Chardon Library Asks Patrons What They Want in New Library
Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) - March 18, 2025
Meeting: The GCPL Board met on Tuesday, March 18th at 4:00 pm at the Bainbridge Branch. This meeting was in-person with a virtual attendance option. To access the virtual option see information here. The meeting was not recorded. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on the GCPL website after they are approved at the April 15, 2025 meeting.
Public Comment: Permitted and included in the regular order of business per GCPL bylaws. Further clarified in Policy 215 - Public Participation at Board Meetings.
Board Attendance: President Karen Delano, Secretary Krist Miller and Board Trustees Joshua Hutchinson and Kate Pitrone. Board Vice President Kristin Brickman and members Paul Newman and Jake Yanchar were absent.
Staff Attendance:
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Kris Carroll - Director
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Katy Farrell (Assistant Director) - Recording Secretary
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Dawn Malasca - Deputy Fiscal Officer
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Nicole Burnside - Human Resources
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Deborah Schrock - Development Coordinator
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Erika Noark - Geauga West Branch Manager
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Rachael Hartman - Middlefield Branch Manager
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Mike Pope - IT Manager
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John Johnson - Facilities Manager
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Judy Lasco - Chardon Branch Manager
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Danielle Hollar - Bainbridge Branch Manager
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Sheina Leininger -Bainbridge staff
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Marlene Pelyhes - Tech Services Manager
Public: This Observer attended in person.
President Delano called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm and roll call was taken.
Minutes: Minutes of the February 2024 Board Meeting were approved without discussion. Board minutes are available online. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to access minutes. The minutes are posted as soon as they are approved at the following month’s Board meeting.
Communications: None
Agenda: The agenda presented in the Board packet was approved with no additions or subtractions.
Fiscal Officer’s Report - Ms. Malasca
The February report was approved without discussion.
Director’s Report - Ms. Carroll
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Roundtable meetings to gather input on the new branch were held with the Chardon team, with Bostwick Design leading staff engagement sessions. Staff reviewed design images and shared their perspectives on what they would like to see in the new space. Two community roundtables on the library design are planned for March and an online survey is available on the GCPL website. There have been 248 surveys completed as of this meeting. Meetings have taken place with Chardon and County officials to discuss buildings and construction plans.
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Roundtable meetings at other branches covered staffing, funding, parking lots, AI, and various policies. Staff had the opportunity to submit questions in advance, but open discussions were encouraged at the meetings. To make the sessions more interactive, the Staff Advisory Committee provided a Bingo card, which added a fun and engaging element.
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The Director assisted CLEVNET with its Strategic Planning process. Their focus areas include improving communication and transparency with member libraries, strengthening security and IT infrastructure, and expanding training opportunities for members.
Assistant Director’s Report: Ms. Farrell
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Patrons can now reserve reading/study rooms online.
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Adult Services is launching a new service for patrons on April 1 called My Next Read. Patrons can fill out a simple form and receive up to 10 reading recommendations in their preferred format. The program grew out of the feedback received from patrons about what they liked and did not like about the BookMatch program.
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Ms Farrell has been working with supervisors across the system to update Training Checklists used by new employees.
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BAINBRIDGE
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AARP Tax Appointments kicked off this month, bringing individuals into the library who do not normally visit. As they waited for taxes to be prepared, they talked with staff members about library services and programs. Staff provided several impromptu Makerspace and Digital Legacy Lab tours.
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The first Great Puzzle Race at Bainbridge was an enormous success. Ten teams, totaling 55 participants, competed in a race to complete a 500-piece puzzle, with the winning team finishing in just 42 minutes.
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CHARDON
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Some staff in the GCPL system were promoted and transferred in February. The new Public Services Assistant and two Reference assistant positions were filled with great internal candidates.
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Staff enjoyed the interactive meeting and appreciated Bostwick Architects seeking out staff opinions on the design of the new Chardon Branch.
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A Survey regarding the construction is still available online here.
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GEAUGA WEST
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Geauga West held an art reception for the West Geauga Schools and St. Anselm.
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The Branch Manager visited the Ohio Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (OLBPD) at the Memorial Nottingham Branch of Cleveland Public Library and met with a library assistant who gave an overview of the services offered, which include talking book machines, braille books, and assistive reading devices. The library also has a recording booth for volunteers to use for recording talking books. This information on OLBPD can now be communicated to Geauga patrons.
Committee Reports
Unfinished Business- none
New Business - Ms Carroll
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A recommendation letter to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Matthew Rambo and Carolyn Paschke, to Reappoint Kate Pitrone as Library Trustee was approved.
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A contract with Ruple Paving for sealcoating, repair and line striping of all branches except Geauga West was approved.
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Work order to Equalis Group for Administration Center roof as allowed by Section 9.48 of the Ohio Revised Code, quotes were bid by U.S. Communities joint purchasing cooperative contract COG-2146-GC2-J. The work order was approved.
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The discard list was approved.
Board Development - Ms Carroll
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Virtual Meetings. In January, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 257, “to authorize certain public bodies to meet virtually,” which will take effect April 9, 2025. During the COVID-19 crisis, most public bodies took emergency action to conduct public meetings over the internet, pursuant to temporary changes to the Ohio Open Meetings Act effective in 2020-2022. Public bodies came to appreciate how such virtual meetings both made it easier to conduct business and allowed greater access by the public to the governmental process. Many looked for the Legislature to revise the law to allow these meetings to proceed on a permanent basis. What has been enacted in HB 257, though, provides only partial authorization for “certain public bodies” to meet virtually, and only if they meet certain requirements. Reviewer Note: HB 257 generally permits virtual meetings of boards that do not have elected members, do not compensate members, and only if no votes on tax matters are going to be taken. See analysis here.
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Ms Carroll attended a webinar on the day before the GCPL Board meeting. Board members had questions and discussion was tabled until the April meeting.
Foundation - Ms Schrock
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Katy McGrath has been added to the Foundation Board. She has 31 years of experience in public education and brings a wealth of expertise in communications.
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Suzanne Holmen, a dedicated Friends volunteer, joined the Friends Committee at the February meeting. The committee had decided to formalize the member selection process, so an interview was conducted on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Coffee Corners in Burton. The interview panel, consisting of Gloria Brach, Bill Jackson, and Debbie Schrock, confirmed Suzanne’s continued interest and reviewed her qualifications. They discussed the responsibilities and expectations of committee members, providing Suzanne an opportunity to ask questions.
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The Foundation MOU (Memo of Understanding) was renewed.
Public Comment - This observer asked for a clarification on the CMR
The Board went into Executive session at 4:27 to consider the purchase or sale of property and to consider the employment of a public employee. There was no announcement when they came out and the meeting was adjourned.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after the Board left executive session. No action was taken.
Upcoming Events:
Next Meeting: The next Regular Board meeting is April 15 at 4:00 pm at the Geauga West Branch. See website for information on meeting dates and locations.
Minutes: The latest minutes are posted here. Prior to March 2023, videos of meetings were available to the public here. The GCPL is no longer posting videos of their meetings.
Observer: Cris Takacs
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: 4/3/25
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