March 2025 Board Meeting
Present: Vice President Jeannine Gogoleski; Secretary Nancy Rosso; Treasurer Becky Basley; Trustee Holly Naylor; Trustee Kim Armstrong; Trustee Dawn Smith; Library Director Sarah Neidert; Recording Person
The meeting was one hour and 41 minutes, and there were four speakers. Prior to the Call to the Public, Naylor added the Meeting Minutes to the discussion, Neidert added the Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy, and Rosso added the Community Relations report.
For more information, refer to the official Meeting Minutes.
Call to the Public (Names are spelled based on what was heard):
- E: Hello Members of the Board. My name is [E] and I am not speaking as a TAB Ambassador. Last meeting, a man in the audience read an explicit excerpt from the adult book GenderQueer, a book that I have never read nor intend to read due to both my parents asking me not to and my own reservations. This meeting was the only time I can think of that the library or that which is related to the library has exposed me to explicit content. On the topic of distressing material ending up in the hands of minors, I have had two occasions where I read a book that was too violent for me. Both times, I stopped reading the book and spoke to my mother. At some point, everyone comes across something that upsets them or makes them curious, especially in the days of the Internet. At the end of the day, I think it comes down to whether or not your children trust you enough to talk to you. Explicit material is not in the children’s section. There are probably queer people there. If you find that maddening, talk to your kids about it. They will come across queer people eventually.
- Christine Geory: Teacher and coach for 30+ years, involved in libraries. Hasn’t been here before, but came here to support the freedom to read/freedom of speech, as it promotes critical thinking and discussion. Is opposed to banning or censoring books. From books you might not have wanted to read, you learn things. Is concerned about the similarities to 1930s Germany, and the end result of mass book burnings.
- Anthony McKenna: Spoke at the last meeting, during which Bolin spoke out of order. During the last meeting, Bolin also brought up laws against child exposure to pornography while speaking about protecting the children. He said that he got this information from the Sheriff. McKenna contacted the Sheriff who said that Bolin had tracked down the laws and asked the Sheriff to enforce them. Questioned why Bolin wasn’t here and why he misinformed the public, called it inappropriate.
- Lin Petila: Also spoke at the last meeting, for the labeling of books but not banning. Doesn’t want children exposed to that stuff nor to read books he hasn’t approved of. He has a right to protect his children, and this helps him keep track. The books are still there, just labeled. You can still read it if you want to. Great compromise for everyone.
Director’s Report:
$8,000 is needed for the last phase of paying for the organ at the Music Hall, though if cost remains it will be covered (I believe it would be by the Heritage Foundation, but I am unsure).
Neidert wants to know if Board members will be walking in the Memorial Day Parade, informed the Board that this is the 90th year for Hartland, and Jim Currie (a relative of Naylor) had volunteered his antique car. Neidert also noted that, when asked, none of the staff wanted to walk through town as they feared hostile crowds.
Report on the expected financial loss due to an Executive Order. It is unknown how the cuts will affect the budget. The library is funded through local taxes, so the library only has to justify the budget to the public. There won’t be a direct loss, but the databases, e-library, and inter-library loaning system will be affected. Neidert is hoping that the State will make up the loss. Talk of applying for funds to send people to conferences, might have to adjust for that loss. Smith asked if the library funds the Michigan Library Association (MLA) or the American Library Association (ALA), to which Niedert says no, and that they are funded through membership. There was discussion of grants.
Staff are pleased with the office renovation, there is a new children’s item, and there have been buttons added to the bathroom doors.
Ms. Liz from Community Relations will be coming next month for a presentation on the Strategic Plan.
Neidert spoke on the privacy of patrons before introducing a new database that will be able to gather data without sacrificing privacy that will be discussed at a later date.
TAB: I (E) asked for clarification on the report from Community Relations, which seemed to both indicate Smith wanted and did not want labels. I was told it would be classified during discussion.
Naylor noted that website visits are up, to which Neidert suggested might be due to combining the website and calendar. There was discussion over the reduction in physical materials bought, and the library has begun tracking study room use. The reason cards expire is so that the library can collect data.
