12/13/2023 - MinutesTigard Public Library Board Minutes – Wednesday, December 13, 2023
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES – Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Page 1 of 4
1. BOARD MEETING
A. At 6:32 p.m. Board Chair Bogert called the Tigard Public Library Board Meeting to order.
B. Chair Bogert called the roll.
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 Hawkins moved to approve the Library Board minutes for the November
13, 2023 meeting. The motion was seconded by Board Member Allen, and the motion
passed unanimously.
4. ICEBREAKER
Library Director Bernard asked everyone in attendance the icebreaker question: What is your
number 1 recommendation in Tigard?
5. MEET THE TEAM
Present Absent
Christopher Allen
Helen Allen
Mary Bogert, Chair
Candice Coleman
Shirley Edwards
Bart Hawkins
Kate Ristau (Vice-Chair)
Alan Smith (Alternate)
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES – Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Page 2 of 4
Our “Meet the Team” guest was Dre Dictor, Youth Services Supervisor. Dre shared their
experiences working at various libraries around the country. They stated that they appreciated
working on a team with librarians who had specialized skills in literacy and library science, so
that each person could act as an expert. Dre is passionate about making materials for kids and
their caretakers easily accessible and eye-catching. The Children’s Room reflects this through
new placement of outward-facing books, monthly displays, and wayfinders.
6. LIBRARY POLICY DISCUSSION
The Board reviewed the Library’s Soliciting and Petitioning Policy, which was last approved on
January 12, 2022.
Vice-Chair Ristau asked for clarification on definitions within the policy before considering to re-
adopt. The clarification was about the literature stands some groups bring for their pamphlets.
They are not considered chairs or tables and therefore are allowed by the policy. After this,
Board Chair Bogert asked that there be a motion to re-adopt. Board Member Hawkins moved to
re-adopt the policy as written. The motion was seconded by Board Member Coleman, and the
motion passed unanimously.
7. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Library board business:
The Library Board will have four new members in January in addition to the
reappointment of Vice-Chair Ristau. Library Director Bernard and Confidential Executive
Assistant Goodey are currently onboarding all new members.
Three Library Board members finished their tenure of service. Library Director Bernard
and the board expressed gratitude for the generous donations of time and energy by
Board Members Hawkins and Allen, and Board Alternate Smith.
Library building and grounds: Library facilities will be impacted by the Fanno Creek Trail
Connections Project beginning in mid-December. As part of this project, a combination of
boardwalks and a bridge will be added just east of the Library’s book drop loop. The area
around the Library will be affected in four main ways:
The drive-up book return will be temporarily converted to a walk-up and moved to the
covered area across from its current location.
The book drop’s circle drive will be temporarily closed to allow for construction
equipment for the project. This will cause temporary changes to the parking lot flow.
Fanno Creek Trail will be temporarily rerouted nearer to the Library and across the
parking lot to avoid the construction area.
There will be construction noise and visible construction activity.
Teammates and volunteers:
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES – Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Page 3 of 4
Tigard Public Library has job openings for On-Call Library Assistants in Circulation
through December 17th, 2023.
The teen volunteer program restarts to include year-round volunteer opportunities.
A city-wide volunteer appreciation event will occur on Saturday, April 20 th to honor all
those who volunteer their time to our city programs and work.
Additionally, all board and committee members are encouraged to sign up for Tigard’s
Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend of Service opportunities now on the city’s website.
Collections, materials, and programming:
There will be a 2-week Storytime break from Monday, December 18 through Monday,
January 1. Other great programs will be offered for kids and families including
imaginative play in the Puett Room, self-directed search for Pete the Cat, and creative
exploration with “Make a Thing.”
National Novel Writing Month write-ins were attended by 4-9 writers working on their
NaNoWriMo projects each week. And they were hosted by Vice-Chair Ristau!
Some programming highlights include our annual Holocaust remembrance with Evelyn
Banko (95 in attendance), Coffee & Conversation with a record-setting 27 in attendance,
a busy month of storytimes with 739 in attendance over 28 sessions (an average of 26),
and lively teens at BookTRON & Teen Library Council (13 teens in attendance).
Dre and Cheryl did a very delightful job talking about library services and resources on
the latest episode of the Talking Tigard podcast, including recommending a fantastic
range of books and other materials for all ages.
Library trends and community feedback:
Book Riot and the EveryLibrary Institute have released the results of their latest survey on
parental perceptions of library workers. The survey revealed that 92% of parents,
grandparents, and guardians trust librarians to curate appropriate books and materials,
and 96% feel that their children are safe within the library.
Library Director Bernard mentioned a recent Oregonian article that summarized an audit
of Multnomah County library workers. The audit concluded that more than 40% of
Multnomah County librarians, clerks, and employees feel unsafe at work. Board Member
Coleman asked if WCCLS might do a similar audit for Washington County member
libraries. Library Director Bernard did not know, but she noted that this is a topic of
discussion for member library directors. Locally, Director Bernard continues to work with
library leadership to consider library procedures and policies that ensure our team's
support. Additionally, Director Bernard noted that some patron interactions would be
handled more effectively if we had a trained social worker on staff.
A community member shared the following comment about Library services: “Talk about
your ‘shared experience’! The library is our best investment. As I like to say, ‘It’s not free
it’s funded!’ Keep voting, voters!”
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES – Wednesday, December 13, 2023 – Page 4 of 4
8. NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No other business was discussed.
9. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:24 p.m. Chair Bogert adjourned the meeting.
Prepared by:
Approved on January 10, 2024