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Record of Proceedings

Manitowoc Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting – October 27, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Tuesday, October 27, 2026
BodyManitowoc, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateTuesday, October 27, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:23

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

All right, we're gonna call the meeting to order.

0:05

Are there any requests to amend tonight's agenda?

Unassigned speaker

0:10

Okay,

Speaker 1

0:10

seeing none, we're gonna move on to public comment.

0:12

Members of the public are invited to speak at the Matchau Public Library Board of Trustees meeting each month on any matter related to the oversight at the Manchua Public Library.

0:20

The comments from each speaker shall be limited tonight to just three minutes due to another meeting starting later, unless extended by action of the Manshaw Public Library Board of Trustees.

0:30

Is there any public comment?

0:35

Okay,

Speaker 2

0:36

nobody

Speaker 1

0:36

is online.

0:37

No one online.

0:38

Okay, we're gonna move on to the approval of the minutes.

Unassigned speaker

0:43

Oh,

Speaker 3

0:43

do you want to say we have online so

Speaker 1

0:51

I'm not

Unassigned speaker

0:51

saying that?

Unassigned speaker

0:52

Yes,

Speaker 1

0:52

and Stephanie and Darien, that you're online.

0:55

Well, we do vote on anything tonight.

0:57

If you agree with it, it's unless you disagree, you can speak

Unassigned speaker

1:01

up.

Speaker 1

1:01

Otherwise,

Unassigned speaker

1:02

if we hear just the quiet, then we assume that you're voting yes.

Speaker 4

1:07

Sounds good.

Speaker 1

1:08

Okay.

Unassigned speaker

1:10

Um,

Speaker 1

1:10

is there a motion to accept the minutes?

Speaker 5

1:12

So moved.

Speaker 1

1:13

A second

Unassigned speaker

1:15

all

Speaker 1

1:15

right, Lynn Secondy.

1:17

Any uh discussion for the minutes from last week, last month,

Unassigned speaker

1:21

I

Speaker 6

1:21

should

Speaker 1

1:21

say

Unassigned speaker

1:23

it

Speaker 1

1:23

feels just like last week.

1:25

So time goes okay.

1:27

All right, so all uh in favor to accept the minutes from last month.

1:32

Vote aye.

Speaker 5

1:33

Aye,

Speaker 1

1:34

opposed.

1:36

All right, then we'll move on.

1:38

Financial reports.

1:40

Um, Chris, you can go ahead.

Speaker 5

1:41

Okay, you have the financial reports um for um 2810 for fund 2813, and for the public check register, I'll bring you up to the end of Septemberish 2026.

2:03

And so since you have them for you, I will move for their acceptance.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

Um

Speaker 1

2:11

just other quest.

Speaker 5

2:12

Yeah, well we'll gotta get a second, then you can make uh

Speaker 1

2:15

oh okay.

2:16

I can send it

Speaker 5

2:17

no

Speaker 2

2:20

question.

2:20

Okay, on page 12 of 2010 for September, our 50 says that the budget amount is 23,900, and then it was year to date amount 7,000.

Unassigned speaker

2:37

Okay,

Speaker 2

2:38

and then what's where's

Speaker 7

2:40

our

Speaker 2

2:41

okay?

Speaker 7

2:42

R5 that's our

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Adult Literacy Program█████████████████████████████29%
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████28%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Operating Hours████████████12%
Personnel Matters████4%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Manitowoc Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: October 27, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (start)
Location: Manitowoc Public Library

The Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting, addressing routine approvals, receiving informational reports, and making decisions on the adult literacy program and 2027 operating hours.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the previous month's meeting by unanimous voice vote.
  • Financial Reports: The board accepted the financial reports for funds 2810 and 2813, and the public check register through September 2026, after brief discussion about a budget line variance. Motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were submitted during the meeting; no one was present online or in person to speak.

Discussion Items

  • Personnel Committee Meeting: The board discussed scheduling a personnel committee meeting for Director Margaret's annual review. Options of Monday, November 9 or Tuesday, November 10 at 4:30 or 5:00 PM were mentioned, but no formal vote was taken; the committee will follow up.
  • Adult Literacy Program (1:1 Program): Trustee Margaret presented concerns about the program's sustainability and effectiveness, noting that similar programs in other communities operate as independent 501(c)(3) literacy councils with dedicated staff and funding. Director Karen Hansen confirmed that the current model (operated by the library with limited staff) is not sustainable and that the administration is considering future changes. The information was provided for board awareness; no action was taken.
  • 2027 Operating Hours Proposal: Director Hansen proposed a change to year-round operating hours, eliminating Sunday openings, shortening Friday hours by one hour (closing at 5 PM instead of 6 PM), and extending Saturday hours (9 AM to 5 PM). The change was presented as a way to better align staffing with patron use and improve staff morale. Discussion included concerns about patron impact (families, homeless individuals, job seekers) and the value of Sunday access, balanced against staff retention and operational efficiency. A motion was made to approve the new hours and the associated holiday closure calendar.

Key Outcomes

  • 2027 Operating Hours Approved: The board voted to approve the proposed changes (closed Sundays, Friday hours 9–5, Saturday hours 9–5) and the holiday closure schedule for 2027. The vote passed; at least one trustee opposed the change (specific tally not recorded).
  • South Side Project Update: Trustee Daisy reported on ongoing renovations, including LED lighting retrofitting, carpet replacement, and preparation for upcoming demolition and rebuilding. No board action required.

The meeting adjourned following the old business report.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we're gonna call the meeting to order. Are there any requests to amend tonight's agenda? Okay, seeing none, we're gonna move on to public comment. Members of the public are invited to speak at the Matchau Public Library Board of Trustees meeting each month on any matter related to the oversight at the Manchua Public Library. The comments from each speaker shall be limited tonight to just three minutes due to another meeting starting later, unless extended by action of the Manshaw Public Library Board of Trustees. Is there any public comment? Okay, nobody is online. No one online. Okay, we're gonna move on to the approval of the minutes. Oh, do you want to say we have online so I'm not saying that? Yes, and Stephanie and Darien, that you're online. Well, we do vote on anything tonight. If you agree with it, it's unless you disagree, you can speak up. Otherwise, if we hear just the quiet, then we assume that you're voting yes. Sounds good. Okay. Um, is there a motion to accept the minutes? So moved. A second all right, Lynn Secondy. Any uh discussion for the minutes from last week, last month, I should say it feels just like last week. So time goes okay. All right, so all uh in favor to accept the minutes from last month. Vote aye. Aye, opposed. All right, then we'll move on. Financial reports. Um, Chris, you can go ahead. Okay, you have the financial reports um for um 2810 for fund 2813, and for the public check register, I'll bring you up to the end of Septemberish 2026. And so since you have them for you, I will move for their acceptance. Um just other quest. Yeah, well we'll gotta get a second, then you can make uh

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