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LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting — October 14, 1999
6:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Michael Byrne Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams
(Phone 221-6670)
Chairperson: Ed Jakubauskas
(Phone:223-7428)
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on October 14, 1999 in the Ben Delatour Room
at the Main Library. The following Library Board members were present: Kris Folsom, Carolyn
Haase, Ed Jakubauskas, Rudy Maes, Mary Robertson, Charles Robles, and M. Madeleine
Wawro.
City Staff Members Present:
Friends of the Library Liaison:
Guests:
Brenda Cams, Michael W. Powers,
Lu Benke and Marjorie Teklits
Larry Webber
Mayor Ray Martinez
City Manager John Fischbach
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Ed Jakubauskas. After a tour
of the rearranged second floor of the Main Library, the meeting resumed. Charles Robles moved
to approve the minutes of the September 9, 1999 Regular Meeting; Maddy Wawro seconded, and
the motion was unanimously approved.
Ed Jakubauskas thanked the Mayor and City Manager for approving funds for the recarpeting
and rearrangements for the second floor of the Main Library, and congratulated Larry Webber
and the Friends upon the celebration of their 60`h anniversary; congratulations also went to Lead
Children's Librarian Lu Benke and the Children's Services staff for their award -winning 1999
Summer Reading Program.
Mayor Ray Martinez said the library is a necessity and that ongoing support is needed. He
thanked Brenda, the Library Board and all the volunteers for their work.
City Manager John Fischbach said the newly arranged second floor made a great improvement to
its appearance by creating a more open environment. He said the vision of a new main
downtown library is going to be a reality and that everyone is doing a wonderful job in creating
this vision. He also congratulated Larry Webber and the Friends on their 60th anniversary.
Mary asked if there is anything more the Library Board should be doing. John Fischbach said
simply to keep doing what they are already doing; continue to build support in the community.
Ray Martinez said to build on all kinds of community involvement. The bilingual section is
going to become more and more popular and meaningful; measure growth. Brenda added that
when the library's gets its new computer system next year, the method of keeping records of the
types of materials that are checked out will be greatly simplified.
Mike Powers said that Council Members were supportive of the library at the October 12"
meeting and that a Bilingual Library Assistant and a Technology Librarian may be approved in
the 2000/2001 budget.
CORRESPONDENCE
There was no correspondence to be read at the meeting. Recent articles about the library which
appeared in The Coloradoan were distributed as well as a copy of the May 25, 1995 Old Fort
Collins High School Feasibility Study.
REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS
A. Library Director - Brenda Cams
Brenda said the library staff are very pleased that the Bilingual Library Assistant and
Technology Librarian positions are being considered for the 2000/2001 budget. Lu
Benke mentioned that three different families recently came to the storytime at Harmony
specifically because it was bilingual.
Due to a conflict in dates with the CLRS annual retreat and the fact that the holiday
season has traditionally been a very busy time for Board members, Brenda suggested that
the Board cancel the December meeting.
Many positive comments have been received from customers regarding the
rearrangements to the second floor of the Main Library.
Privacy screens have been installed on Internet computers at the Main Library. Although
the image projected is not as clear with the screens, there haven't been any negative
reactions, and staff are looking at ways to increase the size of the print to compensate for
this difficulty.
Brenda, Carolyn and two library staff members attended the Colorado Library
Association's Annual Conference in Snowmass the weekend of October 9 and 10.
B. Friends of the Library — Larry Webber
Larry said this year's book sale on October 1-3 raised approximately $23,800 which was
about $1,500 more than 1998's sale. At the end of the sale, some leftover books were
donated to the Detention Center. The space provided for the Friends at the Technical
Services site has greatly helped them prepare for this major event.
For the new year, the Friends are planning to focus on conference scholarships for staff
and more advocacy for library needs in addition to their book sales.
The Friends will have a membership drive in the library next Monday and Wednesday
and will have extended hours at the gift ship on the 26"; new members will receive a free
book.
$175.40 has been collected from the used cartridge recycling program. This money will
go towards the Young Adult Summer Reading Program.
C. Committee Reports:
County/State/National Committee —Kris Folsom, Chair
The Committee's mission is to keep library issues in front of national, state and county
officials and to keep the Library Board apprised of concerns and issues of national, state,
and county officials. They will formulate action plans, share them with the Board and
assign steps to be taken to accomplish their mission.
National issues update: Charles will focus on addressing Intemet issues with Bob
Schaeffer; Kris will contact the legislative committee of the American Library
Association.
State issues update: The committee will strive to not let the Intemet distraction be tied to
materials funding; Charles, Rudy and Carolyn will continue to communicate this to
Peggy Reeves, Stan Matsunaka, Governor Owens and Bob Bacon.
County issue update: The Committee will continue to promote and encourage activities
such as the Hispanic student tour of the library.
The committee will meet again at 7 p.m. on November 4".
City Council Relations Committee, Charles Robles, Chair
Members of the Committee are planning to either meet, telephone, or email their Council
representatives on a regular basis to discuss library issues. Talking points will be
reviewed and thank you notes will be sent when appropriate.
Community/Public Relations Committee, Mary Robertson, Chair
It is planned to have consumer boards meet three to four times per year; Young Adult,
Children's Services, and Local History Consumer Boards are currently meeting, and it is
planned to organize Boards for Adult Services, Information Technology and Local
Business.
Priorities and Goals of the Community/Public Relations Committee include: the
2000/2001 Budget (two new positions proposed; email with Mike Byrne; a dedicated
funding source); long-term support for a New Main Library (developing talking points;
public speaking training and listing possible groups, and library site discussions);
community outreach to special interest groups (meeting room policy, partnering with
other community groups); and activities that showcase the Library (Library Trust plans).
OLD BUSINESS
A. Library Fund Committee Appointment
Mary Robertson made a motion to appoint Bill Ward as Chairperson of the Library Fund
Committee; Rudy Maes seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
B. Library Board Retreat — Madeleine Wawro
Some possible agenda items, such as library district options, referendums, and public
speaking, for the November I 1 Library Board retreat were discussed. Maddy, Mary, and
Charlie will meet on October 201h to finalize an agenda. The meeting will take place
starting at 5 p.m. in the Community Room at Harmony Library.
C. County Meeting — Ed Jakubauskas
Brenda and Ed attended a meeting of the Larimer County Librarians, accompanied by a
Board member from each library, the Assistant County Manager and facilitators to
discuss options to obtain supplementary library funding. The most desirable options
identified include a County -wide tax from a special district which would be given to the
City libraries, or creating a tax (which would have to be voter approved) for residents
outside the cities which would be given to the cities, or forming four library districts. An
Estes Park Library District already exists, and Red Feather Lakes is planning to go to
their voters with the plan to form a Library District. The other two library districts would
cover northern and southern areas of the County. The group will discuss these issues
further at a meeting in November.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary