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, July 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hickory County Library Genealogy Room, at the Hickory County Library, 18376 New Hermitage Drive, Hermitage, Missouri, 65668.
President, Shelly Aubuchon called the meeting to order at 10:00 am
Attendance was taken via the expense voucher with the following present: President Shelly Aubuchon, Vice-President Ernest Jenkins, Treasurer Brenda Charles, Secretary Eleanora Smith, Trustee Kevin Boling and Library Administrator, Stacy Coulsell.
The minutes of the last board meeting and today’s agenda were read. Brenda Charles made a motion to accept the agenda, Ernest Jenkins seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Ernest Jenkins made a motion to accept last month’s minutes, Kevin Boling seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Library Administrator Stacy Coulsell presented her monthly Administrator’s Report as follows: At 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 22nd the What If Puppets will perform at Hermitage Summer School. At 2 p.m. Friday, July 24th ventriloquist Doug Mickan will be performing at the library. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28th a professional period costume actress portraying Harriet Tubman will be presented at the library. There are two more weeks of the summer reading program left. On Wednesdays they are reading “The Winter of Red Snow” by Kristiana Gregory. It is a historical fiction book from the Dear America series, told through the diary of 11-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart during the harsh winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the program.
The library is currently taking book donations. Paintings by Colleen Roberts and sculptures by Vicky Gray continue to be on display in the library’s community room and are for sale. Ancestry.com (a genealogy research tool) continues to be available in the library. The Happy McReaders program will run through September 30, 2026. It is a summer reading initiative where children can earn a free Happy Meal by reading 10 books. By picking up a punch card at the library and getting it marked, kids receive a tasty incentive to stay engaged with reading.
The library is currently weeding the Children’s books. The Audio and Adult nonfiction are being scheduled to be weeded as well. In the fall several programs are being planned. An adult book bingo is being planned for August.
Ernest Jenkins moved to accept the Administrator’s Report as given. Brenda Charles seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
New cards, children’s fiction and nonfiction along with interlibrary loans, use of the internet and reference questions were up over other months this year. New library cards for June were reported at 23 new cards with a total of 3,183 library services used.
The balance as of July 20, 2026 was $115,166.95. Eleanora Smith moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented, Ernest Jenkins seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
President’s Report: Shelly Aubuchon shared that the streaming service Kanopy is easy and fun to use. She thanked Stacy and her staff for their continued service to the public.
Under Library Association: Corporate filing is due August 31st.
Under Friends of the Library – On August 10th the Friends of the Library are planning to establish our last “Little Library” at Café 254 in the Galmey area. The “Little Library” and the books are provided by the Hickory County Library. This is a book swap type of library. You can take a book or bring a book to swap.
Under Old Business: Library Board appointments were assessed and the Board is pleased to announce that Shelly Aubuchon will continue to represent the Board. The balance of the Equalization monies has been targeted for four new computers. Kanopy (a movie streaming service) is live and available through the library.
Under New Business – The quarterly balance report and the annual meeting/tax rate is being scheduled before the end of August.
The next meeting is to be on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 10:00am
Having no further business and hearing no public comment, Brenda Charles moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 am, Ernest Jenkins seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanora L Smith, Secretary