Library Board Adopts New Cell Phone Stipend Policy for Employees

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board Meeting | September 2025

Article Summary
The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees has approved a new policy to provide a cell phone stipend for library personnel. The change to the employee personnel policy was passed unanimously during the board’s September 22 meeting.

Library Cell Phone Policy Key Points:

• The board approved a new policy establishing a cell phone stipend for employees.

• The motion was made by Trustee Julie Mason and seconded by Trustee Keri English.

• The policy change passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

• Details regarding the stipend amount and eligibility were not specified in the meeting minutes.

MANHATTAN, Il. – Employees at the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District will now be eligible for a cell phone stipend, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees.

During the new business portion of its regular meeting on September 22, the board approved a motion to add a cell phone stipend policy to its personnel guidelines. The motion was introduced by Trustee Julie Mason and received a second from Trustee Keri English.

After the motion was made, the board conducted a roll call vote, with all members voting in favor of the new policy. A cell phone stipend is a fixed amount of money provided to employees to help cover the costs of using their personal mobile devices for work-related purposes, such as communication and other job duties. The specific amount of the stipend and which employees will be eligible were not detailed in the meeting minutes. The approval marks an update to the library’s employee compensation and benefits structure.