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Approved Minutes of Owatonna Public Library
Board of Trustees
Owatonna Public Library, Gainey Room
105 North Elm Avenue
Thursday, January 18th, 2024 at 4:30p.m.
The Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees held the monthly meeting on
Thursday, December 21st, 2023. The meeting was held in the Owatonna
Public Library Gainey Room. In attendance were President Trudy Severson,
Vice President Amy Tapp, Trustee Karen Malin, Trustee Quinn Meyer,
Trustee Julianna Skulzacek, Library Director Mark Blando and
Administrative Technician Robin Spande.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Severson at 4:30pm.
2. Reminder of Open Meeting Law
The open meeting law applies to board meetings.
3. Public Comments
No Public Comments
4. Approve Minutes
Trustee Karen Malin moved and Trustee Tapp seconded to approve
the minutes of the December 2023 meeting. All aye and the motion
approved.
5. Children’s Services Report December 2023
See attached
6. Financial Report
Blando reported that there is not much to report on the budget as it is
the beginning of the year. However, $45,000 has been approved for the (CIP)
Capital Improvement Plan. Plans to use the funds for the library include
shelving, lighting, etc.

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7. Library Use Report
C K I & C K O - p h y s ic a l it e m s
b p C h e c k in N o rm a l C K I
b p C h e c k in L a te C h e c k in
B P T O T A L C K
b p C h e c k o u t F irs t T im e C K O
b p C h e c k o u t P h o n e R e n e w a l
b p C h e c k o u t O th e r R e n e w a l
b p C h e c k o u t O p a c R e n e w a l
b p B P T O T A L C K O
---------- ---------- ----------
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o w a t C h e c k o u t P h o n e R e n e w a l
o w a t C h e c k o u t O th e r R e n e w a l
o w a t C h e c k o u t O p a c R e n e w a l
o w a t O P L T O T A L C K O
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L ib r a r y V
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C K I & C K
b p
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----------
C K I & C K
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C h e c k o u t
C h e c k o u t
C h e c k o u t
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d D e c 2 0
3 6 5
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a l it e m s
N o rm a l C K I
L a te C h e c k in
B P T O T A L C K
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P h o n e R e n e w a l
O th e r R e n e w a l
O p a c R e n e w a l
B P T O T A L C K O
----------
a l it e m s
N o rm a l C K I
L a te C h e c k in
O P L T O T A L C K
F irs t T im e C K O
P h o n e R e n e w a l
O th e r R e n e w a l
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O P L T O T A L C K O
2 2
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D e c -2 2
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b p
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1 9 4
1 ,0 1 8
0 2 2

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8. Upcoming Programs
We recently featured a Trivia night that was a big success! The contest
was well received by the patrons. In addition we offered an evening of
Nintendo Switch/ Smash Brothers event. It was attended by approximately
25 kids.
Adult puzzle night will be offered Thursday January 25th in the Reading
Room from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. This program proved to be very popular with ten
teams of four or less signing up in record time.
Joseph Mbele from Tanzania will be coming to visit next week on
February 8th at 6:30 pm in the Gainey Room. His talk will be "Cultural
Differences Between Africans and Americans." He will offer an engaging and
entertaining talk about cultural differences which cause misunderstandings
and conflicts between Africans and Americans.
Join us on Thursday, January 25th at 2:00 p.m. for a showing of the
movie Selma in the Gainey Room.
We also will be featuring a “Blind date with a Book” event that will be
coming up in February in conjunction with Valentines Day. In addition we will
be featuring a “Anti Valentines Day” event that will showcase books that we do
not love.
The Diane and Allan Page Collection has assembled banners that will
demonstrate Black History month. These banners will be on display in our
reading room.
Our first podcast will be coming up next week. Our first topic will be the
Dewey Decimal system. It will be released next month. This promises to be a
monthly event and will be featured on the city/government page.
9. SELCO Update
SELCO is working toward a new ILS program. This will be a huge
undertaking for all SELCO Libraries. There was no December meeting.
10. Library Updates
The City held an “All Hands Meeting” on January 17th at the Owatonna
Arts Center. Staff were issued a new shirt and a group picture was taken in
the City Chambers.
The long awaited Makerspace will be up and running next month. We
will begin advertising very soon. We will be able to print two colors at a time.
This will be a staff involved process. At this point it is a free service that is
provided by the Library. This is possible due to financial support from the
Library Foundation.
Blando indicated that there have been incidents of callers that threaten

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libraries so we need to be aware of this situation.
A new law has been put in place that designates that an employee will
earn sick leave as long as 80 hours/year is satisfied.
The 125th Birthday of the Owatonna Public Library is coming up and we
will be planning a birthday party in February 2025.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by Vice President Ann Tapp and seconded by
Trustee Quinn Meyer. All aye. The meeting adjourned at 5:23 pm.
The next board meeting will be Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 4:30pm.
President Severson and Trustee Malin indicated that they will not be able to
attend this meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Robin Spande