HANNIBAL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

of October 27, 2026

 

The Hannibal Free Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting in the Magazine Room on 2nd Floor at Hannibal Free Public Library, 200 South Fifth Street, Hannibal, MO 63401.

 

Present were Kevin Knickerbocker, Kathy Riney, Raymond Lee, Tom Prater, Harry Graves, Laura Judlowe, and Joy McPike

 

Also present were Caitlin Greathouse, Andrea Reinwald, and AmberSue Cooley

 

Absent were Jessica Gilmore and Linda Spaun

 

Kevin Knickerbocker chaired the meeting and called it to order at 12:00.

 

Kathy Riney made the motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 15th, 2026. Kevin Knickerbocker supported the motion. Motion carried.

 

Caitlin Greathouse explained the claims for September and the first half of October with salaries totaling $66,533.73 with credit card claims in the amount of $2,915.96, Capital projects with a total of $6,126.68 for the completion of the laptop lab, and other claims totaling $16,941.48. Joy McPike made a motion to approve the claims in the amount of $92,517.85 for September and the first half of October. Kevin Knickerbocker supported. Motion carried.

 

Moved by Laura Judlowe and supported by Joy McPike to accept the Investment Report for September 2026. Motion carried.

 

The City Financial Reports for September 2026 were included in the Financial Packet.

 

The Transfer Recommendation was distributed. Moved by Harry Graves and supported by Kathy Riney to accept the transfer recommendation showing no transfer. Motion carried.

 

Under Correspondence, Caitlin Greathouse shared a Resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives commending Willie Strong for his 30 years of service to Hannibal Free Public Library.

 

No Public Comment.

 

Raymond Lee reported for the Personnel Committee. He distributed the Director’s Evaluation form to the present Trustees and reported the timeline.  

 

Caitlin Greathouse reported that Jessica Gilmore would be resigning from the Board of Trustees and it would leave a vacancy in the Personnel Committee. After discussion, it was decided Tom Prater would be appointed to the vacant position.

 

There were no further questions about the Director’s written report beyond what was presented.

 

The Collaborative Summer Library Program Promotional Grant was awarded to Hannibal Free Public Library in the amount of $276.21. Moved by Harry Graves and supported by Kevin Knickerbocker to permit Caitlin Greathouse authority to accept the grant on behalf of Hannibal Free Public Library. Motion carried.

 

Caitlin Greathouse was instructed to reach out to Mayor McCoy regarding appointment to the Hannibal Free Public Library Board of Trustees and to prospective trustees from those whom have contacted members regarding any vacancies. She was instructed to bring potential members to the November meeting to fill Jessica Gilmore’s vacancy. It was discussed a slate of officers would need to be have first reading at the November meeting and 2nd reading with installation at the December meeting in the vacant Vice President position. Tom Prater was nominated for this office.

 

AmberSue Cooley was introduced to the Board of Trustees. It was announced she is the recipient of the Missouri Library Association’s Library Employee of the Year award for 2026. She gave an overview of her duties as Children’s Programming Associate 2. She explained her goals of community outreach, inclusion, and creating lifelong readers through programming for children and teens. She was commended for her achievements.

 

An update on Kanopy was given. Staff had utilized the platform on a variety of devices. It was discussed the consensus was a positive experience for all and Sheila Dennehy would move forward with implementing the new resource and would make it available to the public within a month. No motion necessary.

 

Under new business the following was read:

Kevin Knickerbocker made the motion via email to close Hannibal Free Public Library considering the scope of the rewiring project, safety of the staff, safety of the public, and the outage of connectivity on October 19th, 20th, and 21st and to postpone the Hannibal Free Public Library Board of Trustees until October 27th.  Tom Prater supported the motion. A roll-call vote was taken and the votes were as follows: Kevin Knickerbocker – aye, Tom Prater – aye, Joy McPike – aye, Harry Graves – aye, Laura Judlowe – aye, Raymond Lee – aye, Jessica Gilmore – aye, Kathy Riney – aye, Linda Spaun – aye. Motion carried.

 

Kevin Knickerbocker made the decision as permitted under the Building Closure Policy to instruct staff to stay home on an “On Call” basis during the project. Harry Graves made the motion to pay staff their scheduled shifts for the three closure days of October 19th, October 20th, and October 21st. Laura Judlowe supported the motion. Motion carried.

 

The surplus list for October 2026 was distributed. Kathy Riney made the motion to surplus all items listed and permit staff to dispose of or move on all items. Kevin Knickerbocker supported the motion. Motion carried.

 

Kevin Knickerbocker made the motion to adjourn. Harry Graves supported the motion. Motion carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:29 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Caitlin Greathouse, Acting Secretary

 

Accepted,

 

 

 

Kevin Knickerbocker, President