About Us

New River Public Library Cooperative
10 S Lake Ave.
Lake Butler, FL 32054
386-406-4262
newriver@neflin.org
http://www.newriverlibrary.org

Our mission: The libraries will be a gateway to lifelong learning and discovery by providing quality materials, information, and resources in a comfortable environment that encourages community and individual growth.

New River Public Library Cooperative provides supporting library service in Baker County, Bradford County and Union County in Florida.

The New River Public Library Cooperative was established on May 24, 1996 It was established by an interlocal agreement between Bradford, Baker, and Union counties. New River Public Library Cooperative operates under the Uniform Special District Accountability Act, Chapter 189, Florida Statues. New River Establishment Interlocal Agreement

Library Governing Board Members

James Croft
Channing Dobbs
Chris Dougherty
Cathy Rhoden
Jimmy Tallman
Kenny Thompson

The Governing Information is only for the New River Public Library Cooperative. Each of the 3 individual libraries are overseen by their own board of county commissioners: Baker County, Bradford County and Union County.

Applicable Ethics Information: http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/

Registered Agent: Tricia Wylie, Director

Quarterly Library Governing Board Agendas and Minutes

2024

January 11, 2024 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous meeting (Action item)
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements (Action item)
  5. Comments from the public
  6. New Business
    1. a. Election of 2024 officers (Action item)
    2. 2024 Holiday Schedule (Action item)
  7. Other Business
  8. Adjourn

January 11, 2024 Minutes

Minutes for the New River Public Library Cooperative Governing Board Meeting

Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11:30am at New River Solid Waste Facility

Present:

Commissioners: James Croft, Channing Dobbs, Chris Dougherty, Cathy Rhoden, Jimmy Tallman, Kenny Thompson Library Directors: Mary Brown, Tricia Wylie

Presiding:

Cathy Rhoden Recording: Tricia Wylie
The meeting was called to order at 11:40am by Chair Cathy Rhoden.

The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. James Croft motioned to approve; Chris Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

The monthly financial reports were presented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Jimmy Tallman seconded. Motion carried.

New Business:

Election of 2024 NRPLC Governing Board officers. Chris Dougherty proposed Cathy Rhoden as board chair and Kenny Thompson as vice chair. Motion carried.

The new 2024 holiday schedule was presented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Chris Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

Other Business:

The Cooperative is waiting to hear the result from two grant applications: Penguin Random House for $1000 for the purchase of children’s books and Florida Humanities for $3000 towards children’s summer
reading programs.

The cooperative will be receiving approximately $3400 in additional reimbursements for our internet services from the Florida Department of Management Services that was allocated towards fiscally constrained counties and granted by the Florida Legislature.

The Co-op state aid grant has been submitted for next fiscal year. Disbursement typically happens in late spring/early summer. The estimated grant amount is $323,680.

Meeting adjourned 11:53am

April 11, 2024 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous meeting
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements
  5. Comments from the public
  6. New Business Action item (Action item)
    1. BCPL interim and future plan (Action item)
    2. Awarded Florida Humanities Grant for $3000 total to assist with children’s summer reading programs (Action item)
    3.  Reimbursement check for $3420.24 received from Florida DMS for internet services. (Action item)
  7. Other Business
  8. Adjourn

2023

January 12, 2023 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous meeting (Action item)
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements Action item
  5. Comments from the public
  6. New Business
    1. Election of 2022 officers (Action item)
    2. 2022 Holiday Schedule (Action item)
  7. Other Business
  8. Adjourn

January 12, 2023 Minutes

New River Public Library Cooperative Governing Board Meeting

Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 11:30am at New River Solid Waste Facility

Present:

Commissioners: James Croft, Chris Dougherty, Cathy Rhoden, Jimmy Tallman, Kenny Thompson
Library Directors: Tricia Wylie

Presiding: Cathy Rhoden
Recording: Tricia Wylie

The meeting was called to order at 11:30am by Chair Cathy Rhoden.

The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. Kenny Thompson motioned to approve; Chris
Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

The monthly financial reports were presented. Kenny Thompson motioned to approve; James Croft seconded. Motion carried.

New Business:

Election of 2023 Governing Board Officers. Cathy Rhoden is Chair, Kenny Thompson is Vice Chair. All approved.

