s books. Galstad explained other invoices on the bills list, including a Friends of the Grimes Public Library payment for Adventure Pass participation, an Antelope Lending Library outreach invoice for Western Hills summer outreach, translation work from the Iowa International Center, advertising in Little Village and a furniture invoice for new staff chairs from Pigott. The board approved payment of the bills unanimously (four yes, zero no; three trustees absent).

Galstad said deposits this month include a check from University Heights and that gift receipts included a check from Marion for Staff Development Day, with an expected gift from Iowa City to be recorded next month. She reported the library’s new digital signage is installed and staff are "tweaking the fonts."

On facilities, Galstad said she and staff met with Confluence about proposed revisions to the library lawn project; Confluence will provide suggested revisions and Galstad recommended the board consider the trust and agency account for partial funding at the July meeting. Staff also met with a University of Iowa Community Engagement Corps student who hopes to use a grant to increase accessibility for people with low vision at the library.

The Friends of the Library are revising their bylaws to clarify roles and recruit younger members, Mellecker said; the Friends also donated a check to the Coralville Food Pantry to support summer lunch programming. The board had no additional business and set the next meeting for Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Pat Kenner moved to adjourn; Amanda Elkins seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: mover Pat Kenner; second Amanda Elkins; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve May 6, 2026 minutes: mover Pat Kenner; second Molly Logan; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve May bills: mover Amanda Elkins; second Pat Kenner; outcome: approved unanimously. - Adjourn: mover Pat Kenner; second Amanda Elkins; outcome: approved unanimously.