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, June 15, 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, Eleanora Smith 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: This year’s Hermitage summer school story hour has a patriotic theme. 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. The library is currently taking book donations. Summer schedule includes the ventriloquist Doug Mickan on July 24th and the What If Puppets for July 22nd, this will be in partnership with Hermitage Summer School (they will perform for the summer school students). Paintings by Colleen Roberts and sculptures by Vicky Gray are on display in the library’s community room and are for sale. Ancestry.com (a genealogy research tool) is available in the library. World Trade Press is available in house or online through the library. Hoopla is available as well (it allows you to borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen-your computer, your phone, your car, even your TV.) Libby offers ebooks and audio books as well. All you need is a library card. Our catalog can be accessed online.
In the fall several programs are being planned. A dinosaur themed program and a professional period costume actress portraying Harriet Tubman are already in the works.
Ernest Jenkins moved to accept the Administrator’s Report as given. Brenda Charles seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
New library cards for May were reported at 15 new cards with a total of 2,873 library services used.
The library has received $3,050 in anonymous donations. The balance as of June 15, 2026 was $133,609.44 Eleanora Smith moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented, Ernest Jenkins seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
President’s Report: Shelly Aubuchon thanked Vice President Ernest Jenkins for going above and beyond in his assistance to the library in maintaining the library. She also wanted to thank Donna Smith of the Master Gardeners for the lovely outside floral displays. A big thank you for Library Staff and their continued support to our patrons.
Under Library Association: Nothing new to report.
Under Friends of the Library – They will be rep.resented in this year’s duck race
Under Old Business: the air conditioning, the ceiling, the roof, the handicap door and pipe leak have all been repaired. Kanopy (a movie streaming service) is live and available through the library.
The library is still searching for one more new home somewhere at a location in Hickory County, for a “Little Library”. 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 New Business – Library Board appointments are being assessed. State Aid application is being processed. Filtering software is due by July 31st. The Happy McReaders program will run from June 8 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 next meeting is to be on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 10:00am
Having no further business and hearing no public comment, Brenda Charles moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:35 am, Kevin Boling seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanora L Smith, Secretary