MINUTES ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE HICKORY COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
The Regular Meeting of the Hickory County Library Board was held on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10 am in the Hickory County Library Local History Room, at the Hickory County Library, 18376 New Hermitage Drive, Hermitage, Missouri, 65668.
President, Shelly Aubuchon called the meeting to order at 10 a.m.
Attendance was taken via the expense voucher with the following present: President, Shelly Aubuchon, Vice-President, Ernest Jenkins; Secretary. Eleanora Smith; Library Administrator, Stacy Coulsell; Treasurer, Brenda Charles and Trustee Kevin Bolling.
The agenda was read. Ernest Jenkins made a motion to accept the agenda as is Kevin Boling seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
After Eleanora Smith brought a few corrections to the November minutes to the board’s attention, Ernest Jenkins made a motion to accept the October minutes with the corrections. Kevin Bolling seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Library Administrator Stacy Coulsell presented her monthly Administrator’s Report. The annual Statistical Report was submitted. The library is once again accepting book donations. The annual Food For Fines forgiveness program is under way. There are still free books for kids to be given away. There are plans to present a Mahjong club at the library. A puzzle exchange is to be scheduled for January. Another crochet class is still being planned. The preschool story hour continues. The library will also be doing another winter punch card book giveaway with prizes. A job fair is to be held at the library next week. The library’s newest employee is Rebecca Ralls. Alice Kugler of the Matilda Polk Campbell Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution has presented the Library with three juvenile books, The Poppy Lady by Barbara Walsh, Twenty One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld, and One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale.
Please check with and follow the Hickory County Library Facebook page for upcoming events.
New library cards were reported at 13 new cards with a total of 176 year to date. It is recorded that there was a total circulation for the month of November at 2,357.
The balance for December 2025 was $40.249.66. Ernest Jenkins moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented, Kevin Bolling seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
President’s Report was submitted by Shelly Aubuchon suggesting that the library might consider an adult reading program. She also noted that the Friends of the Library do an outstanding job in the role they play by raising funds to benefit the library. Shelly also said a few words in regards to the library’s departed friend Cindy Mudd, in that she was a quarky, cheerful and delightful person to be around. Adding that Cindy will be missed. She thanked Stacy Coulsell for her role in making the library a gathering place, a people place.
Under Library Association: The annual meeting was held earlier on December 8, 2025.
Under Friends of the Library – The Friends of the Library were also having their meeting December 8, 2025, at which time they were going to be drawing the winners of the KC Chiefs and Dr Seuss themed baskets that were raffled off. Another planned fund raiser is the Light Up The Lake display for December 11th were the Friends of the Library will be working the gate. They also have a display.
Under Old Business: Pittsburg took one of the little libraries and it can be accessed at the Community Building there.
The library is still searching for one more new home somewhere at a location in Hickory County, for a “Lil Library.” The “Lil Library” and the books are provided by the Hickory County Library. This is a book swap type of library. You take a book; you bring a book to swap.
Under New Business – Ernest Jenkins made a motion to move funds from the contingency fund to cover insurance costs. Eleanora Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Eleanora Smith made a motion to approve the 2026 Fiscal Year Budget. Brenda Charles seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Ernest Jenkins made a motion to approve a cost of living raise for library employees. Eleanora Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously
Eleanora Smith made a motion to approve a cost of living increase for the Library Administrator. Ernest Jenkins seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The library will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day December 24th and 25th. It will reopen on Friday December 26th. The library will also be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
The next meeting is to be on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 10:00am
Having no further business and hearing no public comment, Ernest Jenkins moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 am, Kevin Bolling seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanora L Smith, Secretary