OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Puyallup Library Advisory Board Meeting - November 17, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Monday, November 17, 2025
BodyPuyallup, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateMonday, November 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Test test.

0:08

Okay.

0:10

Oh so test, yeah.

0:29

I don't know if you hope these are changed all.

0:59

Okay.

1:00

Board member.

1:01

Oh, sorry, board member Weishar.

1:03

Here.

1:05

Board Member Gersman.

1:07

Here.

1:08

Board Member Ferguson.

1:11

Here, good evening.

1:15

Vice Chair Zemer is excused.

1:18

Chair Fimmler.

1:20

Here.

1:20

We have a quorum.

1:29

Talking about the agenda.

1:31

I want to make sure that we add it on there or have it someplace.

1:36

Maybe it's a business or something for us to talk about the Library Foundation represented or us.

1:47

That could be under a library foundation report if you like.

1:51

Or if you do feel like that's a topic that needs more in-depth discussion outside of the report, then you could make a motion to amend the agenda.

1:59

I think we can just discuss it during the report.

2:01

Okay.

2:02

Okay.

2:03

So open for a motion regarding the science agenda.

2:11

Second.

2:11

Second.

2:18

So we will vote on the approval of the agenda for November 17, 2025.

2:23

All in favor say aye.

2:25

Aye.

2:26

Aye.

2:28

All opposed say nay.

2:30

All right.

2:31

We have approved our agenda for tonight meeting.

2:36

And if everyone is taking a moment to review the minutes, then I will be motion to discuss the minutes.

3:34

So if we will vote to approve the minutes from September 15th meeting, all in favor say aye.

3:43

Hi, aye.

3:47

I'm sorry, board member Ferguson.

3:49

Uh, we did not hear you.

3:51

I was not at the meeting.

3:54

Um, and so I think I should have stayed since uh I wasn't there.

3:58

Okay, it's your choice.

4:00

I'll oppose the motion to approve minutes.

4:07

We have approved our minutes.

4:13

We did not receive any through email or written comment, and we do not have anybody here at this time.

4:19

So we will redirected report.

4:24

Okay.

4:26

So um thank you.

4:28

A lot of things are happening that are pretty exciting.

4:32

We are um now that we have finished the teen zone, of course.

4:35

We're moving on to another section of the library.

4:38

If you've noticed our children's area, the Kawan is Imagination Station.

4:42

It's so loved and used.

4:45

And um, I I think we are in year six or seven, but it's starting to show somewhere structurally.

4:54

So um, you know, the Kwanus namesake is on there.

4:57

I've applied for the uh Kawanus grant.

5:00

They have uh funded us $30,000, which they do not give to the city, but they give to the foundation.

5:07

So we are working with a company out of Arizona called Version Group.

5:12

They're fantastic.

5:13

They've done um projects in the Edmonton Library, some a little bit of uh Fort Vancouver, some other places they incorporate elements of the local flora into resin pieces and things like that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Libraries And Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Procedural█████████████████████25%
Arts And Culture████████████14%
Fiscal Sustainability████5%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Puyallup Library Advisory Board Meeting - November 17, 2025

The Puyallup Library Advisory Board met on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Library Board Room. Chair Melanie Fuemmeler called the meeting to order with a quorum present. Key topics included updates on the children's area renovation, Library Foundation status, and the scheduling of the January 2026 meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Board Member (BM) Gerstmann, seconded by BM Weishaar, passed 4-0.
  • Approval of September 15, 2025 Minutes: Motion by BM Gerstmann, seconded by BM Weishaar, passed 3-0 (BM Ferguson abstained as she was not present at the previous meeting).

Library Director's Report

  • Children's Area Renovation: Following the Teen Zone project, the library is now renovating the children's area (Imagination Station), which after 6-7 years of use is showing structural wear. The Kiwanis organization provided a $30,000 grant to the Library Foundation, but because the Foundation's 501(c)(3) status had lapsed, the Friends of the Library agreed on a one-time basis to accept the donation on the Foundation's behalf. The library is working with Version Group to incorporate local flora into resin pieces. Additionally, a Puyallup River Watershed Council grant of $1,683 was awarded for an interactive piece on pollination and bees.
  • Teen Zone Usage: The Teen Zone is being used more than anticipated, with excellent acoustic separation.
  • Circulation Statistics: Overall usage is higher than last year. The library is planning to upgrade its door-counting system to better measure traffic patterns. Digital circulation has increased significantly, from approximately 3,000 checkouts per month three years ago to mid-7,000 now. The library is allocating a larger share of its collection budget to digital materials.

