Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting - April 29, 2025
Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting - April 29, 2025
The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on April 29, 2025 at the Franklin Road Branch. President Ray Bieterman opened noting staff dedication and community support. The meeting featured branch reports, financial updates, policy amendments, facility project approvals, a foundation update, CEO highlights, and a quarterly statistical review. All resolutions and reports were approved unanimously. The next meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2025 at the Nora Branch.
Franklin Road Branch Report
- Branch Manager Jill Wetnight presented an overview of the Franklin Road Branch, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in February 2025. The branch serves an area that has grown from 32,000 residents (2000) to 65,524 (2025), with ethnic diversity increasing (now 80% Caucasian, 8% African American, 6% Hispanic, 6% Asian). Annual circulation was reported as 369,979, with 173 programs attracting over 8,000 attendees. Summer reading participation rose from 1,694 (2023) to 1,825 (2024). The branch has become a dementia-friendly business through SICOA, partners with local schools and organizations, and offers popular programs such as Dungeons & Dragons, seed library, and scavenger hunts. Challenges include reaching new housing developments and communicating services to growing communities.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (March 24, 2025): Approved unanimously with roll call.
- Treasurer’s Report for March 2025: Approved unanimously. Finance Committee Chair Dr. White reported first-quarter revenues at 3% (property taxes expected later) and expenditures under 25% in all categories. Capital outlay (mainly books) was 5.8% of budget. Interest income was lower than the prior year.
- Diverse Spend (XBE) Report: First-quarter overall diverse spend at 25.7% (city‑certified 22.3% vs. 27% goal). Efforts to increase participation include helping vendors become city certified and investigating barriers to RFP responses.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received.
Discussion Items
Diversity Policy and Human Resources Committee – Policy Update Resolution 16-2025
- The committee recommended approving Resolution 16‑2025, which updates library policies to reflect previously approved department name changes, accounting changes, communication policy language, and removal of obsolete policies (short‑term disability replaced by in‑house paid leave, elimination of pay‑for‑performance). Approved unanimously.
Facilities Committee – Three Resolutions
- Resolution 17‑2025 (Vehicle Purchase): Authorized $61,400 from bond fund 486 to purchase two vehicles (IT replacement and new outreach vehicle) from Heritage Ford (city certified XBE). One bid received; vehicles expected by September 1.
- Resolution 18‑2025 (Escalator Handrail Replacement): Authorized $74,900 from bond fund 485 to replace handrails on escalators at Central Library. One bid from Schindler Elevator Corporation; work expected by end of June.
- Resolution 19‑2025 (Naming Opportunity – Nora Branch Children’s Play Area): Approved naming the children’s play area “Cramsey’s Children’s Corner” to honor donor Diane Cramsey, a longtime library foundation supporter. The gift will fund children’s programs.
Foundation Report
- Roberta reported on the upcoming “Circulate” fundraiser (adults‑only evening with live music, food, and activities) and outlined the foundation’s strategic plan focused on a 14% increase in fundraising revenue and strengthening collaboration with the library. In April, the foundation disbursed $180,000 to support programs including summer reading, the Center for Black Literature & Culture, Juneteenth Book Fest, and Latin Culture Committee outreach. 237 donors gave in the past month.
IPS Board Report
- Dr. Matada and Dr. Riolo provided an update on their presentation to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) board on April 24. They highlighted the library’s services to students, including the shared system and program guides. IPS board received the report positively.
CEO Report – Gregory Hill
- Resolution 20‑2025 (Finance, Personnel, Travel): Approved unanimously.
- System Highlights: Physical circulation up 3.5% to 13,820 on a typical day; top branches: Glendale, Michigan Road, Franklin Road. Visitors up 3.1% to 6,845 daily. The new Pike Branch (Grand Opening March 29) had 1,072 checkouts opening day and 5,828 visitors through April 26.
- Staff Recognitions: Star Awards for January–March presented; CEO coins awarded to Cordia Watkins and Sarah Batt for card campaign and shared system work. All 41 IPS schools now part of the shared system.