Discussion:
The Pledge of Allegiance will be added after Call to Order. Discussion and decision items will be combined in order to allow better meeting flow, better recall, and less confusion on the public’s part.
Discussion over adding the board packet online in advance of meetings. Naylor raised concerns over possible inaccurate information, to which Neidert suggested clear labels of draft. Smith hopes that this will decrease the volatility of meetings, as the public should know what the library is actually doing. Smith wants to know if committee meetings could be public. Neidert says that they technically are although there are no decisions made at these meetings. If these meetings did become formally public a Call to the Public and Meeting Minutes would be required. The meetings might have to be moved to a better time for the public, but there isn’t any reason not to. Smith says it would bring more transparency. Topic was put on next month’s agenda.
Policy 8003, the Meeting Agenda Format. Bolin suggested a second call to the public that is 30 seconds in length at the end of the meeting. Smith is worried over whether or not that would be helpful. Naylor says that Bolin should be here to discuss it. Neidert says that there used to be a second one before adjournment. Naylor says that it was removed due to lack of use, and before that, extremely long meetings. Gogoleski does not approve of adding a second, observes that it would be hard to cut people off after 30 seconds, but she does approve of moving it after the decisions so that the public needs to stay and see the entire meeting. Basley supports refraining from a second Call to the Public, does support moving it after decisions, says that the public already comes prepared. The decision to move the Call to the Public after decisions is sent to Committee for language.
Bolin would like zoom meetings and meetings recorded, Neidert is getting a financial quote.
Neidert says that the surveying of the land will be done by tomorrow. The renovation will be done in segments, so the plan can be adjusted as we go. Basley applauds Ms. Sue, the woman who is working with the library to make this happen, for her clarity, adding that she is, “great to work with,” and, “helped me understand.” If approved, the next stage could begin Monday. The school parking lot situation is still unknown. Neidert says that this will likely happen next spring, and recommends that they go forward with the planning, and a draft budget should be available by May. The decision to go forward with concept planning unanimously passed.
Neidert says that the Paid Time Off (PTO) policy will be brought into accordance with new laws. She goes on to mention that all the libraries in the area are doing some sort of adjustment, and that the library is very generous in their PTO policies and benefits. The entire handbook is being reviewed, and the HR audit is ongoing. There was discussion over rollover, and it was mentioned that part time employees get one for every thirty, which I believe is in reference to hours off and hour worked.
Meeting Minutes and Discussion:
Naylor has no suggested changes, but does have comments. She notes mentions of the Board needing to be non-partisan, implying that the Board no longer is. The Board in the past was not partisan, politics were not brought up because it wasn’t needed. Now, it is partisan. Members of the Board speak on podcasts, campaign money from political groups. My notes are a bit confused here, but she mentions the idea of the woke, liberal boogieman. She says that the Board is not involved in book selection, staff are, and that books are at the library because they are popular, not because they are part of an ideology. She notes a community member who, in response to the last Board meeting, commented, “Didn’t know I was a politicised ideology,” and goes on to affirm that the people who encompass that “ideology” are our neighbors and constituents and deserve respect. She ends by saying that it is better in this room (third floor meeting room, I forget what it is officially called) than the last meeting, which took place at the Hartland Music Hall, because the people and the Board are on the same level.
Smith says that the ideology is coming from the top down, as the American Library Association (ALA) and Michigan Library Association (MLA) are partisan, the education and teachings of these groups are partisan. There are partisan laws and presentations. She affirms that, “it is an ideology”.
Naylor notes that the Strategic Plan is against the labels.
Smith responds that the Strategic Plan is not a Bible, and people feel that they may speak now.
Gogoleski asks Naylor how she can say that the MLA and ALA are not partisan.
Naylor responds that she isn’t saying they aren’t partisan, but rather that Cromaine is independent from them, and does not pay for either.
Neidert says that Cromaine is not part of the ALA, and that while some people have attended conferences, they were not paid for.
Naylor reiterates that the Board has not been partisan. The Board needs to work together so meetings do not end up four hours long.
Smith says the Board needs to work together, not only half. She mentions that 50% of the township wants what is being expressed by herself and other members of the Board.
