President Barack Obama recently shared his 2021 Summer Reading List, comprised of titles from a variety of genres. Interested in the former President's reading habits? Check one of his favorites out today!

At night all blood is black by 1966- David Diop
Land of big numbers by Te-Ping Chen

Call the Meeting to Order (7:30 PM)

• Call to Audience (5 min. maximum)
• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of General Meeting Minutes

Administrative Reports
• Communications
• Report of the Library Director
• Trustee Comments

Committee Reports

Unfinished Business & General Orders
• Masking for Employees and Volunteers

New Business
• Social Media Analysis (K. Minshall)
• Rescind July 29, 2021 closure
• Approve 2nd Quarter Budget Amendment
• 1st Draft of 2022 budget and 2023-2024 projections
   o 2022 Salaries and Fringes
   o MERS contribution
• Call to Audience (5 min. maximum)
• Adjourn

Nonfiction Book Group August 2021

Join us Saturday, August 21 2021 at 10:00 AM via Zoom video conference as the Nonfiction Book Group discusses: 

Also available in: e-book

Black has lived her life eye to eye with the Grim Reaper, and she writes vividly about it in this book, which is part primer on the basics of identifying human remains, part frank memoir, and part no-nonsense but deeply humane introduction to the reality of death in our lives. She recounts her first dissection; the mortal remains in her lab and at burial sites as well as scenes of violence, murder, and criminal dismemberment; and about investigating mass fatalities due to war, accident, or natural disaster. In doing so, she reveals how forensic science has developed-- and what her work has taught her about human nature. 

Upcoming sessions

There are no upcoming sessions available.

Afterlife [kit] by Julia Alvarez

The Poet X Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves--lines from her favorite authors play in her head like a soundtrack--but now she finds that the world demands more of her than words. Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including--maybe especially--members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?

The four winds [kit] by Kristin Hannah

Hannah (The Great Alone) brings Dust Bowl migration to life in this riveting story of love, courage, and sacrifice. In 1934 Texas, after four years of drought, the Martinelli farm is no longer thriving, but Elsa is attached to the land and her in-laws, and she works tirelessly and cares for her children, 12-year-old Loreda and seven-year-old Anthony. Her husband, Rafe, has become distant and something of a hard drinker, and after he abandons them, Elsa reluctantly leaves with her children for California with the promise of steady work. Her dreams of a better future are interrupted by the discrimination they face in the unwelcoming town of Welty, where they are forced to live in a migrant camp and work for extremely low wages picking cotton. When Elsa's meager wages are further reduced and she has the opportunity to join striking workers, she must decide whether to face the dangers of standing up for herself and her fellow workers. 

In a small village in France, a young woman named Adeline prays to any god who will answer for salvation from a stifling life. But the one who arrives grants Addie a gift, in exchange for her soul, that comes with a curse: though she will not age or die, everyone she meets will forget her as soon as she leaves their sight. For 300 years, Addie moves through the world without touching it, balancing ephemeral but immense suffering against the joy of witnessing, and often underhandedly influencing, art and artists. As the devil she bargained with lingers in the shadows, Addie makes herself his equal, laying claim to her strange life. And then, one day in 2014 Manhattan, she finds a boy who, impossibly, remembers her. Schwab deftly weaves time and place, flitting between Addie's frantic past and her grounded present while visiting intermittent July 29ths in between. Narratively, this is a whirlwind--deeply romantic, impossibly detailed, filled with lush language, wry humor, and bitter memories. This often startlingly raw story begs the questions: what is a soul? What does it mean to be remembered? And what prize is worth giving those things up?

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are the "Oscars" of the comics world. Check below to access eBook or borrow print copies of many award nominees. Visit the San Diego Comic-Con site for the complete list of nominees

Best Single Issue

Sports is hell by artist Ben Passmore

Add this to your summer read list and join thousands of readers around the world by participating in the Big Library Read! This "global eBook club" will read The Quiet Girl by S.F. Kosa. In her debut thriller, S.F. Kosa presents a multilayered novel about a wife gone missing and the quiet girl who may be the key to finding her. Sure to inspire questions about trauma, memory, and how well we ever know the people we love From June 28th - July 12th you can borrow and read or listen to the  with unlimited access and no waitlist through OverDrive. Don't miss the live, virtual event with author S.F. Kosa on July 7th at 12 pm ET. Register today.