Friends of the Library Report

  • The Friends of the Library have had successful book sales and approved the 2026 programming budget, which includes book bags for summer reading sign-up prizes and new books as completion prizes. They also assisted with the Kiwanis grant by accepting the donation on behalf of the Library Foundation as a one-time measure.

Library Foundation Report

  • The Library Foundation has restored its 501(c)(3) status after a lapse due to administrative turnover. The Foundation supports capital improvements and is considering future projects, including a recording studio and hallway renovations.
  • Library Giving Day: The Foundation had collaborated with Pierce County and Tacoma Public Library Foundations for a joint Library Giving Day over the past two years. Both Pierce County and Tacoma reported decreased donations, while Puyallup saw a slight increase (from ~$1,000 to $1,500). The group is likely to discontinue the joint approach, but the experience provided valuable insights. The Foundation is exploring other collaborative initiatives, such as shared advocacy.
  • Upcoming Fundraiser: A silent reading event at Lazy Ballerina on November 18, 2025, from 6-8 PM, with tickets at $30 ($20 to the foundation, $10 toward food).

Board Member Comments

  • Arts & Culture Commission Display Case: BM Gerstmann inquired about the Arts & Culture Commission's plan to work with the library. Library Director Erickson reported that the project is progressing under City PIO Eric Johnson. Three contractors have submitted bids to build a third display case near the parking lot entrance. The case will be managed solely by the Arts & Culture Commission and designed to accommodate various art forms, with built-in storage and electricity.
  • Hold System: BM Gerstmann praised the library's hold system, noting shorter wait times than at other libraries. Director Erickson explained the 8-to-1 ratio policy for purchasing additional copies of popular titles.
  • Social Media: BM Weishaar commended the library's social media presence, especially posts highlighting physical book availability for titles with long digital wait lists. Director Erickson noted a new social media person who is enthusiastic about trying new approaches.
  • Display Cases: Chair Fuemmeler expressed interest in the library's display cases. Director Erickson explained that the office assistant manages the cases, which can be booked for a month through the LibCal software. Two new display cases have been added upstairs outside the history room for longer-term exhibits of 3-6 months.

Key Outcomes

  • Next Regular Meeting: The Board discussed the January meeting date, noting that the regular third Monday (January 19, 2026) is a holiday. A motion by BM Ferguson, seconded by BM Weishaar, to move the meeting to January 5, 2026, passed 4-0. The meeting will be held via Zoom only due to potential winter weather concerns.

Meeting Transcript

Test test. Okay. Oh so test, yeah. I don't know if you hope these are changed all. Okay. Board member. Oh, sorry, board member Weishar. Here. Board Member Gersman. Here. Board Member Ferguson. Here, good evening. Vice Chair Zemer is excused. Chair Fimmler. Here. We have a quorum. Talking about the agenda. I want to make sure that we add it on there or have it someplace. Maybe it's a business or something for us to talk about the Library Foundation represented or us. That could be under a library foundation report if you like. Or if you do feel like that's a topic that needs more in-depth discussion outside of the report, then you could make a motion to amend the agenda. I think we can just discuss it during the report. Okay. Okay. So open for a motion regarding the science agenda. Second. Second. So we will vote on the approval of the agenda for November 17, 2025. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. All right. We have approved our agenda for tonight meeting. And if everyone is taking a moment to review the minutes, then I will be motion to discuss the minutes. So if we will vote to approve the minutes from September 15th meeting, all in favor say aye. Hi, aye. I'm sorry, board member Ferguson. Uh, we did not hear you. I was not at the meeting. Um, and so I think I should have stayed since uh I wasn't there. Okay, it's your choice. I'll oppose the motion to approve minutes. We have approved our minutes. We did not receive any through email or written comment, and we do not have anybody here at this time. So we will redirected report. Okay. So um thank you. A lot of things are happening that are pretty exciting. We are um now that we have finished the teen zone, of course.

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