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, October 20, 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. Trustee Kevin Bolling was absent.
The agenda was read. Brenda Charles made a motion to accept the agenda as is and Ernest Jenkins seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Ernest Jenkins made a motion to accept the September minutes with Brenda Charles seconding. The motion carried unanimously.
Library Administrator Stacy Coulsell presented her monthly Administrator’s Report. She is continuing to work on the fiscal reports. The preschool story is proceeding along with two groups for a total of 40 rambunctious preschool children in attendance. The beginning crochet class by Jody Wheeler was a success with 12 students in attendance making pumpkin key chains. Jody may return for a Christmas craft. An art exhibit by local artist, Catherine Hash, has been brought into the library. Medicare/Health Insurance enrollment was offered at the library. The Book Club continues at 1 pm on October 27th with local author D. Lee Waterman presenting his book “Bushwacked, A Tale of the Ozarks in 1880”.
The library is still searching for two new homes for “Lil Libraries” to be placed at locations in Hickory County. 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. An exhibit for a WWII model collection is in the planning stages. Trick or Treat at the Library is scheduled for October 31st from 5-8 pm.
The library is doing a web site evaluation for a possible refreshing makeover.
New library cards were reported at 22 new cards with a total of 149 year to date. It is recorded that there were 756 reference visits to the library with a total circulation for the month of September was 3,019.
The balance as of October 2025 was $58,416.75 Eleanora Smith moved to accept the Financial Reports as presented, Ernest Jenkins seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
In the President’s Report, Shelly commended Stacy Coulsell for bringing to the library, local artist Catherine Hash’s beautiful exhibit. Shelly also commended the Friends of the Library for their book, bake and various items that were for sale along with a raffle for a couple themed baskets of goodies. The Hickory County Library Board want to thank the Friends of the Library for all of their efforts in supporting our library
Under Friends of the Library – The Friends of the Library are still offering for sale, “A Blind Date with a Book”. Each book comes with treats and a hint of what you might get to read. These are being offered for $10 each while supplies last and would make great gifts.
The library will be closed November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day. It will also be closing at noon on Wednesday the 26th and all-day Thursday the 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. It will reopen on Friday the 28th with its regular hours.
Under Old Business – The Holocaust program presented by the Historical Society Meeting with guest speaker Erika Schwartz, was well attended and very captivating.
Under New Business – The quarterly balance report was presented and the preliminary proposed budget for 2026 was presented.
The next meeting is to be on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 10:00am
Having no further business and hearing no public comment, Eleanora Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 am, Shelly Aubuchon seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanora L Smith, Secretary