Library Patron Engagement Continues to Rise
Amidst Challenging Budget Environment
Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) - December 16, 2025
Meeting: The GCPL Board met on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 4:00 pm at the GCPL Administration Building. This Board Meeting was in-person with a virtual attendance option. To access the virtual option see information here. The meeting was not recorded. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on the GCPL website after they are approved at the January 20, 2026 meeting.
Observer Note: Each member of the GCPL Board and Staff receives a copy of the meeting packet, as does this Observer. It is available upon request in accordance with Ohio public records law (ORC 149.43). The board discusses and votes on the information in the packet. This Observer Report is made up of discussions held at the board meeting and information taken from the board packet.
Public Comment: Permitted and included in the regular order of business per GCPL bylaws. Further clarified in Policy 215 - Public Participation at Board Meetings.
Board Attendance: President Karen Delano, Vice President Kristen Brickman, Board Secretary Crist Miller, and Board Trustees Kate Pitrone, Paul Newman and Jake Yanchar. Joshua Hutchinson was absent.
Library Staff Attendance:
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Kris Carroll - Director
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Katy Farrell - Assistant Director, Recording Secretary
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Lisa Havlin - Fiscal Officer
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Nicole Burnside - Human Resources
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Deborah Schrock - Development Coordinator
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Erika Noark - Geauga West Branch Manager
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Mary Balog - Thompson Branch Manager
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Rachael Hartman - Middlefield Branch Manager
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Mike Pope - IT Manager
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John Johnston - Facilities Manager
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Judy Lasco - Chardon Branch Manager
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Danielle Hollar - Bainbridge Branch Manager
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Marlene Pelyhes - Tech Services Manager
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Denise Javins - Marketing Manager
Guests: This Observer
President Karen Delano called the Regular Board Meeting to order at 4:01 pm and roll call was taken.
Minutes: Minutes of the November 18, 2025 Records Commission and Regular Board Meeting were approved as presented. Board minutes are available online. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to access minutes. The minutes are posted as soon as they are approved at the following month’s Board meeting. Prior to March 2023, videos of meetings were available to the public here. GCPL is no longer posting videos of their meetings.
Communications: Two letters from the Geauga County Commissioners were discussed. Mr. Carroll said that they covered some technical issues for the purchase of the Administrative Building, such as that they will not use eminent domain if the purchase doesn’t go through and that the Library staff will not be “forced out.”. Observer Note: According to discussions at prior meetings, the Administrative Staff will continue to use the Administrative Building until they are able to move into the new building which will also house the Chardon Branch. County employees will also be moving into the Administrative building, so there will be changes in use. See LWVG Observer Report for July 15, 2025 here.
Agenda: The agenda presented in the Board packet was approved with no changes.
Fiscal Officer’s Report - Ms. Havlin
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The Board voted on and approved Disbursements and Gifts
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Approval of Resolution #25-04 - 2026 and Tax Advances
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Approval of Resolution #25-05 - 2025 Permanent Appropriations
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Approval of Year-End Transfers including from the General Fund into Building Repair Reserve Fund - $495,583 and the $1.3 million transfer from General Fund into the Chardon Reserve Fund.
Director’s Report - Ms. Carroll
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Approval of Tuition Reimbursement Request - one individual received reimbursement for a class at Kent State.
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System Updates - Ms. Carroll attended the OLC (Ohio Library Council) Conference where discussions focused on funding concerns and property tax relief legislation. She reported that she is working with the County and the League of Women Voters of Geauga on a series of educational programs about property taxes.
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Review of Updated Chardon Floor Plan - They have completed engineering on the schematic design for the Chardon project, “successfully bringing it back within budget.” Ms. Carroll said there would still be slight changes to the interior. The Board packet report notes that, “The next steps include a review of soft costs and an exterior design meeting scheduled for this week.”
