Indianapolis Public Library Board Meeting - November 24, 2025

The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees convened a regular board meeting and an annual meeting on November 24, 2025, at the Irvington Branch. The sessions covered operational updates, financial reports, policy renewals, staff recognition, and the election of officers. President Ray Beterman opened the meeting by congratulating Dr. Kala Murtada on her Tau Chapter Yes Award and expressing gratitude for the library's staff, patrons, and community partnerships. The board addressed concerns regarding facility safety, discussed the financial implications of state budget changes (SB1), and reviewed the library's strong financial standing and strategic plan progress.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the October 27, 2025, regular meeting (unanimously approved).
• Acceptance of the Treasurer's report for October 2025 (unanimously approved).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lori Molander (Irvington Community Co-op): Expressed significant concern and fear regarding safety hazards at the Irvington Branch. She detailed a large tree falling on a rusty railing due to a summer storm, causing deep cracks in the wall and railing that pose a risk to parked cars and children. She also reported vandalized metal fencing where bars were stretched, creating a potential trap or injury hazard, and requested immediate replacement of the fence and wall to prevent liability lawsuits.
• City County Counselor Andy Nielsen: Expressed growing concern regarding the financial stability of the library system in light of state budget legislation (SB1). He emphasized that the library is a municipal corporation dependent on city council approval and stressed the need for a five-to-ten-year financial strategy to protect staff dignity and service continuity. He appealed for unity between the library board and the city council to navigate upcoming fiscal challenges.

Discussion Items

Branch Report (Irvington Branch Manager Adam Todd)

• Presented statistics on the branch's diverse age and racial demographics, school partnerships (13 schools), and community resources (49 churches).
• Highlighted successful programs including weekly story times, a Teen Zone, a vintage typewriter collection, and historical talks related to the McFadden Lecture.
• Discussed outreach partnerships with the Irvington Historical Society, ICANN, and local churches. Noted a successful partnership with the Irvington Pride festival.

Social Work Team Update (Danielle Girton & Jamie Murphy)

• Reported 405 individual contacts with patrons as of the meeting date.
• Identified housing as the highest need (40 requests from 297 initial contacts), followed by employment (30 requests) and government assistance (Social Security/FSSA) during the government shutdown.
• Noted the distribution of 773 grant-funded bus passes and the ongoing success of community resource fairs.
• Clarified the presence of one active intern and the recruitment of new interns from various universities.

Financial Report (Treasurer Mary & CEO Greg Hill)

• Revenue/Expenses: Reported revenue at 61% of budget (normal for the season) with expenses at 74% for personal services, creating a healthy surplus.
• Strategic Financials: Highlighted a Double A1 Moody's rating due to strong reserves and an aggressive debt repayment schedule.
• Professional Development: Clarified that professional development costs are essential for staff licensure and growth, ensuring the public understands these funds are not wasted.

Resolutions and Policy Updates

• Data Exchange Renewal (Res. 49-2025): Approved for reference services ($58,534.44).
• OverDrive E-Magazine Renewal (Res. 50-2025): Approved for electronic magazines ($80,000).
• Budget Transfer (Res. 51-2025): Approved a $785,000 transfer to cover the shutdown of "Banker Tailor" services and to purchase additional ebooks/e-audiobooks; clarified that moving funds from the medical/dental budget category would not affect health insurance premiums.
• Collection Management Policy (Res. 52-2025): Adopted a revised policy including new definitions for specific audiences and legal alignment regarding AI and copyright.
• Staff Compensation (Res. 53, 54, & 55): Approved a 3% salary increase for qualifying staff, adoption of a new holiday (day after Christmas), and a new Health Savings Account contribution. Approved additional one-time compensation: $1,500 for full-time, $1,100 for part-time, and $900 for hourly staff.

Strategic Plan Update

• Provided a quarter-three review of the strategic plan's first year.
• Noted a decrease in the circulation-to-cardholder ratio (orange arrow) attributed to rapid new cardholder enrollment outpacing borrowing, rather than a decline in engagement.
• Highlighted significant growth in social service connections and physical well-being programs.
• Confirmed that volunteer goals (300 by 2027) were exceeded in year one.

Board Feedback on Public Comment Protocol

• Dr. Riolo: Noted the lack of a direct follow-up or thank you statement to Lori Molander after her safety presentation, describing the silence as "cold." He proposed a future procedural change where the board explicitly thanks public commenters and directs them to the appropriate administrative channels to ensure they feel heard, even if the issue is not a board-level action item.
• President Beterman: Agreed that the board failed to address the public commenter directly that evening and committed to adding a closing statement of appreciation and redirection in future meetings.

Key Outcomes

• Elections (Annual Meeting):
  • President: Mr. Ray Beterman (unanimous vote).
  • Vice President: Dr. Kala Murtada (unanimous vote).
  • Secretary: Dr. Dr. Riolo (unanimous vote).
  • Treasurer: Mary Rankin (unanimous vote).
• Resolutions: Passed unanimously, including financial transfers, policy revisions, and staff compensation packages.
• Staff Recognition: Presented CEO coins and awards to Mo Scott (Irvington) and retiring staff member Melinda Mullikan; announced 2025 award winners including Brandy Winston (Outstanding Leadership) and Elizabeth Tarr (Exceptional Experience).
• Next Meeting: Regular board meeting scheduled for December 15, 2025, at the Hawville Branch Library.