Rochester Library Board Meeting – July 15, 2026

The Rochester Library Board met on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in the Second Floor Meeting Room of the library. The meeting was called to order by Chair Nicholas J. Goetzfridt and adjourned at 5:35 p.m. All seven board members were present (Steve Baule absent). The board received updates from affiliated organizations, approved the consent agenda, and took action on three major items: a downtown renovation assessment contract, an informational update on digital collection use, and a proposed funding formula for Olmsted County.

Consent Calendar

The board approved the following items unanimously (7-0):

• Minutes of the June 17, 2026, Library Board meeting.
• Accounts Payable for July 9, 2026, in the total amount of $101,277.15.
• June 2026 Monthly Reports (including statistics, programs, expenditures, income, and revenue).
• Contracts signed by the Library Director.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Updates and Reports (Informational, Received and Filed)

• Rochester Public Library Foundation Report – Executive Director Brenda Kardock reported that Mayo Clinic became the first sponsor for the WIP program, the foundation is reviewing its gift acceptance policy, and thanked sponsors of the Sprouts program, including Atlas Insurance which presented a $2,000 check. The board received and filed the report.
• Friends of the Rochester Public Library Update – Board President Val Kaliszewski announced the Rochester Fest book sale raised $7,400 (enough to cover pledged support for the summer playlist program and the ancestry database subscription). The Friends also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to library staff member Julia, who will study environmental science, writing, and leadership at UW Superior. The board received and filed the update.
• Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) Update – The board received and filed the update.
• Advocacy Committee Update – The board received and filed an update; the committee is working on a revised advocacy plan and discussed a brand ambassador program.

Discussion Items

Downtown Renovation Assessment (Item 7.A)

Zach Wood, property manager for the City of Rochester, presented a proposal to contract with CRW Architects for $37,500 to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates for renovating the downtown library. The work will build on the 2025 master plan, refine space needs, assess accessibility (including an elevator), and provide budget recommendations for the 2028–2029 capital improvement cycle. The contract is funded from the professional and expert services budget line and does not require additional City Council approval. After discussion about the firm’s experience and the bidding process (professional services under $175,000 do not require competitive bidding), the board voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Digital Collection Use Update (Item 7.B)

Deputy Director of Public Services Stacy Hendron provided an informational update on the reciprocal lending agreement (RLA) changes implemented one year ago. Key statistics:

• Digital holds now account for 84% of total RPL holds.
• Before the change, 19% of holds were from visitors; now only 5% (95% local).
• Average hold wait time decreased from 80 days to 62 days.
• The library surpassed 150,000 digital copies in May 2026.
• The pilot streaming service Kanopy has used only 35% of its annual budget through July.
• Upcoming: Comics Plus database (flat fee, multi-user access) will supplement digital comics. Staff noted that while overall circulation has slightly decreased, the change has improved local access and holds management. The board received and filed the report.

County Funding Update (Item 7.C)

Library Director (name not given in transcript) reported that the Olmsted County Board has indicated openness to a revised funding formula. The five library directors (Rochester, Stewartville, etc.) agreed on a formula dividing the county’s 1% levy based on physical circulation by rural Olmsted County residents. For Rochester Public Library, this results in a base allocation of $1,427,000 – an improvement of $35,000 over the previous contract. In addition, the directors propose a separate “pay for service” agreement for RPL covering digital collections (OverDrive/Libby, Kanopy) and bookmobile services. This “ice cream” portion totals approximately $130,000, tied directly to usage by rural county residents. The board discussed that if the county declines the pay-for-service component, RPL would have to reduce services to rural residents. The board voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the directors’ proposed funding formula and to present it to the Olmsted County Board with the understanding that additional compensation for digital and bookmobile services is needed to maintain current service levels.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (unanimously): Contract with CRW Architects for $37,500 to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates for the downtown library renovation.
• Received and filed: Digital Collection Use update.
• Approved (unanimously): Staff recommendations for an Olmsted County funding formula, including a base allocation of $1,427,000 and a separate pay-for-service request of approximately $130,000 for digital and bookmobile services.
• Adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Informational Items & Question & Answer

Library Director announced that the Teen Council application period is open until August 9, and that the new bookmobile stop at the History Center has been highly successful, with 28 visitors on the first day and 50 on the second, now ranking in the top 10 for business stops.