Agenda

Jacksonville Public Library

Board of Trustees

Monday, January 12, 2026    5:00 p.m.

  • Call to Order
  • Public Comments
  • Minutes of December 8, 2025, Board Meeting
  • Financial Reports
    • Approval of the Payment of Payroll and Bills for January 2026
  • Endowment Report
  • Director’s Report
  • Comparative Service Report
  • Committees:
    • Automation/Technology
    • Building and Grounds
    • Finance
    • Personnel
    • Public Relations
  • Friends of the Library
  • RSA/RAILS
  • Old Business
  • New Business

Adjournment

MINUTES

January 12, 2026

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees was held on January 12, 2026, in the conference room of the Jacksonville Public Library.  The following Trustees were present: President Mary Fergurson, Noel Beard, Beth Capo, Kevin Eckhoff, Forrest Keaton and Elizabeth Kennedy.  The following Trustees were absent: Laura Bandy, Lisa Haley and Katie Weeks. Library Director Jake Magnuson was also present.

President Fergurson called the meeting to order at 4:59 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments.

MINUTES OF DECEMBER 8, 2025 BOARD MEETING

On motion of Eckhoff, seconded by Kennedy, and carried, the minutes of the December 8, 2025, meeting of the Board of Trustees were approved as presented.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

The financial reports and bills were reviewed. On motion of Beard, seconded by Capo, and carried, the financial reports for January 2026 were approved, and all properly approved bills and payroll for January 2026 in the amount of $68,292.97 are to be paid out of general funds as funds are available.

ENDOWMENT REPORT

Keaton reported the Endowment Fund market value was $2,605,858.92 as of December 31, 2025, and noted that, after taking into account $115,596.67 of cash disbursements since December 31, 2024, the market value had increased by $255,663.45 since December 31, 2024.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Magnuson reported that the library was fairly quiet in December due to staff vacations, holidays and snow closures.

Magnuson reported that after almost fifteen years, library clerk Diane Hequet retired at the conclusion of 2025.  The staff had a small party for Diane on December 19 – she will be sorely missed.

Magnuson reported that he and Brittany received over sixty applications to fill the vacancy left by Diane, and that after interviewing five applicants, Abby Roth was hired as her replacement.  Abby’s first day in her new position will be on January 16.

Magnuson reported that Spotless Perfection Window Cleaning came to clean the external windows of the library on December 24.

Magnuson reported that he worked on the FY2026 Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Grant application, and that the application has been finalized and submitted.

Magnuson reported that the Friends of the Library held another successful Annual Book Sale on December 6.  Magnuson reported that business was steady all morning, and that the proceeds from the sale came to approximately $800. 

Magnuson reported that he held his monthly radio spot on WLDS, and that the local news outlets provided several articles and press releases on the various programs at the library in December.

Magnuson reported that he attended an active shooter seminar at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on December 4, and that he is looking into having some library-specific training, possibly at the next in-service day.

Magnuson reported that the Circulation department continues to provide excellent service to every patron that walked through the doors in December.  He reported that Diane trained Amber from Tech Services to take over her book, DVD, and CD repairing duties in anticipation of her retirement. 

Magnuson reported that the library collected three boxes of donations to be taken to the Jacksonville Area Community Food Center for the annual Food for Fines program.

Magnuson reported that Adult Services had another busy month.  He reported that Ali assisted four patrons in finding jobs.

Magnuson reported that the Adult Service programs in December were successful, and that Ali is already scheduling programmers for 2026.

Magnuson reported that Ali’s Tech Drop-ins at both Cedarhurst and The Pointe are gaining success and that she will continue to work to provide the elderly community of Jacksonville with tech assistance.

Magnuson reported that Ali attended The Pointe’s Polar Express Party in December and that she played games and had a read aloud with the residents.

Magnuson reported that Heidi completed her scheduled residential and individual homebound visits, and that the readership at the residences continues to grow.

Magnuson reported that Heidi attended the December Morgan/Scott/Greene County Interagency meeting, which had a record number of social service agencies attending.

Magnuson reported that Youth Services showed a dip in programming attendance, but this is to be expected during the month of December due to the holidays.  He reported that Youth Services programming attendance is already beginning to pick back up. He reported that Sensory Sensitive Storytime continues to be marginally attended, and that while Courtney will continue to offer the story time, if attendance does not pick up, the program will likely be discontinued. 

Magnuson reported that there were fifty checkouts at the Illinois School for the Deaf in December and that Courtney and Abby anticipate continued success with the bookmobile.

Magnuson reported that the 2026 Summer Reading theme is “Oceans of Possibilities,” and that Courtney has already begun looking to book performers for the summer.

Magnuson reported that a packet has been compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library to be placed in the upcoming Jacksonville Time Capsule. 

COMPARATIVE SERVICE REPORT

Magnuson reviewed the Comparative Service Report for December 2025.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Automation/Technology

Magnuson reported that any further communications between the Jacksonville Public LIbrary and the Board of Trustees should be completed via the official Board of Trustee emails for FOIA purposes.

Building and Grounds

No report. 

Finance

Keaton reported that there will be a Finance Committee meeting with US Bank relating to the Endowment Fund at the library on February 25 at 4:00 p.m. All board members were invited to attend.

Personnel

No report.

Public Relations

Magnuson reported that there were numerous articles and media reports on the library in December.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

See notes in Director’s Report.

RAILS/RSA

No report.

OLD BUSINESS

No old business.

NEW BUSINESS

No new business.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, on motion made by Keaton, seconded by Beard, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 5:39 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Ali Jones