HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 07/12/2001A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on July 12, 2001 in the Ben Delatour Room of
the Main Library. The following Library Board members were present: Carolyn Haase, Lisa
Helme, Rudy Maes, Mary Robertson, Charles Robles, and Joan Scheuerman.
City Staff Members Present: Brenda Cams, Lu Benke, and Marjorie Teklits
Guests: Carrie Daggett, Ingrid Decker, City Attorney's Office
Friends of the Library Liaison: Joanna Lambert
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Mary Robertson.
A motion was made by Rudy Maes to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2001 meeting; Charles
Robles seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Library Board members welcomed Carrie Daggett and Ingrid Decker from the City Attorney's
Office to the meeting, and introductions were exchanged.
Correspondence
Brenda mentioned she received a letter from Carolyn Haase containing an article about the
Seattle Public Library from Seattle magazine and an article from the July 9`h Coloradoan about
Foothills Gateway officials planning a mill increase measure on the November ballot. Copies of
both articles were shared with the Board.
Brenda brought to the Board's attention other newspaper articles contained in their folders, an
excerpt from a Rotary newsletter and her appointment as Chair of their Literacy Committee, and
an article from the summer issue of the Health District's newspaper about the numerous health
resources offered by the library.
Reports/Presentations
a. Director — Brenda Cams
Board members were informed of volunteer opportunities at the library's NewWestFest
booth on August 18 and 19 and the Annie Walk & Pet Fest on August 25. The Mayor
will once again be leading the Annie Walk, and the City Manager is planning to be on
hand to welcome walkers back to the library. Council members Bill Bertschy and Marty
Tharp are also planning to participate.
The City Manager's budget recommendations to Council included the library's Special
Services Coordinator position. Staff are grateful for the Board's support for this and other
budget requests.
b. Friends of the Library -- Joanna Lambert
Regular Friends meetings are not planned for the months of June and July. A special
meeting, however, was held on July 11`h with Lisa Helme and Joan Scheuerman to
provide input on library services. The Friends are also getting ready for the July 20-22
book sale to be held at Harmony Library and the big fall sale at the Mall. Joanna thanked
Lu Benke for informing parents that funding for a recent program was provided through
the Friends of the Library.
C. Committee Reports:
County/State/National - Charles Robles
Charles mentioned a proposed bill that would provide funds for libraries in the form of
Federal grants to be matched by cities and counties. He also brought to the Board's
attention that the Fort Collins Public Library received high ratings in the 2001 Citizen
Survey conducted earlier this year.
City Council Relations - Rudy Maes
Rudy suggested Board members write letters to the newspaper in support of a new main
library to keep the public informed of library needs and issues. Lisa asked Board
members to bring a topic they would like to write about to the next meeting. Mary said
the Imagine committee is also putting together a schedule for letter writing for the
campaign.
Community Public Relations - Lisa Helme
Lisa and Joan held a focus meeting with the Friends of the Library on July I I'h. A
summary of the topics covered and comments received on children's and adult services,
staffing, facilities and technology needs was distributed. They thanked the Friends for the
input as well as library staff who volunteered their participation. Lisa and Joan would
like to meet with approximately six additional groups and invited Board members'
suggestions. School administrators, PTA groups, business, youth, senior citizens,
Spanish-speaking groups were suggested. Lisa said news media could be invited to
attend one of the sessions.
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Childrens/Young Adult Services - Carolyn Haase
Carolyn shared some handouts from the library's Summer Reading Program. She said
over 500 attended the June 18 Fabulous Flying Machines program which was excellent.
She said the library offers exceptional children's services which appeal to a wide variety
of interests. She said she might be able to call the newspaper to ask for a photographer
and reporter to cover some of the programs.
Carolyn offered to provide some information on groups who might be interested in being
a focus group for Lisa and Joan. She also said that she is planning to write a letter to the
newspaper on standardized testing and reading emphasis in schools which will relate to
the library.
Regarding the November ballot, she said publicity is key to the initiative, getting library
issues in front of the public and in social conversation. She has not heard of any group
taking opposition to the issues. Unfortunately, many are saying there are too many issues
being presented this year.
d. Internet Access Issues - Lu Benke, Carrie Daggett, Ingrid Decker
Lu reported that the library's Internet access situation has been basically stable since
March 15. The library required a card to use all Web stations except the Express stations
which are automatically filtered. Because of the City's interpretations of requirements for
state grant money, the library also has a default setting to filtered for all minors' use of the
Internet unless parents choose otherwise. A state bill, proposed last winter, would have
required more, but it was tabled due to lack of funding.
On a national level, the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood
Internet Protection Act (NCIPA), which went into effect April 20, 2001, place restrictions
on the use of funding that is available through the Library Services and Technology Act
(LSTA), Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and on the Universal
Service discount program know as the E-rate. These restrictions take the form of
requirements for Internet safety policies and technology which blocks or filters certain
material from being accessed through the Internet. The law applies to both minors and
adults, although adults are not restricted in accessing material that is "harmful to minors."
The American Library Association filed suit against the CIPA and the trail date for ALA
v. United States is February 14, 2002.
The library does not use the E-rate nor does it plan to use it; schools are more affected by
this. The library has used LSTA funds in the past and hopes to do so in the future. LSTA
grants are limited to a relatively low amount. If a library receives no support from E-rate
or LSTA, there are no requirements under CIPA. For libraries applying only for LSTA
funds, certifications are not required until 2002. State library administrative agencies do
not need to certify that LSTA funds will be used in compliance with CIPA until the
application period closes on July 31, 2002. Individual libraries are not required to make
any certifications with respect to LSTA funds until state deadlines are set in 2002.
Where does that leave the library? The library needs to wait, watch and keep informed;
the Board and City Manager will be asked to endorse the library's Internet Policy; if
needed, the library invites public input on the Internet Access policy; the library carefully
watches which grants it applies for and the regulations attached; and the process be
finished at the appropriate time.
Concerns regarding the contested CIPA legislation include: Does "Federal funding" for
the purposes of CIPA mean all Federal funding or only the funding that is used for
computers; does the CIPA mean that all computers in both the Main and Harmony
Libraries must be filtered or only those purchased with Federal funds; what are the
implications in the discrepancy between CIPA describing minors as 16 year olds and
younger and Colorado legislation considering minors to be those under 18.
Carrie reported it is most important to remember that there has been a lot of legislative
attention paid to the issue and there may be new legislation of various kinds next year.
One of the tricky points about the legislation is the fact that Federal law requires filtering
for minors underl7; the State requires under age 18. The language used at the Federal
and State level is different and needs to be reconciled. There have been various cases
throughout the country that show that courts aren't willing to accept filtering as a blanket
approach to dealing with the issue.
She said there is definitely a lot of activity on both sides of the issue; both sides'
perspectives can be easily obtained on the Internet (ALA's site and related links). Carolyn
said he has seen some school organizations that seem to support ALA's position, although
it is important to keep in mind that it is not as complicated an issue with computers used
by younger children in schools because they don't have adults using their systems whereas
adults use the resources in public libraries.
Carrie said it is important to stay informed on the issue. Lu added that it is also important
to keep legislators and civic leads informed of the issue's impact on libraries.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Citizen's Initiative - Mary Robertson
Mary thanked everyone who helped to get the initiative on the ballot. She said there will
be a celebration held at Lincoln Center's Terrace on July 26`h from 5 to7 p.m. Ann Azari,
the Mayor and others will speak at the event.
a. Letter to City Council - Mary Robertson
Mary presented a draft letter from the Library Board to City Council members regarding
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concerns that they are considering placing a transportation tax on the November ballot in
addition to the citizen's initiative for a performing arts center, new library and enhanced
museum services. Rudy Maes made a motion to approve and send the letter, Carolyn
Haase seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary
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