Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Public Library, Library Commission met Oct. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Call to Order 

Call to order at 1:00 p.m. by Mary Jo Rowley 

Roll Call 

Mary Jo Rowley 

Pat Parr 

Becky Wayne 

Ken Kirchner 

Lisa Peck 

Absent 

Mary Jane Linton 

Also Present 

Jennifer Lawyer, Interim Library Director 

Jill Applebee, Village of Forsyth Administrator 

Minutes 

Motion made by Pat Parr to accept the meeting minutes for the September 13, 2023 meeting. Seconded by Lisa Peck. Motion carried on voice vote; all members present voting yea. 

Public Comment 

None 

Old Business 

• Changes to the Security Cameras Policy were discussed. The policy will be discussed again at next month's meeting, with the hope that there will be a new Library Director. 

• Jennifer asked Commission members for ideas to fill the Library Commission vacancy. Jill Applebee will contact individuals who were discussed as good candidates. 

New Business 

• Jennifer Lawyer is serving as the Interim Library Director. Jill Applebee informed the Commission she received 15 total applications for Library Director. These will be narrowed down to 4 possible applicants. 

• Chapters 5-8 of Serving Our Public 4.0; Standards for Illinois Public Libraries were discussed to fulfill 2023 per Capita Grant Requirements. Chapters 9-13 will be discussed at next month's meeting. 

Librarian's Report 

• FPL staff have been working hard on the 2023 Library Crawl, October 1-31. Residents of Forsyth with 5 or more stamps will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $50 Best Buy gift card. 

• The FY24 library budget has been submitted to the Village. 

• The library had 7 adults and 2 juveniles sign up for library cards during Library Card Sign-up Month. 

• Baby Talk had an average of 19 children and 15 adults attend each week. 

• The library had a very good turnout of 17 people attend the program Agatha Christie; A Body of Evidence. There was a lot of positive feedback. 

• Chair Yoga will be offered on Mondays starting October 23 in addition to the Wednesday session. 

• Youth Services Librarian, Jana Howe, has been revamping 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Changes will begin January 2024. 

• Planning has begun for Nightmare on Elwood Street 2. The party will be held Saturday, October 28. The library will have treat bags, games and a costume contest. 

• Patron card registration as of September 30 includes 1,420 adults and 161 juveniles. The September 2023 patron count is 2,288 which is 193 less than September 2022. Circulation for September 2023 is 4,143 which is 380 less than September 2022. Materials checked out by Non-Forsyth Patrons is 1,633. Materials checked out by Forsyth patrons at other libraries is 220. 

Adjournment 

The next library commission meeting is scheduled for November 8, 2023. Ken Kirchner moved to adjourn. Pat Parr seconded. The motion carried on voice vote; all members present voting yea. 

Meeting adjourned at 1:34 p.m. 

https://forsyth-il.gov/vertical/sites/%7B18717005-44FD-438D-B0BC-B86101984F4F%7D/uploads/2023.11.8_Library_Commission_meeting.pdf