HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 12/10/19970
LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting - December 10, 1997
6:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland Staff Liaison: Brenda Cams
Chairperson: Jack Steele
Phone: 225-0877 (h)
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Wednesday, December 10, 1997, in the Ben
Delatour Room of the Fort Collins Public Library. The following Library Board members were
present: Bill Cook, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Jack Steele, Al Stone, Jacqueline Wallace, and M.
Madeleine Wawro.
City Staff Members Present: Brenda Cams, Mike Powers, Marty Heffernan,
and Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Catherine Janonis
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by the Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the
November 13, 1997 Regular meeting stand as written.
CORRESPONDENCE
Information concerning the High Plains Regional Library Service System's annual retreat
(January 15-17) was distributed. Brenda Cams invited Library Board members to participate and
to contact the Library's administration office if they wish to register for any of the events.
REPORTS
A. Library Director - Brenda Cams
Wiring at the new Harmony Library is expected to be completed around January 5`h.
Shelving from the Mini Library is scheduled to be delivered shortly thereafter when it
will be set up. After additional new shelving is delivered, it will be installed and the
books will be shelved. A "VIP" reception remains scheduled for Wednesday, January 14,
a Business After Hours event on January 15, and a Grand Opening celebration is
scheduled for Saturday, January 31. The Board is invited to attend these events and are
asked to R.S.V.P. to the office for the VIP and After Hours events.
Brenda Cams invited Library Board members to tour the Harmony Library at 4:00 p.m.,
December 15th and asked them to meet her at the site.
Anne Ostrye-Macdonald asked how staffing is being rearranged, and Brenda Cams
explained that in order to best utilize staff time to provide coverage in two libraries, a
scheduling plan has been developed to adjust work schedules to times staff are needed the
most. It is planned to reduce the number of service desk staff at less busier times at the
Main Library in order to move them to the Harmony Library to provide coverage for busy
hours at that site. Service desk hours will, in many cases, increase to 32 hours per week.
Anne Ostrye-Macdonald mentioned that over a period of time, this could cause staff
"burn -out," especially on busy Reference desks, and Brenda Cams explained that this
type of schedule has been used in other libraries when it seemed to work. In addition, the
new schedules will be reevaluated after a period of time to make any needed adjustments.
It is anticipated that business at the new library will steadily increase, and it will be
necessary to see if there is any decrease in the use of the Main Library. Jack Steele said
he would like to schedule a discussion about the staff reorganization at a meeting in the
near future.
Jack Steele asked what percent of reference materials presently at the Main Library will
be duplicated at the Harmony_ Library, and Brenda Cams said she would obtain this
information for him.
Jack Steele asked Brenda Cams about the visit to the City from eight Japanese teachers in
early November. Brenda said the Library had a turn in hosting them, that they were
given tours of the Main and Mini Libraries, enjoyed seeing new acquisitions and using
the computers, and overall experienced good interaction with the Library. Mike Powers
added that many of the other City facilities also hosted the teachers during their visit.
B. Friends of the Library - Catherine Janonis
The Friends have been planning the operation of their gift shop at the new Harmony
Library and are recruiting people to staff it with two-hour shifts. They are planning to
have the gift shop open to the public six days a week, four hours a day, including one
evening per week. Brenda Cams added that the Friends' calendar sale is progressing, and
they have sold enough at present to more than break even. Any remaining calendars
which have not sold will be placed in the Friend's store at the Harmony Library in
January.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Discussion of "Into the 2191 Century" document - Library Board
The Library Board carefully reviewed proposed revisions to the document and decided to
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revise it with the intent of rewriting the section containing some of the numbers and
explanations in order to make it more consistent, easier to understand and, if appropriate,
refer to supporting documents to be included with the report. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald
will try to have a re -written version ready to mail with the January packets, and Jack
Steele encouraged other Board members to offer their assistance to Anne.
A. Next month
Continuation of "Into the 2 1 " Century" document discussion.
Information regarding site selection criteria for a new library.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
Library Secretary
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