Naylor notes that previous votes on the subjects brought up now were unanimous, and asks where she got her numbers from as the survey was anonymous.
Smith and Gogoleski say that they were not able to have discussion then. Smith noting that when working together and having discussions in the past all viewpoints weren’t achieved because of suppressed voices.
Naylor says that they were able to express their views in the past.
Gogoleski backtracks a bit. She says that it is good to have this discussion.
Neidert asks what to do to not be partisan if the MLA and ALA are bad.
Smith says that it is not all bad, but that Governor Whitmore spoke at an ALA meeting, stating that she wants to be President [of the United States, I believe is what was implied].
Neidert asks if she should stop attending ALA presentations if the ALA has become politically motivated.
Smith says that it is obvious what is useful and what is propaganda. She wishes to drop the MLA because it is against Twitter (now known as X), but not against Facebook which had censorship of vaccine injuries and mask protests.
Neidert says she has not renewed Cromaine’s membership of the MLA. Most of the seminars are free, though the ones that are not will cost more without membership. Speaking to Smith, she says that staff are feeling unsupported, that it feels, “anti-library,” though she does not believe that was the intention. She says that she has given a one year pause on any identity months, or months focused on individual groups- Pride, Constitution Week, Women’s History Month, and I believe also displays such as Black History Month, displays related to disabilities, etc.
Smith says that no group should be celebrated other than American, although perhaps that is too controversial.
Neidert speaks about the new, “Social Issues,” label. It will be added to the board and picture books. She is concerned that it isn’t what Bolin wants.
Gogoleski says that labeling books for children has been a hot topic in the community for years. Says that the Community Relations Committee did not end up breaching the topic of labels for sexually explicit books.
Smith says that the social issues and sexually explicit labels are different topics, which is why it looks odd in the packet. She does not want warning labels on books.
Neidert had a group approach about challenging books [as of when I am finishing this report, April 17, 233 books have been challenged]. Books focused on activism/dismantling social issues will receive this label, some LGBTQ+ books may receive this label.
Gogoleski says no one wants to put rainbow flags on books or lock them away, this is an established topic point and fiction category.
Smith is aware it will make both groups in the community somewhat unhappy, but says it is the best compromise anyone could come up with.
Rosso wants to consult with the attorney. She brings up an Arkansaw case where a library moved books to a separate section and were mandated to move them back. She says this is risky, to go into with eyes open.
Smith states something about being less stigmatizing.
Someone asks if any other libraries are doing this. Neidert responds that they are not currently.
Rosso urges to consult the attorney.
Gogoleski says not to, as it will be a cost.
Smith says that the attorney will tell the same thing as before.
Naylor says that her concern is that it will not be enough for some community members, they will not stop until books are segregated. Says that you say that you do not want book bans, that the Board must back the director, and that some people will want book bans.
Smith says that she does not want books banned or segregated, only children’s books labeled.
Neidert says that separating the two issues is helpful, and the main concern is the sexually explicit label.
Gogoleski addressed [L] and I, saying that nobody has wanted to shut the teen room down.
Neidert says that Bolin did tell her he wanted the teen room shut down and locked if there was no adult present.
Gogoleski acknowledges this and says that they don’t want anything to happen to the teens nor a lawsuit to be brought upon the library. They just want a librarian in the room.
I spoke, reiterating my points from the previous meeting. I don’t quite recall what I said, but I believe it was along the lines of the teens like the library and don’t want to be barred from a space that we have found to be a safe space.
A man, Wes Nakagiri, who was sitting behind us recording, asked why I was allowed to respond to the Board and said that if I was then all members of the Public should be. Neidert responded that I was one of the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Ambassadors, and this was what I had been elected for, Nakagiri responded that the general public had not elected me.
Neidert ends by saying she did have to kick out some boys for rowdiness, and that it will be discussed at the April meeting.
Decisions:
The Pledge of Allegiance was added, discussion and decision items were combined. There will not be a second Call to the Public, but the Call to the Public will be moved to the end. Board packets and draft Meeting Minutes may be added to the website ahead of meetings [they are currently]. Meetings may be recorded in the future. PTO policy is being updated.