2023 Holiday Schedule – Kenny Thompson motioned to approve. Jimmy Tallman seconded. Motion carried.

Other Business:

New office update – currently running off wifi hotspot waiting for DMS internet service to resume.

Marsie Montgomery is doing storytime outreach at local preschools. Tricia is doing monthly book clubs with Council on Aging in Macclenny and Senior Social Club in Lake Butler.

Meeting adjourned 11:50am.

May 11, 2023 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous  meeting (Action item)
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements (Action item)
  5. Comments from the public
  6. New Business
    1. Florida Humanities Grant Approval (Action item) – Received a check from Florida Humanities for $244.13 to cover travel costs for speaker at UCPL.
    2. Received insurance reimbursement check for $1750. (Action item)
    3. Working Remotely (Action item)
  7. Other Business
  8. Adjourn

May 11, 2023 Minutes

New River Public Library Cooperative Governing Board Meeting Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 11:30am at New River Solid Waste Facility

Present:

Commissioners: James Croft, Channing Dobbs, Chris Dougherty, Cathy Rhoden, Jimmy Tallman, Kenny Thompson. Library Directors: Tricia Wylie

Presiding: Cathy Rhoden
Recording: Tricia Wylie

The meeting was called to order at 11:30am by Chair Cathy Rhoden.

The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. Kenny Thompson motioned to approve; Chris Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

The monthly financial reports were presented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded.  Motion carried.

New Business:

Florida Humanities Grant Approval – Received a check from Florida Humanities for $244.13 to cover travel costs for speaker Eliot Kleinburg. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Received insurance reimbursement check for $1750. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Tricia Wylie requested permission to work remotely part-time. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Chris Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

Other Business:

Koha, the new integrated library system software used to manage the library’s collection and patrons is set to go live on July 17. Staff from all 3 libraries are scheduled to attend training at BCPL with a Koha instructor May 23-25. Inventory at BCPL is scheduled for may 15-17. UCPL inventory was completed earlier this year. Marsie Montomery, children’s outreach, will wrap up this school year’s preschool outreach program this month. She will resume again in the fall. Firewall equipment at UCPL and ETPL is being updated.

Meeting adjourned 11:50am.

September 21, 2023 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous meeting (Action item)
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements (Action item)
  5. Comments from the public
  6. New Business
    1. FY22 Audit Presentation with Powell & Jones (Action item)
    2. FY24 Budget Presentation (Action item)
    3. New strategic plan (Action item)
    4. Staff development fund change request (Action item) Priti-master’s complete, Bennett-master’s in progress, Tennille-Bachelor’s in progress. Increase to 6k/year, allow, textbook expenses, allow pre-completion reimbursement.
  7. Other Business
    1. Patron policy amendment Action item temp cards $12/year from $6/year and good at issuing library only
    2. Continued part-time remote work request 30% remote max (Action item)
    3. Accept state aid grant funds for $323680 (Action item)
    4. Extend office lease for 2 years at $990/month? (Action item)
      8. Adjourn

September 21, 2023 Minutes

Minutes for the New River Public Library Cooperative Governing Board Meeting
Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 3:00pm at New River Solid Waste Facility

Present:

Commissioners: James Croft, Channing Dobbs, Chris Dougherty, Cathy Rhoden, Kenny Thompson
Library Directors: Mary Brown, Robert Perone, April Teel, Tricia Wylie

Presiding: Cathy Rhoden
Recording: Tricia Wylie

The meeting was called to order at 3:13pm by Chair Cathy Rhoden.

The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. Chris Dougherty motioned to approve; James Croft
seconded. Motion carried.

The monthly financial reports were presented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; James Croft seconded.
Motion carried.

New Business:

FY22 Audit Presentation with Powell and Jones: The FY22 NRPLC audit was clean. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Chris Dougherty seconded. Motion carried.

FY24 Budget Presentation: Tricia Wylie presented the FY24 NRPLC budget. The commission approved a 5% salary increase for Tricia Wylie. Chris Dougherty motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Tricia Wylie presented the new strategic plan. Chris Dougherty motioned to approve; Channing Dobbs seconded. Motion carried.

Tricia Wylie requested a change to the staff development fund to increase yearly staff allotment from $3k/yr to $6k/yr, allow textbook expenses, and allow pre-completion reimbursement. More information was requested before changed to be implemented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; James Croft
seconded. Motion carried.

