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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 02/12/1998LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting - February 12,1998 6:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams Chairperson: Jack Steele Phone: 225-0877 (h) A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Thursday, February 12, 1998 in the Ben Delatour Room of the Fort Collins Public Library. The following Library Board members were present: Bill Cook, Edward Jakubauskas, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Jack Steele, Jacqueline Wallace, and M. Madeleine Wawro. Library Board Member Absent: Al Stone City Staff Members Present: John Fischbach, Mike Powers, Brenda Cams, Marty Heffernan, Lu Benke, Leslie Patterson, and Marjorie Teklits Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland Friends of the Library Liaison: Catherine Janonis The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Acting Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the January 8, 1998 Regular Meeting stand as written. Library Board Chairperson, Jack Steele, said the Library has just experienced an enormous milestone with the opening of the new Harmony Library. He asked City Manager John Fischbach how he sees the health of the library system in Fort Collins and where he things it might be headed. John Fischbach felt the library system is 100% better now that Harmony Library has opened. He said the Mayor, Council, and all involved did a fantastic job of getting it built. He also said it is exciting that land acquisition and/or design for a new library is in the approved budget and he distributed copies of a map showing the Downtown Civic Center Master Plan which includes a possible site for a new library. Chris Kneeland also felt the library system has been improved by the opening of Harmony Library, but it has never quite been in the best state it could be. She, too, felt that Eric Reno, Mike Powers, and Linda Saferite did a tremendous job in getting the Harmony Library project together, but there is interest and a need for more. Council sentiment appears to look favorably at a new main library as part of a downtown Civic Center, but it will be a decision of whether or not we want one main library or a series of library branches. John Fischbach said Council has not had that discussion, and no decisions have been made. John Fischbach said that from the City's financial standpoint, we are still struggling to fund Harmony Library properly. There will always be a need for libraries, but we don't know what the library of tomorrow will look like. The question is if we going to need main libraries in the future or should there be branches which offer equivalent services, perhaps even contain special collections. These are concerns to look at when balancing the budget. Library staff have previously said they could support a branch system only if it were properly funded. In response to the Library Board's unanimous decision to want a new main library as part of the downtown Civic Center, John Fischbach felt that, if the option of a new branch is not allowed in the discussion, there is a risk of having to redo the process. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald asked what the difference would be in having one large main library and a branch or having three branch libraries. John Fischbach said the difference would be in how they were equipped; the cost of transferring materials is also another factor to consider. He also said it is important for the Library Board and City Council to come to a sense of which way to proceed. He encouraged Board members to communicate with Chris Kneeland so that she can pursue with Council who make the policies carried out by staff. Bill Cook said without a library, you don't have a good city; a library is a core of the city, and it doesn't make sense to spread branches to various parts of the city. When asked by Bill Cook how the library rates compared to street issues, John Fischbach stated that the library would be a "T' on scale of 1-10 when compared to street repairs which would be a " 5". He did not know offhand the per capita funding for street repair vs. per capita funding for the library. Jack Steele inquired about the use of leftover revenue from last year, and John Fischbach responded that it came from fees collected and must be spent in these areas; it will be used for such things as growth management, transportation, health and safety. Ed Jakubauskas asked how City Council views the function of the Library Board and what they are looking for in the Board's recommendations. Chris Kneeland responded by saying they look to the Boards for advice and for support; they rely on advisory boards to advise on issues they generate, to provide input, ideas, and feedback. John Fischbach added that, although the Boards act in an advisory capacity to Council, he reads all correspondence sent between them. He said a more formalized process by which Boards and Commissions relate to Council may be needed. Chris Kneeland added that they are working on a process to separate policy decisions from day- to-day issues to make clearer which decisions Council needs to be concerned about and which staff should be concerned about. 2 Chris Kneeland gave the Library Board credit for presenting extremely valid information and good reports. She also said there is a need to continue to look at partnerships so that the City can obtain the kind of library it needs. John Fischbach stated he is not exploring the idea of a library district at this time. He believes City Council has dealt with the question of additional funding for Harmony Library. It is a matter that needs revisiting after usage and other statistics are obtained. Regarding the option of a southeast branch instead of a new main library, Jacqueline Wallace questioned where this idea came from; she felt the Harmony Library serves that corridor of the City, and it is the north end of town that needs a new main library. Mike Powers stated the intent was to create a process by identifying two types of sites to present for public outreach, then present to City Council with the hope that all agree on the same option. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald asked John Fischbach what he would need to convince him that a new main library is needed; he responded by saying a study of the issues involved. He would also like to know Hewlett-Packard's vision for the future —if everything would be electronic, a partnership with them would be incredible. He said he really doesn't know at this time what the community wants or needs as far as library service and that, if it turns out we are on the path to a new main library, he would not be against it. Madeline Wawro stated that the Board is asking for a commitment to support the option of a new main library, and John Fischbach said that at present it is important to discuss all the options. Library Board members thanked John Fischbach and Chris Kneeland for attending the meeting and for sharing their thoughts. Ed Jakubauskas said that he is pleased that the Board is united on the idea of a new main library and that there is a need to develop a comfortable working relationship with City Council and to develop teamwork with the City government and Council. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald said it might be helpful if Council could meet with the various Boards on a rotating basis and that ongoing dialog is needed. CORRESPONDENCE A check in the amount of $9,980.25 representing income distribution from the Library Fund has been received from the Community Foundation for the purchase of library materials. In addition, the anonymous donor has given another $100,000 for the ZINC program to be divided equally between the Fort Collins Public Library and the Poudre School District. Letters from the School District and the Library confirming the proposed use of the money have been submitted to the Community Foundation. 3 REPORTS A. Library Director - Brenda Cams Approximately 3,000 people visited Harmony Library on opening day, January 31. Pizza Hut/Winter Enterprises generously provided 100 pizzas and pop and was among the donors of prizes and give-aways for opening day. Although a complete set of statistics have not as yet been compiled, there were a comparable number of check-outs at both the Main and Harmony Library that day, and there doesn't appear to be any decrease in load at the Main Library. It is predicted that business at Harmony will continue to increase and far surpass that of the Mini Library. Harmony staff are learning how to process student reserves as well as trying ways to streamline procedures, such as using an honor system rather than using staff time to do sign-ups and to take IDs for the Internet. Jack Steele asked that the Board be given circulation statistics at the March 12 meeting. Approximately 270 people attended the Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours" event at Harmony Library on January 151h. Many compliments were received both for the library and the new building. Brenda Cams announced the promotions of Lu Benke to Lead Children's Librarian and Leslie Patterson to Lead Reference and Adult Services Librarian. Staff are continuing to look at ways to structure work schedules to provide coverage at both libraries. Rotary READ Fort Collins has donated three children's books to the library in honor of Bill Cook's many years' of dedicated service. The Library is very proud to have him as a member of the Board and also very grateful for the wonderful donations from Rotary READ. Three books were also donated by Rotary READ in founding member Jim Bragonier's honor as he is retiring from the committee. Brenda Cams said she has been meeting with instrumental members of the business community to help build the image of what the library can do for them. She was interviewed by "Today's Business" in Loveland and discussed ways to partner with them. Brenda also met with Sharon Knight, who is in charge of fundraising at Front Range Community College, regarding donor opportunities. She asked Board members to let her know of people who may be interested in serving on a Library Fundraising Committee in conjunction with Front Range Community College efforts. B. Friends of the Library - Catherine Janonis The Friends made approximately $300 from the sale of used books and new book bags at their Harmony gift shop during the Library's opening weekend. Members of the Friends are available to help the library with questionnaires or surveys. 0 OLD BUSINESS A. "Into the 21" Century" and "Long Range Plan for City Council" documents Further discussion of these documents was postponed until the March 12" meeting. B. Follow-up on Library Site Selection Criteria - Mike Powers Mike Powers distributed copies of the Request For Proposal for future sites of the City's five capital projects and explained that the main point is building community as opposed to situating independent facilities. Proposals are due by 3 p.m., March 4. Sub- committees for each of the facilities will review and rate the sites and bring their recommendations to the Boards. The Library's sub -committee will consist of three Board members (Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Madeleine Wawro (Chair), and Jacqueline Wallace), Brenda Cams and another Library staff member, two members of the Friends of the Library (Jean Dietemann and Audrey Ryder) and a member of the Downtown Business Association. The sub -committee will meet at 10 a.m., March T" in the Harmony Library conference room to review and rank the site proposals according to a point schedule. The Library Board will be voting on the Library sub -committee's recommendations at the March 12" meeting. Staff and Board members will be asked to attend a Community Open House to review the sites and criteria on April 2. The Library Board will review the community input from the open house at their April 9" meeting in order to make a recommendation. The City Manager will then make a recommendation for City Council decision on May 19". OTHER: Jack Steele asked Library Board members if they had any changes to the Annual Report or Work Plan to submit them at the next meeting. Agenda items for the March 12" meeting will include the Board's "Capital Improvements Plan" and "Into the 2 1 " Century" documents, a visit from Library Fund Committee Chair Jack Schanz to discuss a foundation trust and discussion of the Library's Sub -Committee Site Evaluation findings. The March 121" meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the new Harmony Library. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marjorie Teklits Library Secretary 5