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LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
Regular -Meeting- April 12, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams
11 (Phone 221-6670)
Chairperson: Mary Robertson
(Phone: 407-7066)
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on April 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
Library Board Member Absent:
City Staff Members Present:
Friends of the Library Liaison:
Public Guest:
M. Madeleine Wawro
Brenda Cams and Marjorie Teklits
Joanna Lambert
Jim Homan
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Mary Robertson.
A motion was made by Carolyn Haase to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2001 meeting;
Charles Robles seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Correspondence
Brenda shared a note from Carolyn Haase praising the March 3 1 " brunch given by the library to
honor its volunteers. She also thanked Joanna Lambert for her volunteer contributions on behalf
of the Friends of the Library; Mary Robertson expressed the Board's appreciation of Joanna's
hard work and dedication. Mary also mentioned that she sent a note to former Board member Ed
Jakubauskas thanking him for his work on behalf of the Library Board.
Reports/Presentations
a. Director — Brenda Cams
Brenda thanked Joan Scheuerman for joining staff with the Library's entry in this year's
St. Patrick's Day Parade. She also thanked Mary Robertson and Carolyn Haase for
representing the Board at the Volunteer Brunch on March 31".
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b. Friends of the Library . - Joanna Lambert
The Friends gave $200 for the "Choices for the 21" Century" library programs. The final
session was last Thursday, and the group may do "Great Decisions" next year.
Joanna reported that many Friends are eager to help with the petition process for a new
main library.
Sarah Scobey did an excellent job in her presentation of "Sure Bets for Books" at the
recent Friends meeting.
The Friends are sponsoring two Symphony previews, April 24 and May 15.
A bag sale is scheduled for May 18 and 19 in the Delatour Room. The public will be able
to buy a grocery bag and fill it with books the Friends are selling. The Friends may be
able to purchase the bags at cost from Steele's.
A $2,000 donation was received and will be used towards the purchase of CDs; the
donor, a member of the Friends, has made previous donations, and the interest on the
principle is used to purchase library materials.
The AAUW (American Association of University Women) was unhappy that the Friend's
March book sale was so close to their's, even though both sales were very successful.
Joanna will write to them to explain how the two organizations can complement each
other.
C. Committee Reports:
County/State/National — Carolyn Haase
As Carolyn is planning to devote her time to a Children's/Young Adult/Parent services
committee and Charles volunteered to chair the County/State/National committee in the
future, Rudy will replace Charles as chair of the City Council Relations committee.
City Council Relations - Charles Robles
Charles said that the Board will need to review their Council assignments now that the
election is over and new members are on board. The Mayor is very interested in
attending a future Board meeting and may be able to come as early as May 10`". Charles
was asked to let Mary know if this becomes firm. (Several days after this meeting, the
Mayor confirmed that he will attend the June 14`n Library Board meeting.)
Carolyn reported she attended Kurt Kastein's gathering to discuss issues viewed as
important by residents, particularly in District 4, and that he seems committed to support
libraries.
Mary and Lisa will ask Maddy to join them at a meeting with newly elected Council
Member Marty Tharp to discuss the library and liaison to Council. It was also agreed that
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the Library Board formally ask to meet with City Council at a study session to discuss
library issues.
Community Public Relations — Lisa Helme
As new chair of this committee, Lisa recently discussed ideas to pursue with Mary and is
planning to meet with Brenda next week. A role of the Board is to keep people informed,
particularly about the possibility of a new library. Some ideas included initiating and
hosting meetings of book group members and perhaps meeting with some local authors to
ascertain what they would like to see in a new library and what concerns they may have.
The committee will brainstorm ways to get word about the library out to the public and
perhaps some articles about how libraries change lives as mentioned at the last meeting.
A brief (two-sided), easy -to -ready fact sheet about the library and what the ballot
proposal will consist of would be helpful in communicating with the public. In addition,
Rudy will meet with Mary to talk about a letter to the editor, and Mary will ask Maddy if
she was able to contact Mark Hanson at The Coloradoan.
Mary suggested the library do a newspaper ad to tell people to check the web site which
includes current programs and activities the library offers or add this information as a tag
line to an advertisement. A monthly email of news to customers was also suggested by
guest Jim Homan.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Budget Input - Brenda Cams
Brenda distributed a list of secondary budget items needed by the library. The positions
are an Adult/Children's Reference Librarian, a Local History Library Assistant, a
Children's Librarian, a Library Assistant for Technical Services, a Library Services
Representative, an Inter -Library Loan Library Assistant, a half time Graphic Artist, the
equivalent of 6 full-time equivalent Circulation hourly staff, and a Security Guard. These
positions are in addition to the three primary needs distributed at last month's meeting
which were a Library Assistant -Special Services Coordinator, funds to retain hourly staff,
and a Youth Services Librarian.
Brenda explained that the number of hourly Circulation staff has not increased for the
past six years and that positions are needed to serve the increasing number of borrowers
and items being borrowed.
Lisa suggested contracting graphic art work on a per project basis, and Brenda explained
the library uses outside assistance for artwork, such as ads place in the newspaper. This
part time position is needed to prepare public written information and to help with book
displays using artistic themes.
Lisa and Carolyn support a Security Guard position for the library as a priority. Charles
will arrange a meeting with John Pino, Police Services, to talk about security issues at the
library as well as the possibility of some library programs involving Police Services.
NEW BUSINESS
a. Proposed New Library Board Committee - Carolyn Haase
Carolyn will meet with Brenda, and perhaps appropriate library staff, to discuss her ideas
for this committee which would deal with Children's, Young Adult, and Parenting
services. She said she has the experience and background to chair such a committee and
would like to work cooperatively with staff to focus on what can be done to provide the
maximum amount of advantages for our youth with regard to library services. Lisa
expressed concern that it wouldn't be appropriate for the Board to try to micromanage,
and Carolyn assured her that this committee's work would be harmonious and
complementary to staff efforts.
OTHER
Carolyn shared an article from the April issue of American Libraries concerning award -
winning library architectural projects, and copies will be given to the Board at the May
meeting.
Carolyn volunteered to represent the Board at the April 23`d Harmony Library Advisory
Committee meeting.
Copies of an article regarding how municipalities finance their services was included in
the handouts.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary
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