March 2026 Board Meeting

Agenda

Jacksonville Public Library

Board of Trustees

Monday, March 9, 2026    5:00 p.m.

• Call to Order

• Public Comments

• Minutes of February 12, 2026, Board Meeting

• Financial Reports
  • Approval of the Payment of Payroll and Bills for March 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

March 9, 2026                              

The regular meeting of the Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees was held on March 9, 2026, in the conference room of the Jacksonville Public Library.  The following Trustees were present: President Mary Fergurson, Laura Bandy, Noel Beard, Kevin Eckhoff, Lisa Haley, Forrest Keaton, and Elizabeth Kennedy.  The following Trustees were absent: Beth Capo and Katie Weeks. Library Director Jake Magnuson was also present.

President Fergurson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

President Fergurson asked if there were any persons desiring to make public comments, and there were none.

On motion of Eckhoff, seconded by Kennedy, and carried, the minutes of the February 9, 2026 meeting of the Board of Trustees were approved as presented.

The financial reports and bills were reviewed.  On motion of Kennedy, seconded by Beard, and carried, the financial reports for March 2026 were approved and all properly approved expenses and payroll for March 2026 in the amount of $111,821.94 are to be paid out of general funds as funds are available.

Keaton reported that the Endowment Fund market value was $2,647,028.40 as of February 28, 2026, and noted that, after taking into account $23,093.88 of cash disbursements since December 31, 2025, the market value had increased by $64,263.36 since December 31, 2025.

Director’s Report

Magnuson reviewed the Director’s Report for February 2026.  He reported that he had completed and submitted the Illinois State Library’s Illinois Public Library Annual Report on February 10, 2026.  

Magnuson reported that Erica Newman of the Morgan County Health Department had come to the Library to conduct Narcan training with the pages, and that all of the pages were able to attend the training which touched on opioid usage and overdose symptoms.  He stated that all staff members have now attended the Narcan training and that the Library is now in compliance with the new law that went into effect on January 1, 2026.

Magnuson reported that there had been an ongoing issue with the internet going in and out for several days at the end of February. 

Magnuson reported that the Friends of the Library board met on February 26 and that two new members were added to the board to reach its full capacity of nine members.

Magnuson reported that he had his regular monthly segment on WLDS radio to discuss upcoming Library events.  He also reported that another front-page article concerning the Library had been published in the February 9, 2026 edition of the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.

Magnuson reported that circulation staff had performed well during the month of February and that Brittany Overby had worked to keep the Library’s social media and website up to date.

Magnuson reported that February had been a busy time in Adult Services.  He reported that Ali Jones had 32 different technology appointments, of which 13 were walk-ins.  He also reported that there were four Adult Services programs in February, all of which were successful.

Magnuson reported that Ali Jones is currently working on the adult programming schedule for 2026 and already has several events booked for the first few months of the year, some of which are new programs from past presenters Laura Keyes, Sylvia Shults, John Lynn, and Dr. Robert Seufert & Sherri Mitchell.  He reported that she is also working on booking some America250-related programming for 2026.

Magnuson reported that Ali Jones is now hosting Tech Drop-in times at both The Pointe and Cedarhurst.

Magnuson reported that Heidi Estabrook and Ali Jones will be talking with The Pointe again to revisit “Senior Crafternoons” at the Library.

Magnuson reported that Heidi Estabrook, Ali Jones, and Karina Moore from the University of Illinois Extension Office hosted their second WITS Workout for the elderly community at the Library, and the event attracted twelve patrons.

Magnuson reported that Heidi Estabrook and Lauren Little catalogued and processed the first of the memory kits purchased with the grant funds from the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.  He stated that Heidi Estabrook brought three of the kits (named “Connection Kits”) to The Pointe memory care activities director for a trial run.

Magnuson reported that Storytime program attendance remained level, with mornings (aside from Milizo) being slow but afternoons being steady.  He stated that Courtney Langdon will be trying to post regularly about Storytime with the goal of encouraging more attendance.

Magnuson reported that, in comparison to the other two times that the Library has held a Stuffed Animal Sleepover, the turnout for the event was not as successful.  He stated that Courtney Langdon thinks that the lower turnout may have been the result of confusion in pairing it with the Pajama Storytime.

Magnuson reported that Courtney Langdon is in the middle of planning for Summer Reading which will be using iRead’s “Plant a Seed, Read” theme.  He state that the theme is based around the concept of farm-to-table and the idea that food nourishes our bodies while the Library nourishes our minds.  He reported that Courtney Langdon has all but one of the entertainer slots filled and has started on the calendar.

Magnuson reviewed the Comparative Service Report for February 2026.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Automation/Technology

No report.

Building and Grounds

No report. 

Finance

Keaton reported that the Finance Committee met on February 25, 2026.  He reported that U.S. Bank Private Wealth Advisor Chris Simcox, and U.S. Bank Portfolio Manager John Benjamin were present and reviewed the investment objective of the endowment fund, the asset allocation of the investments held in the endowment fund, and the performance of the investments during the 12-month period ending January 31, 2026.

Personnel

No report.

Public Relations

No report.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

No report.

RAILS/RSA

No report.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Magnuson reported that he has begun initial steps toward setting up a strategic planning process.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, on motion made by Beard, seconded by Eckhoff, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Forrest Keaton