Other Business:

Patron policy amendment to raise temporary card fee to $12/6months and good at issuing library only.

Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Tricia requested permission to work 30% time remotely. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; James Croft seconded. Motion carried.

Motion to accept state aid grant funds for $323680. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Chris Doughery seconded. Motion carried.

Motion to extend 10 S Lake Ave office lease for 2 additional years at $990/month. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve, Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned 4pm.

November 9, 2023 Agenda

  1. Meeting called to order
  2. Invocation and pledge
  3. Approval of minutes from previous meeting (Action item)
  4. Approval of bills/financial statements (Action item)
  5. New Business
    1. Staff tuition reimbursement policy – motion to allow up to $5250/year per staff. (Action item)
    2. Discuss reimbursement before course completion. (Action item)
    3. Budget amendments
      1. Change yearly health/life insurance to $11k. (Action item)
      2. Change staff development to $15,750 (allows up to 3 employees to receive
        $5,250/year in tuition reimbursement. (Action item)
      3. Change cash balance budgeted forward to $45K. (Action item)
      4. Change library materials – electronic to $25k. (Action item)
  6. Other Business – Percentage of items currently lost. 153,523 total items; 4,194 total items lost = 2.7% total items lost.
  7. Adjourn

November 9, 2023 Minutes

Minutes for the New River Public Library Cooperative Governing Board Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:30am at New River Solid Waste Facility

Present:

Commissioners: Channing Dobbs, Cathy Rhoden, Jimmy Tallman, Kenny Thompson
Library Directors: Mary Brown, Tricia Wylie

Presiding: Cathy Rhoden
Recording: Tricia Wylie

The meeting was called to order at 11:34am by Chair Cathy Rhoden.

The minutes from the previous meeting were presented. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Kenny Thompson seconded.

The monthly financial reports were presented. Jimmy Tallman motioned to approve; Channing Dobbs seconded. Motion carried.

New Business:

Proposal to allow up to $5250 tuition reimbursement per person yearly for NRPLC staff. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve. Kenny Thompson seconded. Motion carried.

Discussion of tuition reimbursement before course completion – decision made that reimbursement will only occur upon course completion with a passing grade. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Jimmy Tallman seconded. Motion carried.

Yearly budget changes: Change yearly health/life insurance budget to $11k. Jimmy Tallman motioned to approve; Channing Dobbs seconded. Motion carried.
Change yearly total staff development fund to $15,750 allowing up to 3 employees to receive $5250 each per year in tuition reimbursement. Jimmy Tallman motioned to approve; Channing Dobbs seconded. Motion carried.

Change cash balance budgeted forward to $450k. Jimmy Tallman motioned to approve; Channing Dobbs seconded. Motion carried.

Change Electronic Library Materials budget to $25k. Channing Dobbs motioned to approve; Jimmy Tallman seconded. Motion carried.

Other Business:

Percentage of items currently lost. The libraries have a total of 153,523 items. 4194 items are currently lost. Total percentage of items lost is 2.7%.

Meeting adjourned 11:52am

Budget Information

FY 2024

FY24 Budget Income

ItemAmount
Grant Revenue-State Aid$ 323,680.00
Bank Account Interest$ 100.00
Miscellaneous Income (Smartpay)$ 300.00
Cash Balance Budgeted Forward$ 450,000.00
Totals ==>$ 774,080.00

FY24 Budget - Expenditures

ItemAmount
Salary - Director$ 63,106.00
Salary & Wages-Other Personnel$ 40,000.00
FICA Taxes$ 10,000.00
Retirement Contributions$ 30,000.00
Health & Life Insurance$ 11,000.00
Worker's Compensation$ 3,000.00
Auditing & Accounting$ 7,700.00
Bank Account Service Charges$ 30.00
Legal & Contractual$ 65,000.00
Postage$ 1,000.00
Travel$ 3,000.00
Communications - ETPL$ 15,000.00
Communications - NRPLC$ 10,000.00
Communications - UCPL$ 15,000.00
Rentals & Leases (Office Rent)$ 10,800.00
Office Utilities$ 2,000.00
Insurance$ 11,000.00
Bldg Repair & Maint$ 2,500.00
Gas & Maintenance - Van$ 2,500.00
Programming Support ($10k/Lib)$ 30,000.00
Staff Development$ 15,750.00
Contingency$ 1,000.00
Office & Misc Supplies$ 15,000.00
Advertising$ 1,000.00
Dues - NRPLC$ 3,300.00
Equipment Over $1,000$ 50,000.00
Miscellaneous Expense$ 1,000.00
Library Materials Print$ 50,000.00
Library Materials Electronic$ 25,000.00
Library Materials-Outreach$ 2,000.00
Equipment Less Than $1,000$ 25,000.00
Budgeted Reserve$ 252,394.00
Totals ==>$ 774,080.00