Circulation Assistant Carol Siemieniak

The Canton Public Library wishes a fond farewell to one of our longest-serving staff members, Circulation Assistant Carol Siemieniak. Carol’s warm smile makes everyone feel at home, and her personality has brought fun and laughter to staff and library patrons alike. She has dedicated her time at CPL to making the library a welcoming place for everyone.

Carol first joined the Canton Public Library as a receptionist in 1988, one of the first individuals hired as part of the library’s new building opening. She later moved into a Circulation Assistant position, where she has served the Canton community for the last fifteen years.

“Carol has put her heart and soul into this library and it shows in all of the friends she has made with CPL staff members and the many patrons who look for her smiling face when they enter,” Circulation Supervisor Barb Gudenburr said. “She has been an inspiration to others to be empathetic to everyone.”

When it comes to library memories, Carol has 33 years’ worth to share. Her particular favorites include the library’s 25th Anniversary celebration in 2005, and former President George H.W. Bush’s campaign visit to Canton Public Library in 1992.

“We stood behind the Circulation Desk, and he came up and shook hands with us,” Carol shared about her experience meeting the former President. “They sent us official White House photos of us shaking hands with the president. It was so exciting.”

As a Circulation Assistant, Carol discovered a love for connecting with library patrons. Carol expressed that she was very shy when she started at CPL, but getting to know the friendly faces that came to visit the library helped her come out of her shell. “My job has been really rewarding in that I got to know so many people,” Carol said. “It’s been such a ride and I’ve had such a good time.”

Carol will retire to spend time with her new granddaughter on June 30. She will miss her coworkers dearly, and the many patrons she meets on a day-to-day basis. Members of the community are invited to stop by and send best wishes to Carol before her last day on June 30.

The Chairperson, Nancy Eggenberger, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

Present:    N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts (participating remotely from Canton, MI), M. Farell  (participating remotely from Cheboygan, MI)                         

Absent:      J. Lee

Also Present:  E. Davis, K. Gladden

CALL TO AUDIENCE   (K. Bounds, R. Carsten, D. Ewick, L. Golden, D. Huntzicker, J. Liang, D. McHugh, M. Nicholson, R. Noble, C. Swanberg) – None        

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A. Watts moved and M. Farell supported a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Yes: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts

No: None

Abstain: None

The motion passed 21/6-17-1 (5-0-0)

APPROVAL OF GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

The minutes were accepted by unanimous consent.

COMMUNICATIONS — None

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

The library is 42% of the way through fiscal 2021 as of May 31st. The second quarter budget amendment in July will pull the revenues into alignment.

Director Eva Davis introduced the new Department Head for Information Services, Dave Ewick.

The library’s telephone system has been down since Wednesday. IT had been working on it since then and it was finally determined that the problem lies outside the building with an AT&T circuit. Clear Rate Communications, the library’s telephone service provider, has escalated the work order to highest priority.

Davis was sorry to announce the July 1st retirement of Circulation Assistant Carol Siemieniak, after 33 years and seven months of service. Community Relations Department Head Laurie Golden and Communications Specialist Kaitlyn Minshall are organizing an announcement so that the public may bid farewell to Carol, who has been a great favorite with patrons over the years.

On-Call Page Julia Bhuiyan has graduated from high school and will be leaving the library to attend college, effective August 1.

The trustees should have received their 62 Days of Summer packets through the mail. The first day of the program was well-attended; the rocking chairs on Canton’s Front Porch are back, along with the Library Lovers Live Here lawn signs and the Prize Patrol.

TRUSTEE COMMENTS — Chair Nancy Eggenberger said that her Prize Patrol experience was fun and she urged trustees to consider participating.

COMMITTEE REPORTS — None

NEW BUSINESS

August 2021–July 2022 Healthcare Plan Options Overview — Kapnick Insurance representative Dave Huntzicker reviewed the recommended healthcare plan options. The Blue Care Network Healthy Blue Living HMO Platinum 500 (the library’s current plan) has been re-certified with no changes, and an average cost increase of only 5.21%.

Huntzicker concluded that the BCN HMO plan was the best choice and recommended that the library not switch healthcare providers at this time, as the quality of the plan and the ability for employees to retain their choice of physicians could not be matched by other considered options, such as one from Priority Health.

Approve August 2021-July 22 Healthcare Contract — M. Farell moved and C. Spas supported a motion to renew the Blue Care Network Healthy Blue Living Platinum 500 healthcare plan contract for August 2021-July 2022.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Yes: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts

No: None

Abstain: None

The motion passed unanimously 21/6-17-2 (5-0-0)

Review and Approve PA 152 Employer/Employee Insurance Premiums Cost-Sharing — Secretary/Treasurer Amy Watts stated that past boards had found it valuable for employees to have “some skin in the game” regarding healthcare premiums, and so had usually chosen the 80/20 split for cost-sharing. Chair Eggenberger said that consistency in expectations for staff in this area was also important. Business Service Department Head Marian Nicholson reminded the board that, with their concerns over keeping salaries and fringe benefits in line, the 80/20 split was more reasonable than the Hard Cap option.

A. Watts moved and A. Iqbal supported a motion to approve the 80/20 split for PA 152 Employer/Employee Insurance Premiums Cost-Sharing.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Yes: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts

No: None

Abstain: None

The motion passed unanimously 21/6-17-3 (5-0-0)

Before leaving the Zoom call, D. Huntzicker introduced Rick Carsten, who will be replacing Clay Paul on the library account.

2022 Budget Discussion — Expenditures

Capital Expenditures — M. Nicholson highlighted a few projected capital expenditure projects for 2022: servicing of the storm sewer/catch basin (if necessary); improvements to the paver walkway and landscaping in the Rebecca Havenstein-Coughlin Memorial Courtyard (partial funding for which will hopefully come from donations); booths (in the aisle separating the Adult Non-Fiction stacks) and semi-circular study pods (outside the Internet Lab); and a refreshing of the Community Room (replacement of the Whisper Wall covering; addition of under-carpet power/USB ports; new window shades; and new tables and chairs).

Davis reminded the board that none of the furniture up for replacement had been purchased during other building construction projects, and had in fact reached the end of their life expectancy.

Information Technology Department Head Rudie Noble briefly reviewed projected expenditures in the separate Technology Long Term Capital Outlay document: replacement of the projector and sound equipment in the Community Room; 42 personal computers in various subsets; some laptop computers; and a new sorter system.

Davis commended Building Supervisor Jim Laffey and the IT staff for their yeomanlike efforts which have kept the sorter conveyor and its software program running for the past twelve years. She said that Circulation Supervisors Barb Gudenburr and Denise Skopczynski had scrutinized a large number of sorter systems at the Public Library Association conference in February 2020, and had noted several options for the system to be purchased in 2022.

Reopening the Library Further: Considerations  — Davis informed the board that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was rescinding its pandemic orders effective at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. After that time, no broad orders relating to the pandemic will be in effect. However, the current orders from the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) — which apply to employers and employees — have not been rescinded.

Davis advised the board that they would be able to make whatever policy they liked regarding mask-wearing for the public, even after June 22nd.

The board was in agreement that any attempt to retain a mask-wearing policy for the public after the rescission of the MDHHS order would be a thankless task, but that it would need to retain the policy for staff for the time being under the current MIOSHA rules.

Pandemic Reopening Policy Revision — A. Watts moved and M. Farell supported a motion to repeal in full the library’s Pandemic Reopening Policy for the public as of June 22, 2021, and to affirm that all staff members must continue to mask indoors (except while eating or drinking, or in an isolated space) until the current MIOSHA rules are revised or rescinded.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Yes: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts

No: None

Abstain: None

The motion passed unanimously 21/6-17-4 (5-0-0)

Approve Library Closure for HVAC Replacement — Davis explained that safety concerns dictated that the building be uninhabited while a construction crane was used to remove and replace the new HVAC units. Thursday, July 29th was the scheduled date for the work, with July 30th as a possible rain-date.

C. Spas moved and A. Watts supported a motion to close the library on July 29, 2021 for replacement of the HVAC unit.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Yes: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts

No: None

Abstain: None

The motion passed unanimously 21/6-17-5 (5-0-0)

CALL TO AUDIENCE – None

ADJOURN

The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM.  

Juneteenth marks the day that the last slaves were officially emancipated in the United States. Beginning as a smaller holiday throughout Texas, Juneteenth is now celebrated throughout the country on June 19th. The following nonfiction and fiction titles share stories of emancipation and celebration!

Children's Books

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper

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