Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board Meeting | September 2025

The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees handled key annual financial duties and updated its personnel policies during its regular meeting on September 22. The board’s primary actions included unanimously approving the 2025 tax levy after a brief public hearing and receiving a presentation of the 2024-2025 annual financial audit from an external accounting firm. For more details on these financial matters, see the full stories.

In other new business, the board adopted a new cell phone stipend policy for employees and approved a formal Memo of Understanding with the Friends of the Library support group. Trustees also engaged in a discussion about goals for the district’s next strategic plan, which will cover 2026 through 2029.

Board Formalizes Partnership with Friends of the Library
Brief Title: Board Formalizes Partnership with Friends of the Library: The trustees unanimously approved a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the Friends of the Library (FOTL) board. This document formalizes the working relationship between the library district and its dedicated volunteer group, which provides crucial support through fundraising and community advocacy. The motion to approve and present the memo was made by Trustee Keri English and seconded by Trustee Sharon Gill.

Strategic Plan Goals Discussed
Brief Title: Strategic Plan Goals Discussed: The board held a discussion regarding the goals for its next long-range strategic plan, which will guide the library’s direction from 2026 to 2029. The discussion is an early step in the comprehensive planning process that will eventually set the library’s priorities for services, programming, and community engagement for the coming years.

Routine Approvals and Correspondence
Brief Title: Routine Approvals and Correspondence: The board unanimously approved the minutes from its August 25, 2025, meeting, as well as the August financial reports. Under correspondence, the board acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Will County Board of Review. No action was taken on the letter.