February 26, 2026: Board of Library Trustees Governance Committee Meeting Minutes

Call to Order and Roll Call

The Governance Committee called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.  

Present: Megan Butman (Board Trustee, Governance Chair), Mika Yamamoto (Board Trustee, Governance Chair), Susanne Fairfax (Library Board Vice President), Virginia Bloom (Library Board President), Annie Wilkinson (Library Board Trustee)

Absent: Colin Bird-Martinez (Library Board Trustee), Kristina Rogers (Library Board Trustee)

Also attending: Elsworth Carman (Executive Director), Suzy Antell (Deputy Director), Alexandra Skinner (Director of Communications), Leigh Tarullo (Director of Collections & Technology), Mallory Edgar, Fifth Star Collective 

Observing: Billy Treece (Director of Finance & Human Resources), Barbara Fitzgerald (Manager of Collection Services)

Public commentators: none

Public Comments

No public comments were received in person or in writing for this meeting. 

Review of Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Meeting Agenda

Mallory reviewed the agenda for this meeting, summarizing the work done in September at the Board Retreat and the goals for this meeting. This included reviewing SOAR exercise: Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results, and Bylaws of the Board of Trustees of Oak Park Public Library, Illinois Public Library Standards: Governance & Administration, and the OPPL Board 2026 Strategic Goal Brainstorming Worksheet. 

Board Strategic Goals: Paired Discussion 

Small groups formed to discuss goals aligned with the Board’s strategic plan for Learning, Engagement, Stewardship, and Anti-Racism. 

Board Strategic Goals: Large Group Discussion

Mallory led discussion of ideas brainstormed in the discussion of the 2026 Board Strategic Goals, including Goal Prioritization & Refinement. 

Summary and Next Steps

An agreement was reached for another Governance Committee meeting to address Action Planning. 

Adjournment 

The Governance Committee adjourned the meeting at 6:06 pm.