The Cottage Grove Library Board on July 16 approved minutes from its June 18 meeting and spent most of its session reviewing an expanded fall and year‑round programming schedule and operational details for outreach events.

Monica, library staff (programming), told the board the library will continue Thursday morning story times year‑round from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Bakken Park and will run playground “play dates” on Tuesdays from about 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. at Glen Grove, moving indoors to the community room when weather requires. She said the library’s summer story time kickoff drew “35 individuals in attendance” and included multi‑age activities and sensory craft stations.

The programming plan also calls for monthly tween/teen offerings, STEAM activities on Tuesday afternoons in August, a “write your own national park story” event on July 21, ongoing plans for Sensory Santa in mid‑December (tentatively Dec. 13 or 14), and an all‑community read the board expects to schedule after selecting a book within the next week or two.

The board discussed practical steps to build sustained participation. Monica described pilot outreach at Glen Grove, noting limited resident turnout so far but said she hopes consistent scheduling and in‑person presence will draw attention. She said the library purchased roughly $50 in LEGO sets and some magnet tiles for program use and purchased three books; those purchases were reported to Sarah (mentioned in the meeting as a staff contact). Monica said the library will produce flyers and use social media and the village guide for publicity once calendar access issues are resolved.

Board member Cindy announced the library received a $1,000 award from the “Alliance energy community grama” (as reported in the meeting) to support STEAM programming; Cindy said the funds will arrive in about 45 to 60 days and that the board will receive a media kit and acknowledgment instructions.

A substantial portion of discussion centered on a recurring Dungeons & Dragons program requested by community members. Monica said supplies (special dice, play boards) would be a modest, one‑time supply cost—“about $1.50” per session for themed materials in her estimate—while paying a dedicated facilitator (a dungeon master) is the primary budget question. She said she would research facilitation rates and program models used by nearby libraries and, if necessary, would try to learn facilitation herself rather than pay an outside leader.

Board members asked for a cost breakdown and suggested consulting neighboring libraries for rates and program structure. One board member noted the program often expands into multi‑hour evening sessions and can evolve outside library oversight if a paid facilitator runs it; Monica said that is a common pattern she observed in other libraries’ programs.

Operational and marketing matters also came up. Monica reported a temporary technical access problem that delayed posting the full calendar on the public website; she expects August’s calendar to be posted soon and said she will share Canva templates and help set up a board Canva account for recurring flyers. The board also discussed staffing the library’s table at Community Night Out on Aug. 20 and agreed to circulate a volunteer sign‑up so Monica would not staff the event alone.

Formal actions at the meeting were procedural. A motion to approve the June 18 minutes, made by Cindy and seconded by Megan, passed on a voice vote. At the end of the meeting Reagan moved to adjourn, Cindy seconded, and the board voted to adjourn.

Monica and the board said they will return with a budget breakdown for the proposed Dungeons & Dragons sessions, finalize the all‑community read selection, and post the August calendar and flyers once technical access is restored. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Village Hall; the board will not meet in August because of Community Night Out.