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Tigard Public Library Board Minutes— May 14, 2025
1. BOARD MEETING
A. At 6:31 p.m. Board Chair Ristau called the Tigard Public Library Board Meeting to order.
B. Chair Ristau called the roll.
Present Absent
Helen Allen V
Mary Bogert V
Candice Coleman V
Lili Diaz V
Pam Michael ✓
Kate Ristau (Chair) ✓
Jenny Stoffel (Vice-Chair)
Jessica Lin (Alternate) ✓
C. Call to Board and Staff for Non-Agenda Items— None
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
A. Follow-up to Previous Public Comment: None
B. Public Comment—Written: None
C. Public Comment— In Person: None
D. Public Comment— Phone-in or Video: None
3. APPROVE MINUTES
A. Board Member Coleman moved to approve the Library Board minutes for the April 9
meeting. The motion was seconded by Board Member Michael, and the motion passed
unanimously.
4. ICEBREAKER
• Library Director Bernard asked everyone in attendance the icebreaker question: What's a
quality or trait you look for in a friend?
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5. MEET THE TEAM
Our "Meet the Team" guest was Becca Reyes-Geislinger, our new Volunteer Coordinator in
Circulation. Becca joined our team two months ago, and they have been a volunteer coordinator
for about 15 years. They started in this field at their local library. Becca has always loved libraries
and volunteer coordination. Something that surprised them when they joined our team is the
dedication of our volunteers. Becca shared that one of our volunteers has completed 2,600
hours of service, which works out to 1.2 years of a full-time job. Becca answered questions about
our volunteer management software and the summer teen program.
6. POLICY REVIEW
A. ALA POLICY: Public Library Trustee Ethics Statement (Last Reviewed: February 14, 2024)
Director Bernard explained that we are reviewing the ethics statement as a foundational
education piece as we examine the role of library board members.
Board Member Lin asked about the conflicts of interest that were mentioned in the ethics
statement, and who was responsible for pointing out conflicts of interest. Director Bernard said
that board members could either self-identify if they had a conflict of interest, or another board
member or staff member could indicate that they observed a potential conflict of interest.
Vice-Chair Stoffel moved to endorse and re-affirm the ALA Public Library Trustee Ethics
Statement. The motion was seconded by Board Member Coleman, and the motion passed
unanimously.
7. DIRECTOR'S REPORT
At the beginning of the director's report, board members and library teammates discussed our
summer meeting cadence and decided to cancel the June 11 meeting.
Director Bernard thanked the board for their thoughtful letters to library teammates.
Director Bernard shared updates on library operations and funding, including:
• Everyone who attended the State of the City event on Monday, April 28 received rock
painting kits and instructions to add them to our rock garden out front. There is now a
little sign in the rock garden about this. Rebecca Hathaway, City Manager's Office
Assistant, will monitor the painted rocks.
• Our Acquisitions Supervisor Meagan Gibson's last day was May 9.
• Recruitments: Acquisitions Supervisor and Senior Library Assistant Technical Services
positions have been posted.
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13500 SW Hall Boulevard, Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.684.6537•TPLcommentsatigard-or.gov•www.tigard-or.gov/library
• At the City of Tigard Employee Recognition event, all staff were celebrated and
individualized recognition given to staff who have been with the city for 20+ years.
Congratulations to Alla, Margareth, Sandra and Xiaohong for over 20 years of service.
• We celebrated National Volunteer Appreciation Week with our amazing volunteers. The
Mayor, Director of Library Services, and three City Councilors joined 31 library volunteers
and over a dozen other city volunteers for an in-person event celebrating the volunteers'
contribution to the city.
• Several library teammates attended the annual OLA conference in Eugene. Tech Services
teammates presented an OLA poster on our 200s reclassification project.
• Amber and Ryn from Readers Services gave a training to library staff at the all-team
meetings on boundary setting. Setting boundaries in a kind and respectful way is good
customer service and helps staff take care of themselves.
• The City of Tigard has a new City Manager, Brent Stockwell, who starts on June 2.
• The FY26 budget will likely be approved by the budget committee next Monday and will
be adopted in June. Departments were asked to reduce our budgets to hit a target of 3%
reduction in General Fund costs. No filled positions were impacted by reductions.
• AARP filed a total of 1084 returns this year, a 15% increase over last year's number (914).
We were the busiest TaxAide site in the state.
• Our website now has a Library Social Services web page, thanks to Jeanne & Ryn. Basic
Needs Bookshelf is now up and running, with access to basic needs items during all open
hours.
• Lee, Library Assistant in Circulation, shared: "Accessibility Appreciation: I had a great
interaction with a regular patron today, using our writing pads. The patron indicated they
are deaf. I have helped them with check out before, using gestures as needed, or typing
onto the screen, or writing on our small note paper. Today, they presented an old card,
and I was able to ask by writing if they had their new card as well. I could refer to them
by their name, which personalized the interaction. Additionally, I asked if I could throw
away the old card. And further, could I help them with anything else. They wrote that
they'd like to know where we got the writing pads and said it was much better than
typing! They really like the pads and indicated they are great. We signed thanks. I was
really pleased the writing pads increased the quality of customer service I can offer this
patron, and others. Great addition to our services!"
Vice-Chair Stoffel asked how to donate to the Basic Needs Bookshelf. The Basic Needs Bookshelf
is stocked entirely by donations. Support for the Basic Needs Bookshelf can be provided via our
Amazon Wishlist, or by coordinating a donation with our Social Services Coordinator directly
at ryn.starr@tigard-or.gov or 971-495-1179.
Board Member Lin expressed an interest in the library offering training to the public in how to
set boundaries like the one offered to staff. It seems like it would be useful to people of all ages.
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Board Chair Ristau expressed a thousand thanks to Jeanne Peloquin, the Library's
Communication and Outreach Coordinator, for making the April presentation a success.
8. NON-AGENDA ITEMS
There were no non-agenda items.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:29 p.m. Chair Ristau adjourned the meeting.
Prepared by: Halsted Bernard
Approved as edited on: July 9, 2025
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13500 SW Hall Boulevard, Tigard, Oregon 97223 • 503.684.6537•TPLcommentsatigard-or.gov•www.tigard-or.gov/library