HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 05/09/2002Council Liaison: Marty Tharp
Chairperson: Mary Robertson
(Phone: 407-7066)
Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams
(Phone 221-6670)
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on April 11, 2002 in the Ben Delatour Room of
the Main Library at 201 Peterson Street. The following Library Board members were present:
Carolyn Haase, Kay Masselink, Ralph Olson, Mary Robertson, and Joan Scheuerman.
Library Board Members Absent: Rudy Maes, Charles Robles
City Staff Members Present: Brenda Cams, Marty Heffernan, and Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Joanna Lambert
Visitor: Mike Wermuth
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Mary Robertson.
Ralph Olson made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2002 meeting, Joan
Scheuerman seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence read at tonight's meeting.
Reports/Presentations
a. Director — Brenda Cams
Based on yearly attendance, the Fort Collins Public Library was ranked the largest
cultural attraction as reported in the March 22"d Northern Colorado Business Report.
Copies of two articles from the Spring edition of Colorado Libraries were distributed in
Board packets. The first article 'Readers to the Rescue: "Altruism as an Incentive in
Children's Summer Reading Programs" was written by Lu Benke, the library's Lead
Children's Librarian; the second article, "Highlights of Award Winning Libraries on the
Colorado Front Range" featured the Fort Collins Public Library as one of the libraries that
earned awards.
b. Friends of the Library - Joanna Lambert
The date of the next Fort Collins Symphony Preview was changed from Tuesday, May 14
to Wednesday, May 15.
Due to the resignation of Jean Dietemann, a new manager will be assigned to the Friends
Shop at Harmony Library.
C. Committee Reports:
County/State/National
As Charles Robles was not able to attend tonight's meeting, a report will be postponed
until the June meeting.
City Council Relations
As Rudy Maes was not able to attend tonight's meeting, a report will be postponed until
the June meeting.
Children's/Young Adult Services - Carolyn Haase
Carolyn showed a poster of photos of a new Canadian Geese family recently hatched
outside of Harmony Library. The pictures, which will be put on display for the public to
enjoy, were taken and the poster assembled by librarian Elaine Burritt and her husband.
Carolyn said the "Mother Goose" theme fits perfectly with the new goose family and
would be good material for an article. Carolyn also shared some photos she took of the
goslings.
The first newsletter of the Colorado Association of Libraries has been published. Their
first conference will be at Keystone, October 17 to 20.
Carolyn complemented Lu Benke's Colorado Libraries article on the Reader's to the
Rescue program as mentioned in the Director's report. She said the issue features much
interesting information about children's library services in Colorado.
Carolyn attended the Symphony Preview in April and said it was an outstanding program
and one that can be modeled in other parts of the library community.
Carolyn asked if there was a Board member who would like to take over reporting on
children's services as she wishes to be part of the County/State/National committee. She
said Lu Benke is doing an excellent job with the department and provides very detailed
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information in the monthly Director reports. Mary agreed that Lu has done an excellent
job and whatever she decides about having a liaison to the Board would be fine. Carolyn
mentioned she is also interested in working with collection development, especially in
areas such as local history, music, and art.
Carolyn also shared fliers on the upcoming children's Summer Reading Program and
mentioned an upcoming and unique Garden Railroading program at Harmony.
Carolyn represented the Library Board at the recent Harmony Library Advisory
Committee meeting where she stated the group interacted very well, generated lots of
ideas and enjoyed a very productive meeting.
She also said staff recommendations of over 100 books were wonderful; she added that a
great spirit of professional enthusiasm is generated by the staff and that Francine Purdom
is doing an excellent job as interim branch manager at Harmony Library.
State Republican Tim Fritz's anti -porn Bill 1266 died in the Senate; it will most likely be
resubmitted in the next session. It is an attempt to require all Colorado public schools to
have anti -pornography filtering software on computers used by students; most of the
State's 178 districts reportedly already have the software.
Public Relations - Ralph Olson, Joan Scheuerman
Ralph Olson showed slides of suggested artwork for bookmarks which drawn by Poudre
School District students. Kay Masselink and Tawnya Ernst recently took photos of the
art when they were on display at Foothills Mall. Ralph said he may be able to get some
of the supplies for the bookmarks donated and that the next step is to acquire permission
to use the art from the individual students. Brenda said it would be nice to have a display
of the art at the library, and Mary suggested a reception to honor the artists and their
parents to which the media could be invited as well. Carolyn also suggested a
presentation at a Board of Education meeting.
