HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 03/13/1997•
11 Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland 11 Staff Liaison: Kim Crowley 11
Chairperson: Jack Steele Phone: 225-0877 (h) 11
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Thursday, March 13,1997, 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, Jacqueline Wallace, and M. Madeleine Wawro.
Library Board Members Absent: Joanne Monath, AI Stone
Staff Members Present: Kim Crowley, Mike Powers, Robert Holzfaster, Dean Willms, and
Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Helen McClure
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the February
13, 1997 Regular meeting stand as written.
Information and registration forms for the workshop, "Trustees make THE difference," sponsored by the
regional library systems and the Colorado State Library were distributed, and Board members were asked to
notify the library's administration office if they are able to attend one of the sessions.
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A. Acting Library Director
Kim Crowley reported on activities at the "Computers in Libraries Conference" which she attended in
Washington, D.C. She brought back information concerning resource sharing and building
consortiums, and made useful contacts at the University of Northern Colorado as well.
The library has submitted three Library Services and Construction Act grants. The "Library Services
and Facilities Public Relations Project" asks for funding of $22,600 to hire a professional public
relations firm to design a conceptual three-year campaign and to implement a one-year public
relations/marketing campaign targeting local businesses professional organizations, and potential
corporate sponsors to inform them on the economic and cultural advantages in their support of the
library and to expand their knowledge of library services that could effectively work for their business,
profession or corporation. The "Archive Access Initiative" asks for funding of $13,860 for equipment
to help document the content and increase the accessibility and utilization of the library's Local History
Archive which is responsible for the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information
pertaining primarily to Fort Collins and Larimer County as well as to the State of Colorado. "Hablando
Espanol en la Biblioteca" requests funding of $968 to continue Spanish language classes for public
desk staff to help improve customer service. Grant awards will be announced by the Commission of
Education in May.
The library's "Electronic Literacy Connection" grant application has been sent to the Governor's office
for approval; recipients of grant awards should be notified in April or May.
The library's Young Adult Advisory Committee held a card tournament on February 13th. It proved
to be a successful event, and positive responses were received from teens as well as parents. Lunch
and prizes for the teens were provided by local businesses.
New materials earmarked for the Harmony Library have been purchased and will be available to the
public at the Mini Library. Purchases by the end of February amounted to $18,000.
Ellen Willis, Branch Manager at the Mini Library, attended the West Troutman Neighborhood Open
House on February 25th and brought the group up-to-date on plans for the Harmony Library and
closing of the Mini. Lots of questions were asked and positive feedback received. She plans to meet
with the group again in late summer to discuss Harmony landscaping.
B. Friends of the Library
Helen McClure reported that the Friends are in need of finding a sorting location which will be needed
for 3 '/2 months in preparation for their annual October book sale. About 60 people attended the
Friends' March 8th meeting at the Senior Center with guest speaker Cynthia Manuelo whose program
included how to determine the value of a book. Officer elections will be conducted at the Friends'
April meeting.
C. Grant Opportunities - Anne Ostrye-Macdonald
Discussion will be postponed until May.
D. Public Relations (Focus Groups)
Jack Steele, Jacqui Wallace, and Anne Ostrye-Macdonald reported on their meeting to discuss library
focus advisory groups and distributed a list of 12 possible target groups. The intention is to make the
library a more personalized place for these groups, encourage them to support library activities, and
perhaps get them to help raise money. A sign placed in the lobby and ads in the paper could be used
to attract participants; a Children's librarian might be able to contact mothers as well. Jack Steele
emphasized that staff time would be needed to accomplish some of these activities. The Board's Public
Relations Committee will bring more specific recommendations to a future meeting.
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E. Legislative Day Comments - Anne Ostrye-Macdonald
Senator Peggy Reeves and Representative Bob Bacon accepted invitations to attend Legislative Day
on February 27th. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald and staff member Deb Maltby represented the library.
Anne reported to the Board on the ACLIN (Access Colorado Library Information Network)
presentation given to the attendees. She also recommended that other Library Board members attend
future Legislative Day events.
F. NSFRE Conference Comments - Jacqueline Wallace
Jacqui Wallace attended the Northern Colorado Division of the National Society of Fund Raising
Executives conference and reported that, although the speaker presentations were very informative,
the information was geared more for large trustee boards. A future session will deal with how non-
profits are changing, what people expect for their money and how money giving is changing. She
recommended these sessions for a library staff member instead of a Board member.
OLD BUSINESS
A. CIP Activities
Anne Ostrye-Macdonald and Jack Steele were guests on the Phil Walker radio talk show on February
17th. Mr. Walker is involved in a citizen's group which is promoting the City's capital improvement
projects.
B. Update on Library Director candidates
Mike Powers reported that the candidates will be narrowed down to a manageable number and finalists
invited to Fort Collins for further interviews. Library Board members were asked their availability for
possible dates for the interview process.
C. Grant for Public Relations Plan
Copies of the "Library Services and Facilities Public Relations" grant application will be mailed to
Board members. (This project is described in the Director's Report.)
D. Review Technology Agenda for April meeting
Al Stone will be asked to send his recommendations for the agenda to Jack Steele or the library office.
E. Review Library Fund Committee Recommendations
Jack Steele said that he appreciates the background information which Jack Schanz gathered and that
it has helped provide the Library Board with a better understanding of the Library Fund. He
encouraged the Board members to read Jack Schanz's recent memo. The creation of a new charitable
trust mechanism to raise funds for the library will be discussed at the May or June meeting after Bill
Cook and Jack Schanz have had an opportunity to meet. Bill Cook asked that Board members
continue to try to think of people who have a background, knowledge, or interest in fundraising
activities who might be interested in volunteering or donating. In addition, a motion was made by
Anne Ostrye-Macdonald to renew Bill Cook's appointment as Library Board liaison to the Library
Fund Committee for the year ending March 31, 1998. The motion was seconded by Madeleine Wawro
and unanimously approved. .
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F. Revised version of reply to memo from Gina Janett - Jack Steele
Copies of a chart comparing library budget dollars per capita for the City's recommended "indicator"
cities were distributed. Similar to the chart comparing the library budget dollars per capita to other
Colorado cities, it reveals that the Fort Collins Public Library is still behind.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Library Budget
Jacqui Wallace will prepare a draft response to the City Manager's request for suggestions on key
budget issues for the years 1998 and 1999.
B. Items for future meetings
The majority of the April meeting will be devoted to a technology study session. Nancy Knepel,
Director of the High Plains Regional Library Service System, will be invited to the May meeting to
discuss library districts. Library Fund Committee matters will be scheduled for the June meeting.
C. Other
Board members were advised that copies of the various Boards and Commissions Annual Reports will
be kept on file in the Administration office if they wish to read them.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits
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