HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 03/14/2002A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on March 14, 2002 in the Ben Delatour Room
of the Main Library at 201 Peterson Street. The following Library Board members were present:
Rudy Maes, Kay Masselink, Ralph Olson, Mary Robertson, Charles Robles, and Joan
Scheuerman.
Library Board Member Absent: Carolyn Haase
City Staff Members Present: Brenda Cams, John Fischbach, Michael W. Powers, Marty
Heffernan, and Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Joanna Lambert
Visitor: Mike Wermuth
The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by the Chairperson, Mary Robertson.
Ralph Olson made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2002 meeting, Rudy
Maes seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Mary Robertson and Board Members welcomed John Fischbach, Mike Powers, and Marty
Heffernan to tonight's meeting.
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Correspondence
Copies of Carolyn Haase's letter dated March 14 were distributed in Board folders.
Reports/Presentations
a. Director — Brenda Cams
Brenda invited Board members to attend the grand opening of the Gates Computer
Learning Lab on Tuesday, March 19a'. Art work for the lab, done by local artist Eleanor
Yates, will be unveiled at the ceremony. She also asked Board members to RSVP for the
April 6"' brunch at the Senior Center honoring library volunteers.
Board members were invited to march with the Library's entry in the March 16I' St.
Patrick's Day Parade.
An article written by Librarian Sarah Scobey and former Library Assistant Maria Gavier
entitled "Enhancing and Promoting Library Services to Attract Diverse Populations" was
shared. The article, which appears in the Winter edition of Colorado Libraries, tells
about the Library's diversity successes.
Brenda also brought to the Board's attention the article "Times are Tough... and Yet These
are the Best of Times for Raising Money" from the March/April edition of Contributions
and the article, "Treasures for the mind," appearing in the March 9`" Coloradoan about
the Friends' recent book sale at the library.
b. Friends of the Library - Joanna Lambert
The Friends took in $9,321.30 at the Mid Winter Book Sale held last weekend. The next
sale event is scheduled for July 19-21 in the Community Room at Harmony Library.
Joanna also mentioned that the Friends are sponsoring next Tuesday's Symphony Preview
at noon at the Main Library. Mary Robertson thanked Joanna and the Friends for the
wonderful support they are providing to the library.
C. Committee Reports:
County/State/National - Charles Robles
Charles brought a copy of an article entitled "Larger library sought --Don't move it, make
it bigger." appearing in the February 25`" issue of the Loveland Reporter Herald. Copies
will be provided to Board members. Loveland library staff are looking at the issue with
the town's City Council.
A lot of positions are opening up with this year's November election. Charles said that
Board members need to keep track of potential candidates and their level of support for
library issues. He said that, as the primaries approach and candidates are clear, it might
be interesting to do a survey of the candidates similar to that done by the Friends in the
past.
Charles hasn't as yet had an opportunity to speak with the Mayor since his January visit to
Washington. While Charles was in Pueblo during a recent visit, he learned that their
library had a significant donation from a newspaper editor.
City Council Relations - Rudy Maes
Rudy said the Board is making significant headway regarding expansion issues at
tonight's meeting and needs to go forward with it.
Children's/YoungAdult Services -
As Carolyn was not able to be present at tonight's meeting, a report will be given at the
next meeting.
Public Relations - Ralph Olson, Joan Scheuerman, Kay Masselink
Kay distributed a chart for Board Members to choose a specific month to write Soap Box
articles. The public relations committee will review articles before they are submitted.
Ralph will send a draft article tomorrow; he is interested in doing one on the Colorado
Library Card and how it opens up the door to every library in Colorado. Rudy may do
his article on home schooling and how many home schoolers use the library. Visitor
Mike Wermuth said that his children are home schooled, and they make between two to
four trips a week to the library. Mary suggested submitting draft articles to Marge to
copy for the Board; she also reminded writers that the Coloradoan would like author
photos with the articles.
Kay said she is concerned that the community is willing to settle for a library that is too
small for a City of its size. She viewed the video made a few years ago and said it is
excellent and shows how different a library can look if given support. She suggested it be
updated and run on Channel 27. She said once a focus is determined, bookmarks and
inclusion of information in utility bills are ways of promoting library needs. She asked
restaurants about special place mats, but most said they do not use them any more. A
coloring sheet for kids is a possibility, but the message being promoted may not reach the
parents. Coloring contests are overdone as there are an enormous number of them every
year. Promoting in a coffee shop may better target the audience which needs to be
reached. Perhaps "Did You Know..." facts along with kids' artwork could be inserted in
table -top plastic placards in restaurants.
After a meeting with a representative from Poudre School District's art department, it was
thought that a bookmark with art work done by students on one side and a "Did You
Know..." (about your library) feature on the other might be a good promotional tool. A
community relations person at Hewlett-Packard volunteered to scan, format and produce
the artwork, stating credit to the company on the bookmark. There is much support in the
community, such as this, that can be tapped into.
