ELPL Board Revises Code of Conduct, Selects Consultant

At her final meeting as a trustee of the East Lansing Public Library Board, Diane Goddeeris was thanked for her contributions to the institution and East Lansing community. The June 14 meeting also saw major proposed revisions to the library’s code of conduct and the selection of a consultant for a strategic plan.

During public comment, 11 library staff members rose to speak about their responsibilities, with each commenting on how much they enjoy their work and their colleagues. The library staff union is in the midst of talks with administration to craft its next collective bargaining contract.

“I’m most proud of the outreach,” Adult Services Librarian Angelo Moreno said. “I visit nursing homes and senior apartment complexes here in the city and bring special requests and books I pick out that I know they’ll enjoy. With a reader who is becoming less and less mobile, she and I have a wonderful time catching up. It’s moments like these that I feel lucky to be a library worker. It’s only possible because I am part of a team, because they answer questions and sign people up for library cards. Our library patrons are greeted with joy and recognition. Because [the] communications [professionals] spread the word. Because colleagues teach tech literacy. Libraries work because we do.”

“I’ve been a customer service assistant for 14 years and am a former English major,” Susan Malfi said. “I love working with the community and staff. My job is to welcome people into the library, to greet them and screen their needs, knowing what we have and where it’s kept. We are the first basis of welcome for all patrons.

“I’m often the first person they see,” said Rheanna Reeder, a part-time Teen Services Specialist. “I help with college and job applications. Sometimes the most important thing I do with teens is being there. I love the library and the teens I work with every day. I’ve never worked with a more dedicated team. Every single day I come in, my fellow staff members remind me why I love the library. Libraries work because we do.”

Most of the 11 staff members included that line – “libraries work because we do” – in their comments. ELi reached out to members of the union to inquire about their progress with a new contract and will provide noteworthy updates when they are reported to us.

Amy Zaagman, Vice President of the ELPL Board of Trustees, thanked the staff for all they do for the library.

Jan. 11 subcommittee reports on the progress being made for the library use survey.

President Polly Synk gave a brief update on the Jan. 11 subcommittee and how the survey the group has been working on since February is progressing.

“We have been working on the compiling [of questions for the survey], getting ready for collectively putting together our input and putting together a survey, which is almost done,” Synk said. “It’s been a quiet month with no large meetings with [the] community or elsewhere.”

The survey is designed to ask community members what they want to see offered by the library and their own comfort in using its services.

Revisions of four policies took up a big portion of the June 14 meeting.

The largest block of the meeting was spent revising four library policies: the code of conduct, the code of conduct enforcement guidelines, its penalties and appeals process, and the safe child policy. Zaagman and Goddeeris reported they spent three hours at the library, meeting with staff members who wished to weigh in on the revised policies.

While the discussion about the updates was long, it did not exhibit any of the clashes present at previous meetings.

Trustee Ameenah Asante inquired about the administration’s desire to photograph disruptive patrons who had refused to show identification, asking if that included children. Goddeeris reassured her, “We wouldn’t photograph children without their parents’ permission.”

When discussing enforcement guidelines, it was stressed by Zaagman and Goddeeris that calling law enforcement would always be the final approach. The trustees also elected to allow patrons who have access to physical library materials suspended for conduct violations to retain their access to online services.

At the end of the conversation, the trustees considered if they were ready to adopt the revised policies after making several edits during the meeting. Goddeeris suggested Zaagman create clean copies of revised changes and submit them to City Attorney Anthony Chubb for his feedback. They expect to vote on the finalized policies at their July 19 meeting.

A strategic plan to explore the workings of the library and possible changes for the future has been discussed by the board since at least February 2023.

ELPL Director Kristen Shelley shared three proposals she solicited from midwestern library consultant organizations: Woodlands Library Cooperative, LibraryIQ and Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS). Shelley indicated she had a favorite out of the three but would wait for the trustees to discuss their thoughts.

“LibraryIQ makes me feel like they’re just plugging information into a computer and getting data while not engaging enough with people,” Goddeeris said.

“I’m not drawn to out-of-state [consultants],” Zaagman said, indicating LibraryIQ would not receive her vote. “I believe MCLS is the best choice.”

“I appreciate that MCLS speaks specifically about staff and focus groups,” Asante agreed.

The MCLS strategic plan, which the trustees supported, was also Shelley’s choice. It will cost $32,800 – a one-time payment. Shelley will send the proposal to the city attorney for approval and it will then go to the East Lansing City Council, which must approve all expenditures more than $20,000.

Library board approves a new slate of officers.

The trustees quickly moved through officer nominations for the 2023-2024 year. Goddeeris moved to nominate Zaagman for president, Trustee Pamela Smith as vice president and Asante for secretary. She and Synk explained the library board traditionally gives each person an opportunity to serve in each office for a year during their tenure. The motion passed unanimously.

In her financial and director reports, Shelley explained the fund balance account the trustees had learned about at their previous meeting.

“We always want to keep some fund balance for emergencies and to pay staff,” Shelley said, explaining that, ideally, libraries want to have two years of staff funding saved in case of emergency.

“One year to pay staff would be $1.856 (million), which exceeds our fund balance,” she added.

Shelley reported a new electric sign had been ordered to replace the one currently at the corner of Abbot Road and Library Lane.

In her president’s report, Synk read a resolution to honor departing Trustee Goddeeris.

The library trustees will next meet on Wednesday, July 19, welcoming new trustee Shawn Nicholson.