The Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees will vote Wednesday on a new employee leave policy required by Illinois law, while also conducting a three-month check-in with Director Katelyn Foehner.
The board meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Library Meeting Room at 616 Hiawatha Drive.
New state-mandated leave policy
The biggest policy item is new Library Policy 311.5, which implements the Illinois Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act. The state law, which took effect June 1, requires employers with 16 or more employees to provide unpaid, job-protected leave to parents whose newborn is hospitalized in a NICU. Employers with 16 to 50 employees must offer up to 10 days; those with more than 50 must offer up to 20 days.
The leave is in addition to federal Family and Medical Leave Act protections, though employees must first exhaust FMLA leave before NICLA applies. Employers cannot require workers to use accrued paid time off before taking NICLA leave.
The board will also vote on a revision to Policy 308, which covers jury leave benefits. The meeting agenda does not detail what changed in the revision.
Director transition
Foehner, who also serves as board secretary, will undergo a three-month check-in as part of her transition into the director role. She took over from Susan Westgate, who led the library for more than 13 years.
At the board's July 15 meeting, all seven trustees unanimously passed Resolution #309 commending Westgate. Four Carol Stream residents spoke during public comment to thank her: Peggy Beuzin, Rick Gieser, Justin Lynch and Kurt Gimler.
The resolution credited Westgate with renovating and modernizing the library, leading it through the COVID-19 pandemic and leaving the organization in strong financial and operational shape.
Finances
The board will ratify annual payments of $43,543 to the SWAN Library Consortium, paid in quarterly installments of $10,885.75. SWAN provides shared cataloging and software services to roughly 100 Illinois libraries from its Oak Brook headquarters. Board approval is required for any payment exceeding $10,000, according to the meeting packet.
Trustees will also approve July disbursements. The library's General Fund balance stood at $3,211,021.81 as of July 31, down from $3,497,560.88 at the start of the month. Total assets across all funds were $5,091,550.69.
Summer traffic is up. Adult Services Manager Athens Moreno reported a 32% increase in desk traffic at the July 15 meeting. Board President Tim Rogers asked what drove the jump; Moreno attributed it to more visitors during the summer season.
The meeting is open to the public at 616 Hiawatha Drive beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