- Programs: Chair Robics at Southport hit record 55 attendees; seed library distributed 55,800 packets in March; 48 teens attended self‑defense classes; 17,677 visitors for 303 adult and 67 youth programs; the 46th McFadden Lecture drew 824 attendees and 1,188 online views in seven days.
- Upcoming Events: Summer Reading registration begins May 1; Nora Branch opening celebration May 3; Teddy Bear Concert May 31.
Quarterly Statistical Report (Mary Ann McKenzie)
- Circulation & Collections: Physical circulation saw a slight decline (1–2%) partly due to branch closures (Nora, Pike, Central East) which reopened late in the quarter; rebound expected. Electronic resource usage grew—database usage up, e‑books/e‑audiobooks up 3%. Cardholders increased, driven by shared school system registrations. Active borrowers continue to grow.
- Visits & Service Points: Branch visits rose despite unexpected closures (e.g., water main break). Service point assistance increased 14%, largely due to popular study pods at East 38th Street Branch. Community room usage also grew, with nonprofits and community groups using spaces.
- Metrics: Study rooms and community rooms show increased utilization; data will be tracked further.
Key Outcomes
- All resolutions (16‑2025, 17‑2025, 18‑2025, 19‑2025, 20‑2025) passed unanimously.
- Minutes of March 24, 2025 approved.
- Treasurer’s report for March 2025 approved.
- No unfinished or new business; no future agenda items suggested.
- Next board meeting: May 19, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nora Branch (8625 Guilford Road).
Meeting Transcript
All right. Okay. There we go. The lightest gavel hit in history. Um, today is April 28th, 2025. Uh, and welcome to the regular meeting of the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library. And I have a call of the roll. Yes, Mr. Baderman. Present. Dr. Matada, present. Dr. Payne, present. Dr. Rielbo, present. And Dr. White. Thank you very much. The chair recognizes that quorum. All right. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the April 2025 meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees. Tonight we're hosted at the Franklin Road Branch. My name is Ray Bieterman, and I am the president of the Board of Trustees. Thank you all for joining us. As we gather for this board meeting, I want to recognize the strength and resilience of this institution. The Indianapolis Public Library is a forward-looking organization, thanks to the collective efforts of everyone in this room and across the system. Our staff is the heartbeat of the library. They're passionate professionals who believe deeply in the value of public service. Every day, they bring our mission, vision, and values to life, ensuring that we remain a vital, relevant, relevant, and trusted resource for the people of Indianapolis. Even today, our staff on the front lines responded to an incident quickly to ensure the continued safety of our patrons. Thank you for your vigilance and your continued excellent service. As board members, we're stewards of the resources entrusted to us. Whether it's revitalizing branches, expanding our collections, or uh adapting our services to meet the needs of a growing and changing city, we continue to evolve just as we have for over 150 years. We're also fortunate to have strong support from our valued partners, advocates, and generous donors. Their belief in the power of public libraries increases our impact and extends our reach. We're always working to amplify our story. We promote literacy in all its forms, offer free and equitable access to information, and provide resources that support educating and upskilling our local workforce. These are core needs for our community that not only help define our service but also resonate deeply with our community and our civic leaders. As we look to the future, this board remains attentive to developments at the local, state, and national level. The board and our leadership team are in constant communication with stakeholders to ensure we continually prepare for any changes in policy that may affect our operations. We are grateful to our passionate and supportive community, especially those that are asking for ways to do more for NDPL. We invite you to connect with local branches to engage with us by using our services to support us by donating to our foundation who funds our programs, and by championing us by talking to your friends, neighbors, and elected officials about the value of the Indianapolis Public Library. As always, the Indianapolis Public Library remains committed to advancing our strategic goals and continuing our legacy of service in an ever-changing landscape. Thank you all for being a part of this important work. Together, we will ensure that the Indianapolis Public Library not only endures, but thrives. Please join us on Saturday, May 3rd, starting at 10 a.m. for a fun day for the whole family at the NORA Branch. Norm Branch is located at 8625 Guildford Road.
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