Summer planning underway at Harvey library

After months of cancelled or delayed meetings, the Harvey Public Library board met on May 14 with a near-full quorum, missing only trustee Chapelle Hooks during the session. 

Treasurer Felicia Powell-Johnson presented a consolidated financial picture showing approximately $2,967,836.23 dollars across accounts. The board later approved March and April bills totaling $19,160.41 dollars, though several trustees briefly questioned how certain expenses were categorized and whether reimbursements were properly documented.

According to trustee Charwana Morgan — who made her first in-person appearance at a meeting amid her severe medical condition — the bill stated reimbursement to library administrator Carol Morris’ personal card. Morris clarified that it was a reimbursement for the purchase of a cash register.

A key item listed on the agenda, the anticipated discussion of the fiscal year 2027 budget, did not occur during the meeting. Instead, the board indicated the matter would be postponed to a finance committee session. President Anthony McCaskill said the finance committee would take up the matter in June and prepare materials for a future presentation.

Programming discussions followed, with Morgan pressing Morris on summer offerings for children. Morris stated that programming efforts were underway, including workshops and hands-on activities designed to attract youth participation. 

“On May 30, we do have a game day for our children. They can participate in games and [win] prizes,” said Morris. She shared that she had ordered materials for teaching children various arts and crafts. “We’re reaching out to the community trying to pull kids back into the library,” Morris said. “We also want to start a reading program.”

The board also approved meeting minutes from a special meeting on March 25, where it violated the Open Meetings Act by not sharing those meeting details with the public or trustees Morgan and Hooks.

Documentary filming in Harvey

Harvey resident and author of “Shattered But Not Broken” Julian Rucker requested the board to approve a filming request at the library for a documentary he is filming with Emerging Light Media, based on the book.

Rucker shared a book summary with trustees, which is based on his story with a medical misdiagnosis and subsequent legal advocacy. “One of the things they wanted to do was use the library as a kind of legal hearing or courtroom type of setting,” said Rucker. The library played a meaningful role in his personal story, he said. Rucker already shared the board’s contact information with the production team and expected follow-up communication from producers.