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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 09/13/20010 F A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on September 13, 2001 in the Ben Delatour Room of the Main Library. The following Library Board members were present: Carolyn Haase, Rudy Maes, Ralph Olson, Mary Robertson, Charles Robles, and Joan Scheuerman. Library Board Member Absent: Lisa Helme City Staff Members Present: Brenda Cams, Mike Powers, and Marjorie Teklits Friends of the Library Liaison: Joanna Lambert The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by the Chairperson, Mary Robertson. A motion was made by Carolyn Haase to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2001 meeting; Charles Robles seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. Correspondence There was no correspondence to be read at tonight's meeting. Reports/Presentations a. Director — Brenda Carns The library's Summer Reading Program won first place for the Large Library division of Public Libraries in Colorado. It previously won first place in 1986, 1996 and 1999 and second place in 1997. Econoclad and the Colorado Library Association (CLA) sponsor the competition, and the winner receives a plaque, $200 in books from Econoclad, and is honored at the Awards Banquet at the CLA Conference. Because of customer complaints about cell phones, the library is implementing a policy to allow their use only in the area by the public telephone on the first floor at Main and by the public telephone in the lobby at Harmony. Board members unanimously agreed that this policy will help reduce the noise level at both facilities. b. Friends of the Library - Joanna Lambert The Friends of the Library are sponsoring a float for the library in the September 22"d CSU Homecoming Parade. It is planned to use the portable puppet stage, and a library drill team will entertain the crowd with a bookcart routine. A library staff member may portray Harry Potter, and the library's mascots "Annie" and the "Owl" may join in, too. Members of the Imagine Fort Collins committee will also follow and are planning to carry placards, a banner, and balloons. Mary suggested bookmarks be distributed to onlookers. The Friends are also planning to support the new main library campaign at their October 5-7 book sale at the mall. They will have brochures and/or bookmarks to include in bags when books are purchased. Friends members who live outside the city limits have also volunteered to help hand out literature from door to door for the campaign. An email campaign to promote the effort is planned as well. Local author Debbie Dadey will be doing a preview of her latest book at Harmony on the 16'h. The Friends have ordered 80 of her books to sell at the presentation. The Friends are co -sponsoring another Symphony preview next Tuesday at noon. Mary Robertson asked Joanna to pass along the Board's thanks and appreciation for all that the Friends are doing for the library. C. Committee Reports: County/State/National - Charles Robles It appears that libraries across the nation have a supporter in First Lady, Laura Bush, and it would be worthwhile to find out more about her efforts. While in Grand Junction recently, Charles learned about their new library campaign. There is nothing new to report on the state level. Charles recently read in the newspaper that the reading level of teenagers has been going down in recent years. Brenda mentioned how the library's Young Adult Summer Reading Program encourages teens to read and that over 500 kids participated this summer. The library has also hired a Young Adult librarian to specialize in assisting these customers. City Council Relations - Rudy Maes Discussion items were covered in other portions of the meeting. 0 12 Community Public Relations As Lisa was not able to attend tonight's meeting, an update will be given next month. Childrens/Young Adult Services - Carolyn Haase The Director's Report has given an excellent activity update. Carolyn met the library's new Young Adult Librarian and was impressed with her enthusiasm and experience. OLD BUSINESS a. 2002/2003 Budget Process - Mike Powers As Tuesday's Council meeting was cancelled due to the recent tragic events, a kickoff discussion of the 2002/2003 budget is scheduled for the 18a'. Council will receive the City Manager's recommendations. From the library's requests, he is recommending that the Library Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator's position be funded. This position was funded by the County prior to this year. Council will go through a series of budget discussions, and a schedule of future meetings was included in Board packets. The first reading to approve the two-year budget is on November 6, and the second reading is scheduled for November 20t'. Citizens are welcome to provide their input at both these meetings as well as at the September 18, 25, October 2 and 9 meetings. Board members expressed interest in attending at least the October 2°d meeting to support the library's budget needs. b. New Main Library Site - Mike Powers Mike reported that Council members have been supportive of the site on the northeast side of the LaPorte and Howes intersection being designated for a new main library. The site will provide ample space for the library as well as have some park space to offer for the public to its south and west as well as being close to Martinez Park. The economic impact of the number of people visiting the library will benefit the downtown area. C. Campaign for a New Main Library - Mary Robertson Mary reported that as the Transportation and natural area purchases proposed for the ballot have been postponed, the Imagine Fort Collins campaign for a new main library, performing arts center and museum expansion will have a better chance of receiving voter approval. She said a sample of the ballot can be found on Imagine's web site: www.imaginefortcollins.com. Numbers have been assigned to the issues as follows: Ballot Issue #200 for the tax increase itself; #201 is for bonding of the performing arts center and #202 is for bonding for a new main library. Charles asked what the traditional mail -in ballot return has been in the past, and Mike said that it usually has been somewhat low. Mary distributed talking points about the library and encouraged Board members to write Letters to the Editor in support of a new main library. NEW BUSINESS Other: Mary invited Library Board members to attend a press conference at 2 p.m., October 8 in conjunction with the Imagine Fort Collins campaign and the importance of establishing a vital community. It is also planned to invite former Council members and Mayors of Fort Collins. As liaison to the Library Trust, Mary reported that the Trust is working to create an endowment to enable them to fund library programs each year. A grant, which requires matching funds, has been submitted to the National Endowment of the Humanities. The Trust is currently in the process of interviewing prominent community members to invite their contributions. Wayne Givens will be invited to the November Library Board meeting to provide an update of Library Trust activities. Brenda thanked Carolyn, Mary, Joanna, Ralph, and Rudy for assisting with the library's table at NewWestFest last month. Appreciation is also extended to Lisa and her family, Rudy and the four local Lions Clubs who raised over $500 from the pancake breakfast, and to Mary and Carolyn for attending this year's Annie Walk & Pet Fest event on August 25t'. The well attended event was enjoyed by all and received excellent press coverage. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marjorie Teklits Administrative Secretary 4