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From the Board packet: Boiler - Middlefield - A temporary boiler was installed; the replacement schedule for the new boiler includes dismantling of the old one and removal with installation of the new boiler on December 23, with any final adjustments December 29.
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From the Board packet: Marketing - “Social media metrics: Impressions rose 37% to over 75,000, engagements increased 36% and video views climbed 21% to more than 15,000. Email engagement remained steady with over 20,000 opens and healthy click activity, while website traffic continued to trend upward with 8,600 active users and nearly 7,000 new users.”
Assistant Director’s Report - Ms. Farrell
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Read Across America Challenge - To celebrate the semi-quincentennial next year, GCPL has created the Read Across America Challenge, a yearlong reading challenge for adults and children. There are different categories, from “One Book Trips” to “Expert Traveler” (reading books from all 56 states and territories.) Each branch contributed to the creation of book lists with titles from each state and territory.
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November 2025 Statistics (from the board packet):
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36,963 patrons were served at the branches
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17,083 computer and wi-fi uses
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161 programs presented for 5,463 patrons
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9,131 reference and circulation interactions
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Total circulation of items: 241,803
Observer Note: The board packet contains a report of activities from all branches and departments. This is under the heading of the Assistant Director’s Report. The report includes Patron feedback reported at the branches. The host/local branch manager gives an oral report at the board meeting. This month that report was given by IT Manager Mike Pope.
The following highlights are from the Board packet:
Bainbridge - This location served as a voting location and hosted the Bainbridge Civic Club's Giving Tree. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Storytime and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math ) Club focused on Pets and Vets this month.
Chardon - The library assisted patrons accessing the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) website to find practice tests for the drivers license test. This link is on the GCPL website resource page. “The children loved Caitlin’s Turkeys on the Loose Scavenger Hunt. . . By the third week of the month over one hundred children completed the hunt.”
Geauga West - On November 4 the branch served as a voting location and welcomed over 1,000 people to vote. ”Some popular programs included our all-ages Pokemon party, a collaborative program with Adult and Youth Services, which drew 38 patrons. Cindy’s Puzzle Exchange was a hit, as always, despite the weather and holiday weekend with 119 attendees!”
Middlefield - The Middlefield Branch had reduced hours the week of Thanksgiving due to the boiler being out. “One notable adult program in November was Artificial Intelligence in Real Life, presented by Reference Assistant Becky Althouse.” “There is now a full-time Youth Services Assistant.“ In addition to her regular storytimes, she hosted a “Tinkerlab and Lego Build Day.”
Thompson - “Adult patrons enjoyed a Holiday Card Embossing workshop led by a talented community member. Tweens experimented with flavors to craft their own unique sodas and homeschool students had fun exploring the characteristics of rocks during Explorers’ Lab.”
Mobile Services - There were several vehicle issues as outlined in the Board packet: “with a leak and the motor on the front steps needing to be replaced on the Bookmobile, and the Fun Bus needing a part replaced.” “Two new staff members were hired in November - a full-time Driver to start in December and an Assistant who started mid-month.”
Human Resources - Ms. Burnside
Local Manager’s Report - Mike Pope, IT Manager
Mr. Pope reported on the new Ohio law that was passed as of September, 2025 which requires cyber training for employees of all public entities. Mr Pope said that the Library is required to have completed cyber training by next July. They have already purchased training software - KnowBe4. Reviewer Note: Learn more about KnowBe4 here. Mr. Pope said that their risk appears low but could still be improved. He also referred to a Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement (OPCI) program which has been set up to fulfill statutory training requirements. Observer Note: This is free software to help public entities with training. See information here. All Library employees will be required to either watch a video or read materials provided by OPCI by January 13, 2026. Mr. Pope also reported that the Library systems already have firewalls and antivirus software. Mr. Yanchar asked if they had insurance to cover cyber losses, and Mr. Pope said that they did and that the insurance company also has cyber training requirements.
