Metropolitan Library Service Agency
Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Friday, November 13, 2025
Sumner Library, Minneapolis
10:00am-12:00pm
Advisory Board Members/Representatives Present:
Anoka: Colleen Haubner Ramsey: Pang Yang
Carver: Jodi Edstrom Saint Paul: Maureen Hartman
Dakota: Jen Reichert-Simpson Scott: Jake Grussing
Hennepin: Scott Duimstra Washington: Jacquie Kramer
Staff Present: Abigail Dillon, Kathleen James, Mona Scott, and Sherry Wichitchu
I. Call to order
Chair Edstrom called the meeting to order at 10:00am.
II. Introductions and Welcome
Rachel Riggs is attending the meeting virtually to present about World Education.
III. Consent Agenda
a) Approval of agenda
b) Approval of meeting minutes (October 3, 2025)
Motion to approve the agenda and meeting minutes by Haubner. Second by Grussing.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – aye
DCL – aye SPL – aye
Motion carried.
IV. Discussion/Action Items
a) Presentation by Rachel Riggs from World Education, a continuation of our collaborative spending discussion
Riggs presented about World Education’s two current literacy programs nationwide. The first is a national strategy funded by IMLS that involves leading a national, multi-partner project to create a research-backed framework and toolkit for all libraries. The second is through direct support and funded by the Mellon Foundation. The intent is to provide customized technical assistance and coaching to a diverse cohort of eight libraries to enhance their local services involving adult literacy. Riggs described some of the library projects, which includes the development of a digital literacy class, a class for English language learners who are job seekers, a workforce development landing page, and a career development program.
Wichitchu asked how World Education could help with MELSA’s collaborative project, and Riggs mentioned that they could do an in-depth needs assessment to come up with an action plan. They could also help provide customized technical assistance that is tailored to the specific needs of each library, which they can utilize their framework and toolkit from the IMLS project. The toolkit will roll out in the spring. It’s possible MELSA could be involved in the co-design process. World Education can offer partnership support and a connector or network.
Riggs mentioned the role of the library as a convener, and some of the library directors brought this up as a focus in their work as well.
The directors reiterated the need for autonomy and being able to customize the initiative to their own library’s needs, and not creating a new program. The idea is to enhance and expand existing efforts.
Wichitchu suggested they may need more information from World Education about their capacity for all ages of literacy and their local knowledge base. She will email Riggs and provide an update at the December meeting The group clarified that the focus for this collaborative project will be literacy, and each member library system will decide which direction they want to take this in, under the umbrella of literacy. They need help with direction and getting things off the ground.
b) Presentation by Verena Getahun from State Library Services, about recommendations for annual report changes
A couple of years ago, a change was made to the Public Library Survey about how e-resources were counted. They were separated into two separate groups: circulating e-materials (such as e-books and e-audiobooks) and electronic collections (such as databases). State Library Services is looking at the data from this survey in three areas: what the libraries are spending on their collections, the size of the collections, and then how they are being used. At the federal level, the questions that are asked about e-materials have changed to more yes or no questions and they are no longer asking about number of copies of e-materials. The question from State Library Services is whether they should make some of these changes at the state level as well.
Electronic collection usage has historically been difficult to track on a consistent basis, so State Library Services is proposing not collecting that data any longer. They would like to make the total statewide usage of eBooksMN and ELM more accessible. They would also like to broaden the reporting of e-book expenditures to include all circulating e-material expenditures. Lastly, they would like to discontinue reporting of e-resource holdings. The library directors were supportive of these changes. Getahun will report to CRPLSA about her meetings with all the regional systems and State Library Services will make changes to the report based on the feedback they have received.
c) Proposed 2026 Advisory Board meeting schedule
The proposed 2026 meeting schedule was distribute in the meeting packet.
Motion to approve the proposed 2026 Advisory Board meeting schedule by Reichert Simpson. Second by Duimstra.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – aye
DCL – aye SPL – aye
Motion carried.
V. Reports
a) Updates from CRPLSA
Wichitchu and Maggie Snow will be presenting the e-book legislation update next week at the joint board meeting.
Next week, MELSA has a new Community Relations Manager starting, and her name is Jennifer Baker.
Edstrom adjourned the meeting at 12:00pm.