Trustees of the Newton Public Library District met December 15, 2025, at 5:00 P.M. Present were Travis Farley, Emily Carroll, Jennifer Hinterscher, Ilene Woods, Amanda Lessley, Pete Pasero and Director Jacque Cowger.
President Farley called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the November meeting were reviewed and will stand as presented.
The November financial report was reviewed. Bills were presented. Trustee Woods made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Trustee Lessley, motion passed.
Director’s Report
Circulation for November was 2,299. Money collected from fines, faxes, copiers, book sales, cards, and miscellaneous items was $327.64. three new cards were issued. The patron door count for the month of November was 1,079.
The staff has completed training in administering the opioid antagonists and have a supply on hand to meet the requirement of IL HB 1910.
Jacque will be meeting with a representative of the Illinois State Archives in February.
Old Business
Trustee Hinterscher gave an update on the museum.
The library participated in Christmas on the Square on Saturday December 13. The Jasper County Ukulele Group performed at the library from 10:30 am to 12:30 am. there was Story Time with Mrs. Claus at 11:00am. With 15 children in attendance. In the afternoon, the library re-opened from 3:30-5:30p.m. to all children to make Snowman Soup. The Christmas parade was cancelled due to the extremely cold weather and a minimal number of children participated in the afternoon event.
New Business
Trustee Lessley made a motion to purchase a $111,181.63 eleven-month CD at 3.75 APY from Peoples State Bank with funds from the Special Reserve account, seconded by Trustee Hinterscher, motion passed.
Trustee Woods made a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 annual financial report prepared by CPA Kara Weber of Weber & Company, Inc. seconded by President Farley, motion passed.
The Trustees each completed the required annual Sexual Harassment training developed by the State of Illinois.
Starting January 2, 2026, the library is accepting quilt blocks that will be sewn into a lap size quilt to be presented to a Veteran of Jasper County at the Veterans Day Program November 11, 2026.
Per the Per Capita Grant Requirement, the board reviewed and discussed the following items from the Illinois Public Library Standards:
Programming
Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Technology
Due to the Martin Luther King holiday, a motion was made by Trustee Carroll to move the January 19, 2026, scheduled library board meeting to Monday January 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and seconded by President Farley, motion passed.
The next board meeting is January 26, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Meeting adjourned.
Emily Carroll
Secretary, Board of Trustees
Newton Public Library District
