HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 01/08/2004w
LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - JANUARY 8, 2004
6:00 P.M.
Council Liaison: Marty Tharp Acting Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams
(Phone 221-6670)
Vice -Chairperson: Ralph Olson
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on January 8, 2004 in the Ben Delatour Room
of the Main Library at 201 Peterson Street. The following Library Board members were present:
Rudy Maes, Don Oehlerts, Ralph Olson, and Melissa Pattison.
Library Board Member Absent:
Council Liaison:
City Staff Members Present:
Friends of the Library Liaison:
Bob, Burns, Mary Robertson, and Joan Scheuerman
Marty Tharp
Brenda Cams and Marjorie Teklits
Lillys Price
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Vice Chairperson, Ralph Olson. Melissa
Pattison moved to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2003 meeting; Rudy Maes seconded
the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Correspondence:
Brenda Cams distributed the latest draft of the Board quarterly newsletter which will be sent to
Council members and made available for Library customers; it provides interesting and
informative facts about the Library.
Brenda reported that she received copies of letters to Melissa Pattison and Bob Burns from the
Boards and Commissions Coordinator concerning their reappointment to the Library Board
through December 31, 2007.
In addition, copies of the January 8`h memo from the Boards and Commissions Coordinator
concerning 2004 Work Plans, including Marty Tharp's comments, were shared with the Board.
A customer complaint concerning the $15 processing fee for her damaged book was shared as
well as the Library Director's response. It was decided that since processing fees for damaged or
lost items were not specifically mentioned in the information brochure, the customer would not
be charged the fee and the brochure revised to mention the fee.
Lastly, a number of customer comments concerning their displeasure at the removal of the
bookdrops have been received. Staff response to these comments is that it is hoped they can be
returned when the current economic situation improves and funds for the boxes are restored to
the Library's budget. Melissa asked if the bookdrops will be returned in 2005, and Brenda said
the City operates under a two-year budget cycle, so the boxes will most likely be out of service
until 2006 unless there is an opportunity to restore them if funds become available.
Revorts/Presentations:
a. Director - Brenda Cams
Brenda reported that discussions of a partnership proposal with Poudre Valley Health
System and Front Range Community College for a southeast branch library are moving
forward. FRCC would be interested in using part of it for a nursing program. Lil Price
asked where funds for books might come from. Brenda said a variety of places, such as,
FRCC for nursing books, PVH for health books, and perhaps the Friends might be
interested in contributing some of the funds they were holding aside for a new main
library which is further out in the future.
City -owned space may be available to house Technical Services staff as well as sorting
space for the Friends, and details are being discussed. This is a very timely opportunity
as the leased space on Remington is up for renewal.
To better assist our Spanish-speaking customers, some Library staff members have been
taking Spanish lessons from our Children's Bilingual Library Assistant. Ralph said this
would be a good topic for the quarterly newsletter. Melissa said she would be interested
in seeing statistics on the decrease in library -usage of Spanish-speaking customers since
the Outreach Library Assistant position was vacated.
Brenda was asked to put together information regarding a County funding options
meeting for the City Manager to send with a letter to interested County entities. In his
letter, he will mention how inequities might be addressed and ask for representatives to
attend a meeting to discuss various options. Brenda attended a meeting in Lafayette
some time ago and learned they are charging non -City residents for library cards. As a
result, some of their County residents were angered as they feel they are contributing for
library services through sale tax; as a result, they decided to use other libraries which
offer free service. Erie is talking about creating a City library and paying for it with sales
tax. Ralph added that most people don't realize library services have to be paid for; they
don't realize what it costs to provide the service.
b. Friends of the Library - Lil Price
The Friends will have their first meeting with their new Board members next week. They
will double check to make sure all bases are covered as far as Board responsibilities.
P
Marty Tharp said a tabulation of volunteer hours, as well as how much is raised from
book sales, might be an interesting inclusion for the Board's quarterly newsletter; she
views public support as a plus and felt other Councilmembers would also.
C. Public Relations - Ralph Olson
Ralph said the library received a lot of newspaper coverage recently. Also, he feels the
need to fill the vacant Bilingual Outreach position is important and suggested Melissa use
it as a topic for a Soapbox article. Also, Brenda said the Library Trust is interested in
working with the Library Board to get support from the newspaper.
a. Customer Complaint - Melissa Pattison
After the November Board meeting, Melissa received a call from a customer complaining
that the Library would not allow him to display a free weekly newspaper. She told him
the Board was not there to decide how space is allocated in the Library but she did
commit to review the Library's policy on distribution of free materials with the Board to
ensure that it was sufficient. She read the Library's policy to the Board, and they felt
confident that it was adequate and fair. Melissa will respond in writing to the customer
with the views contained in the policy, and she will copy the Director of Cultural, Library
and Recreational Services for his information should the customer decide to pursue the
matter. Melissa also pointed out that the Main Library has a copy of the newspaper in its
collection for customers to read, there is a box containing free copies of the paper for the
public right outside the Library on the comer of Peterson and Olive and, since Harmony
Library has the space, they have copies of the paper available for the public in a display
rack.
b. Annual Report - Ralph Olson
In Mary's absence, Ralph led the discussion on the 2003 Annual Report. It was
recommended to follow the same format and categories as last year and to fill in relevant
new information. Also to recap progress against identified goals, what was considered
the high points as well as what was considered impediments. Marty Tharp said many
Boards and Commissions create their annual reports by reviewing the year's minutes.
Ralph will discuss preparation of the report with Brenda next Monday and targeted
January 21 as the date to have in a draft format. He will see that it is e-mailed to Board
members for approval before the January 30t' deadline.
C. 2004 Officers - Ralph Olson
Ralph reported that Mary volunteered to be on the nominating committee for new Board
officers. Melissa also volunteered to be on the committee and said she will call Mary to
discuss recommendations. Don Oehlerts moved that Melissa and Mary be members of
the nominating committee; Rudy Maes seconded the motion, and it was unanimously
approved.
d. Other - Marty Tharp
Councilmember Tharp said that she is very interested in the County funding issue and the
proposed meeting mentioned above as well as the potential partnership with PVHS and
FRCC; she asked to be kept apprised of future developments.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary