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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 09/14/1982L CITY OF FORT C 0 L L I N S PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES -- REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 1982 -- 7:00 p.m. o�? 0CT 1 1982 •�J CITY CLERK BOARD MEMBERS: Don Morgan, President Lloyd Spawn, Vice-president Sarah Bennett Jerry Johnson Christine Kneeland Linda Carbajal Tom Sigl PRESENT: LIBRARY BOARD -- Don Morgan, Lloyd Spawn, Christine Kneeland; LIBRARY STAFF -- Larry Webber, Jane Davis, Robert Holzfaster, Carol Grasmick; FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY -- John Power The meeting was called to order by the President, Don Morgan. John Power was introduced as a guest representing the Friends of the Library. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed. Larry Webber, Library Director, reported that the Larimer County Bookmobile was being repaired and will be operational as of September 20. He reported that the new staff policy of non -circulation of magazines had gone into effect on September 1 and that there have been no formal complaints. He also reported that the library had ordered sixty-six inch high shelving for installation in the Children's Area. The taller shelving it replaces will be installed upstairs. New sixty-six inch high yellow end panels are on order and will be installed in the Children's Area in October. Mr. Webber reminded board members of the High Plains Retreat September 24, 25, 26, and the Colorado Library Association annual meeting to be held October 21- 23, and the High Plains Council Meeting on October 27. The Friends of the Library Board will meet in the Library Conference Room at 9:00 a.m. on October 13. Don Morgan will attend representing the Library Board. John Power reminded the group of the Friends Book Sale scheduled for the weekend of October 22, 23, 24. He said the Friends membership is working very hard to make it bigger and better than last year. He reported that the Friends have received donations of books from Poudre R-1 School District and CSU Libraries. The Friends have excellent storage for the books this year and Mr. and Mrs. Scott Abbott have been doing an excellent job picking them up. The Friends will fund the summer program for children next year up to the same level as last year and are open to suggestions for using further funds. Library statistics for August had been distributed to members by mail. Members would like comparison statistics for same month, previous year somehow included. Robert Holzfaster reported that a full year of traffic count had recorded 284,533 using the building. This broke down to 23,711 per month and 94 per hour. -2- Christine Kneeland voiced concern about the library closing at 5:00 p.m. She feels this is a hardship for people particularly now that school has started. Larry Webber reported that a library patron had also spoken to him about this. Carol Grasmick, Technical Services Librarian, informed the board members that the processing of the book backlog is completed. Larry Webber informed the members that the Larimer County Library Survey results are being tabulated and will be available in October. He also distributed copies of the report he did on the summer children's programs for the City Council Newsletter and the library calendar for 1983. Under Old Business, Larry Webber distributed copies of a memo written by him to the Library Board expressing concern that the 1983 City Budget makes library funding look better than it really is. The Library Board agreed that this was, indeed, true. There was further discussion of budget strategies. Don Morgan said that he felt the Board needs to get a handle on a year in, year out formula to support and increase the library budget particularly in two areas: 1) book budget and 2) professional staff, and that the Board must remain aggressive and outspoken with the City Council. Larry Webber pointed out that there was another public hearing on the budget on September 21. Don Morgan said he felt that the Library Board had done about all they could do this year. He felt that Lloyd Spawn's presentation had been well received and the board members would build on that for next year. John Power, Larry Webber and Jane Davis, Assistant Library Director, informed the Library Board about a proposal for funds made to the Community Priorities Program of the Gannett Foundation. The proposal requests around $80,000 for children's programming over a three year period. John Power feels that parts of this proposal could be used to apply for smaller amounts of money from the Gannett Foundation or other groups if the original $80,000 request is turned down. The board members discussed the question of a user fee for non-Larimer County residents. Don Morgan said that he feels the board members should address this issue and make a recommendation to the City Council by January 1, 1983. He wants information on how many people this would affect and criteria that would have to be established so that a fee system could work fairly. The Library Board went over the revisions to the City Code concerning the Library Board proposed by the City Attorney. These changes will be a consent item at the Council Meeting September 21. These changes will bring the City Code into agreement with the City Charter. Under New Business, Don Morgan read a copy of a letter of resignation from Laurie Thomsen, Children's Librarian, to Larry Webber, Library Director. Mr. Morgan expressed concern over the timing of the resignation coming, as it did, on the heels of the disability retirement of Elsie Mannon, long-time assistant in the Children's Area. Larry Webber said that, because of the City hiring freeze, we would not be able to fill the positions without special permission -3- from the City Manager. Library staff have requested 2.5 positions to replace 2. This can be done and still realize some salary savings. Jane Davis reported that she and Len Epstein from the City Museum are applying for funds from the Colorado Humanities Program for a display using photographs from the library collection. The display would be housed at the museum. Don Morgan, Board President, reminded members that the next meeting would be October 12. There will be an election of officers. Respectfully submitted, Jane B. Davis, Secretary Pro-tem