RIVER FALLS LIBRARY FOUNDATION MINUTES
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Call to order: President Rita Kozak called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
Present: Rita Kozak, Callie Trautmiller, Mary Baumgartner, Linda Jacobson, Patricia La Rue, Mary Torgersen, Anna Zalusky, Linda Vivoda-Sadee, Theresa DeRusha, Tanya Misselt (Library Director, Ex-Officio.)
Absent: Sarah Nelson, Library Board Trustee Nick Carow.
Approval of meeting minutes: Motion to approve the meeting minutes from February 25, 2026. Discussion on language and subtle changes. Linda Vivoda-Sadee moved to approve the February 25, 2026, meeting minutes as amended, seconded by Linda Jacobson. Motion passed.
Financial report:
Rita acknowledged that Sarah was unavailable for the meeting, but Rita and Sarah discussed the next steps with our CPA, Jennifer. There is a list of information that needs to be supplied to Jennifer, including items from 2024. We have to audit. In depth analysis.
Membership report: Linda Jacobson
Membership of seven new members in March, additional donations beyond the $10 was $2,493. One person made a $1,000 donation. Not part of the Capital Campagne. Made directly to the Foundation.
Library Director report: Tanya Misselt
Tanya indicated that the Foundation members will get a copy of the Trustees’ packet as part of her report. Next Board of Trustees meeting is April 6.
The Library has started Phase 3. Tanya offered to take Foundation members on a tour after the meeting. Construction is in the basement now. More work to be done on the main floor that will help it “pop.” Pendant lighting above the coffee bar, acoustic panels in children’s area, hanging birds panels, many doors are on back order, piano needs tuning, together with a new cover, public bulletin board for public meetings, furniture needs to be selected, donations have been received in honor of Nancy Miller- funds to go to colored glass window inserts. These are pending and will add to the light and color of the rooms.
The Library has a new meeting room policy. The Library will have a tele-health room, a new nursing and comfort room, group study rooms are new, and online technology to reserve the rooms. Tablets. These will have new policies written for them and will need to be approved.
The Library purchased a “people counter” to count the people coming through the doors. Software comes with it to record the data. The Library committed to a security camera system. Updates to the HVAC systems, more than 25 years old at this time. Got a really good price for this at $500,000 vs. over $1M. Will go before City Council for approval.
Looking into solar roof panels. Could save $20,000 per year. New self check machines are being ordered.
Update: There is a National Public Library Conference in St. Paul. Tanya will be attending April 1-3, 2026. This will keep her Director’s License certification up-to-date.
PBS special “The Librarians”. Will be shown at UWRF. Tanya will be part of a panel after the showing. Tentatively scheduled for April 15. We will promote the showing at the Library as well. About material challenges, censorship, etc.
Discussion on programing: How do we celebrate the Library re-opening? Done in Phases, changes are just trickling in. There isn’t really going to be a big “Reveal.” Tanya and staff are incredibly busy and not ready for programming. We normally offer a slate, but there just hasn’t been the time. Thought several opportunities to celebrate. First will be May 20th to thank the Campaign Committee, the Foundation Board members, the Board of Trustees for all their work. To share and gather. We might make a bigger deal of it, but not sure what we can handle. Tanya passed out invitations to the event. A Thank You. The Library decided not to focus on Big Donors. Rita stated that it took everybody to get this done. It’s not us. Group affirmed not to do a special event with just large donors.
Alice and Tanya have discussed the June Summer Library Program kicks off. Summer themes. First is the nation’s semiquincentennial. Then the building. Summer. All to celebrate. There is a summer reading theme, collaborative between libraries. City did the State of the City with Leggos for building. Series of tours. Three evenings in June to offer tour. Kick of for summer programming is tentatively June 8. Try to integrate the building completion. Family and children. June 10 adult kick off party. Embrace library renovation. Other guided tours. Semiquincentennial celebration would include possibly Jayne Hoffman and her historical peers to create a display downstairs. Although Wisconsin wasn’t involved in the Revolutionary War, there are popular topics relating to the PBS special. We have an author who was consulted in the making of the PBS special, he is coming on June (?) the 25th. Encourage the public to come to the author’s visit.
River Falls Days. Dan Geister might want to do a presentation of River Falls for River Falls Days. Will tie in the semiquincentennial theme. Just taking shape.
Grant is in full swing until September. Retired teachers, Jayne Hoffman, Ann Nelson, Lorraine Davis want to plan something around the time capsule. Whole idea of local history. At the time we would be finishing up the grant. Have not ordered the Donor Tree, not sure when that will be accomplished.
Tanya is open to suggestions. Theresa offered that members of the Board could be with Tanya on the tours, to introduce ourselves and make the public aware. Possibly run the tour. Anna and Rita agreed. Possibly smaller groups. Rita suggested that multiple opportunities to tour the Library might put a strain on staff, and take them away from what they are doing. Maybe one or two nights would be sufficient. Anna confirmed a commitment to doing tours.
Possibly a QR tour. We could teach people to do the QR tour. Callie suggested an event similar to the Winter reading Bingo, scavenger hunt, find three stars in the Library. What’s different about the Library.
Linda Jacobson, regarding having a Foundation Board member available on Saturdays to talk about the foundation. Have a table with snacks out and a chance to talk, possibly get some donations.
In April there is a River Falls High School “Unstrumental” event. The Library programing will probably not get back to normal until this Fall. Anna talked about small steps, sharing this exciting time and a bigger event in October or even later.
Tanya wants to look at how to separate the children with a bash and then more sophisticated for the adults.
Tanya shares pictures of the before and after library.
Mary B. asked about more from the time capsule that was found. Noting earth shattering, some documents, coin. No real decisions have been made on the time capsule the Library will now put together.
Old Business:
Callie Trautmiller. Callie attended the Board of Trustee meeting. Trustees talked about the Library’s own security system. Discussed forming a subcommittee for the change orders in the renovation. Left much to Tanya to make most decisions. Decided to wait on the glass walls around the community room. Some cosmetics to the story-time room. Getting a new roof was not realistic. Callie noted the Trustees finding the renovation was running under budget and ahead of schedule.
Rita discussed a new member information packet. Offered to members and asked that all review and make suggestions. Need to work on the gift policy. Such as accepting stock, painting, and the like.
Theresa discussed her research on various libraries in our regions, with colleges and see what they did with their membership benefits. We land right in the middle. Nothing out there. Rita discussed Theresa’s research pertaining to how other libraries differentiate memberships. Supporting, loyal friends, sustaining and patron. Linda J. commented on putting a QR code in the news letter regarding membership registration. Noting membership is 12 months. Mention also that additional contributions are always welcome.
Discuss “Friends of” or “Foundation” one is more likely volunteers, Foundations are a 501(c)(3). Another way to show clarity is, for an example, write letters to the editor on what it means to you to be part of the Library Foundation. News letter focus on one member. Linda J. asked about sending letters each month, to memberships that are going to lapse that month. Should she be doing that? Callie suggested we learn how to better use the program we have to seen if we can utilize that function. Decision was to discuss with Sarah and how best to schedule letters to members that their fees are due and membership will lapse during the current month. Put on as old business next hear.
New Business:
Rita regarding the timing of our scheduled meeting. We have the year planned out. For now, meet as scheduled? All seemed to agree. But due financial reporting quarterly.
Scholarship rewards will be presented May 6th at the awards ceremony. There were 35 applicants, possibly adding one or two more scholarships. Much interest.
Regarding a table sway, decision was that we have our own. Maybe Foundation shirts. Have a logo. Maybe before summer. River City t-shirts are quality. Put together t-shirt sizes and get those ordered.
Movie theater ad. A company puts on all the ads for the movie theater. You can get either a 15 second or 30 second ad. Our Foundation video is 1 minute 36 sec. Edit down. Michelle show 938 movies every six months. Lots of exposure. They can edit, may be an additional cost. It cost some where around $5,000 to have our video made. Considering a voice over, we would be better to start from scratch. Get it down to 30 seconds. $2,059 for six months. What we have is considered a “motion” ad, for 3 months, 30 seconds, would be $1,030. A movie ad would bring awareness, not sure if it would bring in donations. Discussion on trying it for 3 months. Possibly around Christmas? Blockbuster movies are released in the summer. Our current video is on the Library’s website, could put it back on Facebook. Keep using it for campaigning. Callie will get more information on the ad.
Discussion on a table cloth. White with our logo on it. By May.
Future business:
• Map sale will revisit in the fall.
• Linda Jacobson will be up next for the April Board of Trustees meeting.
Rita entertained a motion to adjourned. Calli so moved, Mary Baumgartner seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m. Attendees were invited to view the lower level renovation.
As scribed by Patricia La Rue.
Note. Centennial is 100 years.
Quincentennial is 500 years.
Semiquincentennial is one half of 500 years, or 250 years.