FY 2023

FY23 - Income

ItemAmount
Grant Revenue-State Aid$ 326,571.00
Bank Account Interest$ 100.00
Miscellaneous Income (Smartpay)$ 300.00
Cash Balance Budgeted Forward$ 582,000.00
TOTALS ==>$ 908,971.00

FY23 - Expenditures

ItemAmount
Salary - Director$ 60,102.00
Salary & Wages-Other Personnel$ 60,000.00
FICA Taxes$ 14,000.00
Retirement Contributions$ 32,000.00
Health & Life Insurance$ 9,000.00
Worker's Compensation$ 5,000.00
Auditing & Accounting$ 7,700.00
Bank Account Service Charges$ 30.00
Legal & Contractual$ 75,000.00
Postage$ 1,000.00
Travel$ 5,000.00
Communications - ETPL$ 15,000.00
Communications - NRPLC$ 15,000.00
Communications - UCPL$ 15,000.00
Rentals & Leases (Office Rent)$ 10,800.00
Office Utilities$ 3,000.00
Insurance$ 7,140.00
Bldg Repair & Maint$ 5,000.00
Gas & Maintenance - Van$ 4,000.00
Programming Support ($10k/Lib)$ 30,000.00
Staff Development$ 6,000.00
Contingency$ 1,000.00
Office & Misc Supplies$ 15,000.00
Advertising$ 1,000.00
Dues - NRPLC$ 3,300.00
Equipment Over $1,000$ 50,000.00
Miscellaneous Expense$ 1,000.00
Library Materials Print$ 50,000.00
Library Materials Electronic$ 40,000.00
Library Materials-Outreach$ 2,000.00
Equipment Less Than $1,000$ 25,000.00
Budgeted Reserve$ 340,899.00
Totals ==>$ 908,971.00

FY 2022

FY22 - Income

ItemAmount
Grant Revenue-State Aid$ 324,957.00
Bank Account Interest$ 100.00
Miscellaneous Income (Smartpay)$ 300.00
Cash Balance Budgeted Forward$ 500,000.00
Totals==>$ 825,357.00

FY22 - Expenditures

ItemAmount
Salary - Director$ 58,350.00
Salary & Wages-Other Personnel$ 30,000.00
FICA Taxes$ 7,000.00
Retirement Contributions$ 16,000.00
Health & Life Insurance$ 9,000.00
Worker's Compensation$ 3,310.00
Auditing & Accounting$ 7,250.00
Bank Account Service Charges$ 30.00
Legal & Contractual$ 60,000.00
Postage$ 2,000.00
Travel$ 5,000.00
Communications - ETPL$ 15,000.00
Communications - NRPLC$ 15,000.00
Communications - UCPL$ 15,000.00
Rentals & Leases (Office Rent)$ 12,000.00
Insurance$ 7,140.00
Bldg Repair & Maint$ 5,000.00
Gas & Maintenance -Van$ 4,000.00
Programming Support ($Sk/Lib)$ 15,000.00
Staff Development$ 6,000.00
Contingency$ 1,000.00
Office & Misc Supplies$ 10,000.00
Advertising$ 1,000.00
Dues - NRPLC$ 4,000.00
Equipment Over $1,000$ 50,000.00
Miscellaneous Expense$ 1,000.00
Library Materials Print$ 35,000.00
Library Materials Electronic$ 40,000.00
Library Materials-Outreach$ 5,000.00
Equipment Less Than $1,000$ 25,000.00
LSTA Makerspace Grant Exp
Budgeted Reserve$ 361,277.00
Totals==>$ 825,357.00

View the New River Public Library Cooperative’s Annual Financial Report at Department of Financial Services (required by Section 218.32(1)(g), Florida Statutes).

This project has been funded under the provisions of the State Aid to Libraries Grant program, administered by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.