Committee Reports - Finance Committee Meeting, held November 18, 2025
Ms. Havlin reported on the meeting.
Budget Report
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General Fund cost savings were discussed, as set forth below: Elimination of Sunday hours, circulating hotspots and the mailing of the Lines & Links newsletter. Observer Note: There was a summary of Cost Savings measures in the Board packet. Key points from the Board Packet are:
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Staffing - There was a decrease in the number of administrative positions and increase in the number of public service positions within the branches.
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Sunday Hours - The elimination of Sunday hours was estimated to save $30,000 a year plus there was another reduction of $37,000 due to a reduction in substitute hours. Not filling vacancies if staff resigns or retires should produce further reductions.
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Circulating Hotspots has been discontinued.
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Line & Links newsletter will no longer be printed and mailed, but copies will be printed and available within branches.
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The County Auditor will adjust collection rates because there will be a little less revenue.
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No plans for projects, except that Chardon is the “wild card.”
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This will include Appropriation of the Two Bond Funds that will be encumbered next year.
Resolution #25-06 - 2026 Permanent Appropriations - Approved
The committee also recommended that the full Board should have access to the Appropriations Budget Worksheet.
Unfinished Business - None
New Business - The following actions were approved:
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Approval of 2026 Board Meeting Schedule - Ms. Carroll noted that they will be meeting at the Administrative Center in January, February and March because they don’t know what the end of the year will look like regarding use of the large meeting room in the Administrative Center towards the end of 2026.
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Strategic Plan Update 2026/27 - Ms. Carroll said that this is an update with no structural overhaul.
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Approval (Retroactive) of the Geauga Mechanical contract for the temporary boiler for Middlefield.
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Approval for new Boiler for Middlefield. Ms. Carroll said that the new boiler will be installed the following Monday.
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Approval to limit service hours on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Bainbridge Branch to accommodate the Library Foundation Mini Golf event. Staff will be scheduled during the affected week to work their regular number of hours in which the library facilities are open.
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Approval needed to close the Chardon Branch for the Maple Festival on April 25, 2026 as an unpaid closure. Staff will be scheduled during the affected week to work their regular number of hours in which the library facilities are open.
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Approval of December Discard List.
Board Development
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Organizational Architecture Staffing Workforce Analysis Summary - this has been used to develop Youth Services (Voted on 3 months ago). They will be looking at such things as flexible scheduling. For instance in Middlefield they are less busy in summer but busier in the winter.
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Discussion of 2026 Officer Candidate Nominations - Kristen (Brickman) said she cannot serve as President due to time constraints. Ms. Delano said they would like to have a slate, but this could not be finalized due to the fact that Mr. Hutchinson was not at the meeting. The suggestion was to have Mr. Miller as President, Ms. Brickman remain as Secretary and Mr. Hutchinson as Vice President. This will be finalized in January.
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Changes to bylaws were handed out and will be voted on later; examples of changes were removing the word “annually” in certain places, and being able to email notices rather than mailing them.
Library Foundation Report - Ms. Schrock
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The Library Foundation’s Winter Wonderland of Trees wrapped up on December 5th.
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Events coming up: February 7, 2026 - Bainbridge Classics and Collectibles Pop-up Booksale.
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Mini Golf Event at Bainbridge Branch March 14, 2026. Tickets go on sale in January.
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There was an acknowledgement of a generous donation from Anne Tripp to the Library Foundation's Annual Campaign - $48,000. Ms. Schrock noted that Ms. Tripp is a previous employee.
Public Comment - none
Executive Session - none
The meeting was adjourned at 4:52 pm.
Next Meeting: The next Regular Board meeting is January 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm at the Administration Building. See website for information on meeting dates and locations.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Rooney Moy
Reviewer: Carol Benton
Date Submitted: January 1, 2025
The League of Women Voters of Geauga is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They do not support or oppose individual candidates or parties. Learn more about the LWVG at www.lwvgeauga.org.