One little known "Did You Know..." fact is that library card holders from other libraries
in Colorado can easily get a Fort Collins Public Library card and vice versa. Charles
offered to check on editorials in the College's Collegian newspaper. There are many
things that the staff and Board members know about the library that isn't known by the
general public: circulation turnover rate, award -winning Summer Reading Programs,
statewide recognition, just to name a few. It was suggested to pick one a month for
Soapbox articles. Ralph said he also liked the catch phrase "Check it out at the Library."
Kay said a fact sheet would be very helpful; Joan said she will email one to Kay.
Regarding a public survey, Ralph said more facts need to be decided about library
expansion opportunities before a meaningful survey can be developed; the public
relations committee hasn't discussed the survey at recent meetings but were instead
focused on the bookmarks and branch site possibilities.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Library Options
Mike Powers gave a recap about the local charitable trust which has mentioned an
opportunity that could assist in making a library in the Southeast a reality. The venture is
still in exploratory stages and discussions with the trust's attorney continue.
The site might include space for a 10,000-15,000 s.f. "storefront" library as well as
Museum exhibit space, and a delilbakery. The rest of the total 48,000 s.f. building is
occupied by private businesses that have long term leases.
Kay asked why the library is only looking at one-third of the building's space because it is
so strapped for space already, and Mary asked where would the money to run it come
from. John Fischbach said that funding options would need to be explored to minimize
the impact on the General Fund. Funding for a 10,000 s.f. facility could be possible, but
at the end of five years there would be no money left to purchase the space. The City has
many other needs right now that it is trying to address, such as, transportation issues,
renovation of the City pool, etc. The sales tax is down at present, and if that trend
continues, quality of life services could very well be affected.
Some issues to consider are that initial renovation is very expensive, it is expensive to
operate over a period of years, and the parking lot needs some work. There would be
costs for staffing (approximately 12 full-time employees) and approximately $1 million
for a collection. If a deal can be negotiated, it would be taken to City Council, once
approved by the City Manager.
The City survey discussed at recent meetings has been put on hold for the time being until
more details about this venture are known.
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John Fischbach mentioned he has met with Mary in order to keep her abreast of this and
other opportunities. He said a decision on which way to go is difficult as it could be
expensive over a period of time, up to $30 million over a ten-year period. It may also be
a diversion away from accomplishing the Library Board recommended and voter
approved downtown library.
As previously mentioned, negotiations with the trust will continue so that definitive
information can be gathered and recommended to Council. Library Board members
agreed to ask Council to postpone the library issues topic scheduled for their March 26
study session. It will be rescheduled at a more appropriate time, perhaps some time in
May, when more specific information about options becomes available.
A general discussion about future library expansion followed. Some felt a 70,000 s.f.
new civic center main library combined with the current Harmony Library, a branch in the
southeast and an eventual branch in the northeast would provide the best service for the
community. John Fischbach said the question will be would the community be ready to
support this much library service. Rudy believes there is enough momentum going to
support a new main library, instead of doing branches here and there; he felt efforts at this
time should go towards a new main library instead of scattered branches.
Kay felt the voters rejected the downtown library in last November's election; others felt
it was a vote against the combined Imagine measure, not a downtown library. If the
library had been on its own, it probably would have been approved. All agreed the events
of September 1 lth also had an impact on voters' decisions.
John Fischbach asked if Harmony Library is handling the needs of the community in the
south part of town; Brenda said people typically want convenience and do not want to
drive too far for their library needs, so a southeast branch would be desirable. Ralph
Olson said the proposed venture with the trust foundation previously mentioned most
likely has a shelf life and believes residents in the south would like to see a library there.
Brenda said it could be possible to tie in a southeast branch to getting something done in
the north; a new main library could be done gradually.
John Fischbach said there is uncertainty of what is going to be on the future ballot. The
City is struggling with transportation, street, natural area and other community
enhancement issues. There's a dilemma because it's not a question of support for the
library, but how it would be paid for; also, library services are still considered secondary
services.
The Library Board thanked the City Manager for attending the meeting; he said he
appreciates all the Board has been doing in support of the library.
b. Nominating Committee for Election of Officers
Mary Robertson and other Library Board members stated their appreciation to Carolyn
Haase and Rudy Maes for their good work while serving on the 2002 nominating
committee.
Carolyn's nomination recommendations were included in her March 14 letter, as
mentioned above. Rudy stated that he concurs with Carolyn that, to carry on the
continuity and leadership Mary has provided for the Board, they are nominating Mary to
continue as Chairperson of the Library Board. Ralph Olson seconded the motion and it
was unanimously approved.
In her March 14 letter, Carolyn mentioned Rudy's landmark service in support of the
Library Board agenda and recommended him for office as well. Charles Robles made a
motion to nominate Rudy as Vice Chair, Ralph Olson seconded the motion, and it was
unanimously approved.
Charles suggested a note from the Board to the City Manager thanking him for spending time
with them tonight.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary