September 2025 Minutes
Switzerland County Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
September 9th, 2025
The regular monthly meeting of the Switzerland County Public Library Board of Trustees was held Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 at 3:30 pm in the meeting room of the library. Attending were Michelle Hicks, Don Tolliver, Mary Jane Rogers, Sharon Deck, Diane Sigmon, and Emily Fox. Not attending were Diana Barry, Norman Miller, and Heather Peelman.
Deck made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous board meeting, seconded by Sigmon and passed unanimously. Reports of library activity and technology activity were shared. Circulation dropped by 20% and there were fewer programs, but all other statistics remained steady. Tolliver mentioned the sushi program he is helping put together for the library is tomorrow, September 10th and another will be in October.
Bills and claims were presented. Tolliver made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Hicks and passed unanimously.
Time for Public Comments
The 2026 budget was presented. Discussion was held. Rogers asked how it compares with the 2025 budget and Fox said it was very similar but major increases were in communication and transportation and computer maintenance. Sigmon asked how Fox felt since she is the one who primarily handles the budget and Fox said she was as confident as she could be. She also mentioned that the numbers can be changed with board approval in the future so it is okay to not be perfect. Tolliver asked if utility increases would impact the library and if extra money was allotted. Fox said she wasn’t sure how it would impact the library but she always pads the utility budget with an extra $1000-2000. The budget will be voted on in October.
Old Business
None.
New Business
Fox presented the results of the strategic plan survey. 81 people participated and all but one survey was done online. Discussion was held. Tolliver noted the lack of response from the Patriot area despite having a decent-sized population and asked if the library had ideas for outreach. Fox said that it has been very difficult but staff were brainstorming ideas like potentially partnering with the food giveaway or attending Trick or Treat. Rogers asked if there were any things that stood out in the survey and Fox said expanded e-book services and electronic services in general, Library of Things/makerspace expansion, and formal delivery service were big ones. Sigmon said since many people are interested in the library purchasing a Cricut, maybe doing a program on how to use it could be useful.
The Confidentiality of Library Records Policy was reviewed. No changes were made.
The library will open at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 12th due to a staff meeting to discuss the strategic plan survey.
The library will be closed on Monday, October 13th for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
Minutes recorded by Emily Fox.