Cottage Grove library board reviews summer programs, approves minutes and vouchers and begins 2027 budget work

The Cottage Grove Library Board met in a hybrid session at Village Hall and online and heard a program report from Monica, who said the Music in the Grove summer series drew strong community turnout and that the library is planning fall and youth programming while preparing a 2027 budget request.

Monica, speaking first at the board's request, said the June Music in the Grove performance by Tom Pease drew “about 75 individuals in attendance,” and the July program with David Landau attracted “well over 100” people. She described families staying to picnic and children engaging with performers, and said the events have supported early-literacy goals.

Monica said a story-walk installation planned for July was delayed by one week because the selected book had too many panels and could not be edited without harming the storyline. She also said two Wednesday "Movers and Makers" programs were canceled this summer because sessions at 3 p.m. fell during peak heat; organizers announced cancellations on social media and are refining outreach to partner sites such as Glengrove to avoid gaps in notification.

Looking ahead, Monica previewed an end-of-July "Farming and Cottage Grove" presentation produced with the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society and proposed an All-Community Read aimed at tweens (targeting roughly ages 10–13). She said the Friends of the Library would fund about 25 paperback copies and that late October or November would be a preferred window to coordinate with middle-school outreach. Monica also said the board has room in next-season programming budgets to pursue a technology-focused presentation on AI for youth audiences and asked members to help identify presenters.

On routine business, a board member moved to approve the minutes from the June 17 meeting; the Chair announced “Motion by Megan, 2nd by Sarah” and the board voiced approval. The Chair declared the motion carried. Later the board approved vouchers presented with the meeting materials after a separate motion and voice vote; the Chair again announced the motion carried.

On the 2027 budget, the Chair introduced a memo and attached operating expense figures for January–June and said the board must finalize a request before the village's budget cycle advances. She asked the board for guidance on priorities and recommended creating a separate expense line for grants and donations so those receipts and expenditures are tracked distinctly from operating costs. The Chair said salary and other personnel-cost changes would affect future requests but, absent a major new expense, the board’s draft request would likely mirror current allocations. She said the draft budget will be prepared in coordination with village staff and brought back for formal review in September because the August meeting was canceled.

The board also confirmed outreach continues with Dane County Library Services about a shared Dropbox and said it will prepare an annual transparency update explaining how use of county library services factors into the Dane County portion of local property taxes. The board voted to adjourn and the Chair closed the meeting; the next meeting was set for Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in Village Hall.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the June 17 minutes (motion announced as "Motion by Megan, 2nd by Sarah;" Chair declared motion carried) and later approved the vouchers (voice vote; Chair declared motion carried). No roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes were recorded in the transcript.