MINUTES
MARKETING & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
November 13, 2017
Called to order at 4:31pm by Englebert
Present: Englebert, Halverson, Hermans, Wicihowski and Witt
Also Present: Director Lenz and K. Dreyer (Administrative Assistant)
Public Comment/Communication: None
Approval of Minutes
Motion made by Halverson, seconded by Wicihowski to approve the Marketing and Resource Development Committee meeting minutes of September 12, 2017. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion/Action Items
· Witt recommended an outline for a marketing and development plan that was agreed upon at the last meeting, and Lenz began filling in that plan by compiling data from the last five years on circulation, program attendance, and other measured library services, as well as talking to library supervisors to determine how the library currently connects with the Hispanic community, those with low incomes, and influential community members. Lenz distributed the start of that plan, which also includes 2017 survey results and demographic data of Winnebago County.
· Englebert and Lenz will schedule a meeting with the principal of Banta Elementary School, Rechelle Pearlman, to help determine the questions we should be asking as we begin to investigate how the library can better serve the Hispanic community. That school has all of the district’s bilingual classrooms.
· Englebert will contact Peter Kelly, President of United Way Fox Cities, for ideas on collaborating with other organizations who serve our target groups.
· Other suggestions included: talking with a focus group, scheduling an introductory program to clear up any misconceptions about the library, creating more flyers in Spanish, adding information about the library in Spanish to community/school newsletters, reaching out to Casa Hispana, putting ads/articles in an online Hispanic magazine, having a presence at food pantries or the clothes closet, and partnering with after-school programs.
· To connect with influential members of our community, we need to define specific measurable goals and be able to demonstrate our achievements.
· The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 4:45pm.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:35pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Dreyer, recording secretary