Copies of Ralph's recent Soapbox article on the Colorado Library Card were distributed;
Joan's Soapbox article has been submitted to the newspaper. Joan said a copy of the
Board's survey is going to over 400 Quail Hollow residents in their newsletter some time
in June.
The public relations committee will meet briefly after tonight's meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
a. County Funding Update - Brenda Cams
For the benefit of newer Board members, Brenda gave a brief historical background of
County library service funding: There used to be a County library system and a City
library system with a bookmobile visiting County areas outside the City. The County
eventually gave the bookmobile to the Fort Collins Public Library and divided up their
book collection among the libraries located in Latimer County. They also handed over
their capital and provided an ongoing amount to continue operation of the bookmobile.
There wasn't enough funds to replace the bookmobile (approximately 1982), but the
County continued funding for remote bookdrops, outreach efforts, and to augment the
collection. Later in the 1980's, the County decided they would no longer support library
services, so the City began to charge County residents a fee for use of the library's
services. County residents strongly objected, and the fees charged did not cover the cost
of providing the services. The County then agreed to provide some funding and this
continued through the 1990s. Around 1997, the Latimer County Librarians asked for
increased County contributions. Not long thereafter, due to budgetary issues, the County
discontinued funding altogether.
Brenda added that, even though the Fort Collins Public Library serves the County, it
cannot use County population when defining the library's service area for grant purposes;
it also appears as if we have more income per capita than we actually do. Even though
the library receives impact fees from new construction in the Urban Growth Area (UGA)
of the County, the State Librarian would most likely feel that the fees are strictly one-time
for each construction and that they would have to continue year after year in order for
them to be considered County funding.
Mary summarized the two issues as: 1) how to include the UGA in statistical analysis for
the Fort Collins Public Library; and 2) how to get County funding. Mary and Ralph
volunteered to form a Board task force to discuss options along with pros and cons. In
view of his knowledge of County matters, Carolyn nominated Charles to be on the task
force as well. Mary will organize a meeting in the near future and, because of interest
shown in the past about County funding issues, Council Library Board Liaison Marty
Tharp will be invited to a future meeting.
b. Southeast Branch - Marty Heffernan
Marty reported that the City Manager has signed a lease for library use of the former
Steele's market on Harmony Road as a branch library site. The Wilkins Charitable Trust
has offered the City a five-year lease on a portion of the building as well as funds to cover
the site's operating expenses. The Trust would contribute $2.5 million to the library over
five years.
Most likely, the proposal will go before City Council for acceptance for first and second
readings sometime in June and July. Among issues still to be looked at are the facility's
condition, parking lot, HVAC system, etc.
Mary mentioned that even though funds will be put toward the collection for the new site,
there probably is going to be constraints on the library budget and it will be important not
to affect the other two libraries to make this work.
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This small branch will be a modest facility and will most likely be at least 10,000 s.f.
There is a possibility that 6,500 s.f. of the building will be sub -leased to the school
district or a non-profit organization for a Challenger Space Center project. It would be
used by middle school aged children learning the principles of science and math to apply
in a space setting. A deli bakery on the west side of the building would rent
approximately 13,000 s.f. from the Trust. The remainder of the building would continue
to be rented to the liquor and mailbox stores. Subject to voter approval, it is hoped to
purchase the building and turn it into a full service library at some point in the future. It
is estimated that the branch would be opened in early 2003.
It is anticipated that the affordability of opening a branch at this time will be questioned.
Marty said the impact fees which were generated by growth for growth will be used, and
it is through the generosity of the Wilkins Trust that such a venture can be implemented
now rather than in the future. Ralph suggested an editorial in the media to thank the Trust
for their kindness.
Marty said there is a concern by some of the neighboring business owners in the shopping
center that a library isn't going to be as great a benefit to their businesses as would other
retail space. A meeting is planned with some of the business owners to listen to their
concerns. Carolyn mentioned that a good example of where a library has been a positive
impact on local business is in Greenwood Village; it brought a lot of increased patronage
to the area. Brenda agreed and said there are many such examples, including the Koebel
Library in Centennial.
Mary said a concern is how opening a southeast branch affects obtaining the larger
downtown main library. Marty said the City will be providing more services for residents
with a southeast branch; much depends on how well the City is doing economically in the
future, but a lot is unknown at this time.
Mary asked what the Board's role will be in working with Council to move forward with
the venture. Ralph Olson endorsed Council's approval of the recommendation; Joan
Scheuerman seconded the endorsement, and the Board unanimously approved. Carolyn
suggested a formal letter be sent from the Board to the City Manager and Council stating
their recommendation of approval, including a statement of appreciation of staffs work
on the project and a very special appreciation to the Wilkins Trust.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary