Record of Proceedings
Adams County Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
West Union Public Library
May 13, 2026 – 5:30 p.m.
The Adams County Public Library Board of Trustees met on May 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. for a regular meeting at Manchester Public Library.
Phil Rhonemus called the meeting to order. Members present were Sarah Shelton, Elaine Lafferty, and Holly Johnson. Linda Worley, Linda Stepp, and Kayla Bowman were excused. Also present was Executive Director Nicholas Slone, Fiscal Officer Steven Harris, and Janice Johnson.
There was no public participation.
Janice Johnson, Outreach Specialist, gave a brief presentation on how she presents the story time activities at the schools. She also enters all the Imagination Library enrollments.
Holly Johnson asked if it would be possible to have a recognition ceremony for the children graduating from the Imagination Library similar to the one she attended in Chillicothe. Janice is going to follow up on this idea.
Minutes of the previous Board of Trustees meeting were reviewed and discussed. Motion #1 made by Holly Johnson, seconded by Elaine Lafferty to approve the minutes of the meeting held April 8, 2026. Motion carried. All yeas.
Report of Fiscal Officer
The financial reports submitted by the Fiscal Officer were reviewed and discussed. Motion #2 made by Elaine Lafferty, seconded by Sarah Shelton to accept the financial reports of the Fiscal Officer and approve the payment of bills. Motion carried. All
yeas.
Motion #3 made by Holly Johnson, seconded by Sarah Shelton to approve the transfer of $0.66 from 2001-110-390-1000, Other Purchased and Contracted Services to 2001-110-459-1000, Other Supplies, retroactive to April 29, 2026. Motion passed. All yeas.
Report of Executive Director
Nick reviewed the circulation statistics through April. He noted the snacks were a big hit with patrons. The IPM food boxes have taken off. There were only 32 boxes left out of 100 for the month. The public services were business as usual. We need to have a cybersecurity policy approved by the next meeting. We have been working on the process and have it almost completed. Analyzing the processes is the most time consuming.
Outreach Services have been busy trying to get more kids into the library. We have to keep things changed up in order to keep teens interested.
We had a poetry open mic night in Manchester and Peebles. We thanked Judge Spencer for the pizza donation. There was an article in the Defender about summer reading. We have been working on Transit Van repairs. The UMC food delivery does not cover all students, just Ohio Valley School students. We may try to do CHA meals for Manchester.
Motion #4 made by Holly Johnson, seconded by Elaine Lafferty, to accept donations, acknowledge volunteer services, and approve library support group activities as requested. Motion carried. All yeas.
We are going to have the stump removed at West Union by TNT and Jeff Mullenix will put down sod at cost.
Old Business
There was no executive session as the cybersecurity policy discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
The 2026 – 2027 quote from Ohio Plan for the property, casualty, and liability insurance was discussed. The premium increased by $232.00 over the 2025 – 2026 premium amount and also includes $1 million in cybersecurity coverage. Motion #5 was made by Sarah Shelton, seconded by Elaine Lafferty to approve the annual renewal of $15,438.00 for the library’s property, casualty, and liability insurance coverage with The Ohio Plan effective June 8, 2026. Motion passed. All yeas.
June is still the start date for the North Adams Shelter House project by the North Adams Friends. The permitting process the Village of Seaman was discussed. The shelter house is budgeted to be around $150,000. The Friends Group will have a ribbon cutting when it is completed. The MOU has been signed and the insurance is in place. It will be named the Showalter Pavilion. We will need to prepare a policy for the shelter house use.
We need to amend the bylaws to be in compliance with ORC Section 3375.22 as amended in 2025 and notice has to be given ahead of the meeting for the bylaw vote.
New Business
Motion #6 made by Holly Johnson, seconded by Sarah Shelton to recommend Kayla Bowman’s reappointment to the board pending approval from the county common pleas judge. Motion carried. All yeas.
Motion #7 made by Sarah Shelton, seconded by Elaine Lafferty to approve the revision of policy Section 3.710 – Library Credit Cards from $20,000.00 organizational limit to $10,000.00 organization limit. Motion passed. All yeas.
Adjournment
Motion #8 made by Elaine Lafferty, seconded by Sarah Shelton since there is no further business, the meeting is adjourned to meet in regular session at the North Adams Public Library, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.