St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control Meeting - May 20, 2026
St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control Meeting - May 20, 2026
Note: The meeting transcript indicates the date as May 19, 2026, but the official metadata records the meeting as occurring on May 20, 2026. This summary uses the official date.
The Library Board of Control met to approve prior meeting minutes, receive the librarian's report, and consider the estimated budget for the Hahnville Branch Library project. The board approved the 100% construction cost estimate for the project.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the March 17, 2026 meeting were approved by a motion from Miss Armstrong, seconded by Miss Toulier. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were scheduled or presented.
Discussion Items
- Librarian's Report (Miss Benedict):
- Summer Reading Program 2026: The program begins June 1, 2026, with kickoff parties at all branches. The theme is "Plant a Seed Read." Over 240 free programs are planned. Patrons can sign up via the library website or BeanStack app. As of the day before the meeting, 350 patrons had already registered, double the number from the same time last year. The community reading goal is 2,750,000 minutes. Completion prizes include pop-it balls (children), puzzle barrels (teens), tote bags (adults), and grand prizes sponsored by Friends of the Library.
- Seed Library: A new seed library will launch in June at the West Regional Library, utilizing an old card catalog and partnering with LSU AgCenter.
- Facilities: Phase two of chiller unit replacement at East Regional Library is out for bid; pre-bid meeting May 21, 2026 (Thursday) at 2 p.m., bids due June 4, 2026. Stucco repairs are also planned. Roof repairs and painting have been completed at various branches.
- Staffing Changes: Several hires and promotions were reported, including Heather Butera as NORCO circulation supervisor, Michelle Terrabone as full-time circulation assistant, and others. Additional positions are being filled.
- Unfinished Business: Hahnville Branch Library Project Update:
- The early release package (surcharge and site prep) is underway. An unforeseen condition—a buried swimming pool—was discovered and removed within the approved contingency.
- Architect Justin and CMAR representative Lauren presented the 100% construction estimate (Guaranteed Maximum Price, GMP). The total GMP, including the early release package, is $9,042,905, down approximately $114,417 from the 90% estimate of $9,157,322. Key savings came from reducing steel escalation contingency by locking in steel pricing early, and from competitive re-bidding of electrical and other trades. The estimate includes a 2% contingency ($226,000). Additional savings from electrical fixture changes (an estimated $30,000–$40,000) will be applied as a change order.
- Board members expressed appreciation for the cost savings achieved through the CMAR process.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of 100% Estimate for Hahnville Branch: The board unanimously approved the 100% construction estimate (GMP) of $9,042,905. This will proceed to contract preparation and then to the St. Charles Parish Council for final approval.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes: Minutes from March 17, 2026, were approved.
- Meeting Adjourned: The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
Meeting Transcript
There we go. Hi, good afternoon. This is the May 19th, 2026 meeting of the St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control. Let's see if we can stand for a minute, have a moment of silence, and if Mr. Mathern can lead us in the pledge. And to the Republic for which he's saying one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. First order on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the prior here and prior meeting, which was March 17th, 2026. Have you do you have that, Miss Benedict? Yes, it should have been emailed. Okay. All right. If we can have a motion approving the minutes. I would make a motion. All right, Miss Armstrong. And can we get a second? I'll second. Miss Toulier. Nope, not a hang on a second. Let me get start reading. There we go. There we go. All right. And the motion passes. So the approval of minutes is adopted. And the next is the attendance report, which I think has been circulated and provided to Miss Benedict. All right, next item on the agenda is public comment. Do we have any public comment? No schedule. All right. Now we move to the most informative portion, the librarian's report. Miss Benedict. Okay. So staff have been busy finalizing preparations for the 2026 summer reading program. The theme this year is plant a seed read. All branches will host kickoff meeting, uh kickoff parties on Monday, June 1st. Um details about the kickoff parties and the more than 240 free programs being offered this summer can be found in the summer reading guide, which I've given you each a copy of. So that you get a preview of it. This can be also be found on our website and is going to be mailed to all households in St. Charles Parish. Should be probably coming out within the next week through the mail. And patrons can already begin signing up for the summer reading program through our website at www.my scpl.org slash summer or through the BeanStack app on a mobile phone or device or by visiting their local branch. As of yesterday, we already had 350 patrons registered for the reading program, which was double about double what we had that this time last year. Starting June 1st, patrons can begin logging their reading minutes, and they can also pick up their sign up incentives at any branch. So the sign-up incentive for uh children this year is this little draw string drawstring bag. Um or for for the little ones who might just prefer a little little rubber ducky. Um that is theirs. Um for our teens, this is my favorite.
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