Library Board

Library Board 2020

Meetings

Second Wednesday of each month

Northfield Public Library
210 Washington St.
Northfield, MN 55057

Important documents

View the Library Board Bylaws.

Agendas and minutes

City Meeting Archives Opens in new window
The City meeting archives contain agendas, minutes, handouts and additional information.

  1. City Meeting Portal Opens in new window
    The City meeting portal allows you to view live streamed meetings and agendas with clickable links.

Members

Name Title Term expiration Phone number
Richard Crouter Member December 31, 2022 507-645-6592
Thelma Estrada Member December 31, 2021 956-414-5525
Cathy Oehmke
 Vice Chair December 31, 2021 507-301-3636
Elizabeth Yang Member December 31, 2022 970-212-6393
Bradley Schaffner Member December 31, 2020 507-301-5863
William "Bill" Johnson Member December 31, 2021 507-663-0169
Vacant Member December 31, 2020 Not available
Mason Randall Chair December 31, 2020 512-293-7932
Margit Zsolnay Member December 31, 2022 218-355-0930
William North Friends' Liaison   507-645-7807
Grace Casson Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Max Gordon-Mercer Youth Representative (voting member) 2019-2020 school year Not available
James Shuffleton Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Teresa Jensen City Staff Liaison (non-voting)   507-645-1801
Judy Schotzko SELCO Rep.    
Becky Novotny Clerical Liaison   507-645-1805

Overview

The City of Northfield Library Board makes recommendations regarding the library administration, policies, annual budget, operations, and maintenance of all library facilities. The board monitors and advocates for legislation concerning public libraries. The board also cooperates with other public officials and boards to maintain positive community relations.

Special meetings are occasionally called.

For transaction of business at any meeting, a majority of members constitute a quorum.

2019 accomplishments

  • Hosted the second annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff celebration on September 14 with more than 1,100 attendees—a bilingual program of music, speakers, artists, dancers and poets made for a lively event
  • Poet Laureate Rob Hardy secured his second SEMAC grant to help fund the City’s Poet Laureate initiative; the library and Content Books hosted poetry programming throughout year 
  • Transitioned The Link Center, serving new residents in Northfield, and hosted by HCI, to the library—work includes phone and walk-in services, as well as a monthly newsletter
  • Continued the teen fine forgiveness initiative in October, forgiving $250 in fines
  • Started a fine forgiveness initiative for adults, forgiving $1,649 in fines in one week in April; this was the first fine forgiveness for adults conducted in at least seven years
  • Created a “Comfort Station” in our teen area consisting of a container filled with practical needed items for teens, such as toothbrushes, deodorant and tampons for kids in need; similarly, the children’s desk now caries a variety of disposable diapers for caretakers needing diapers for children
  • Approved changes to library policies including the Circulation Policy that established a “Welcome Card” for patrons with no proven address to eliminate a barrier for homeless patrons to use the library

Membership requirements

The board consists of nine members as determined by the City Council. Each member serves a three-year term. Terms are staggered for continuity. There is a consecutive three-term limit. Members do not receive monetary compensation.

Since the cooperative library system serves Rice County residents, as well as those who live within the city limits, state law allows for up to four members of the board to be Rice County residents. Dakota County residents, unless living within the Northfield city limits, are not eligible for the board, as they are served by a different library system.

The mayor recommends applicants to the City Council based on their interest in maintaining a good public library for the use of citizens of Northfield, along with willingness to serve and background.

Applying

  1. Apply for a board, commission, or task force

    Applications are also available at:

    City Hall
    801 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

    Northfield Public Library
    210 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057