HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 02/13/1997A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Thursday, February 13,1997, in the Ben Delatour Room
of the Fort Collins Public Library. The following Library Board members were present: Joanne Monath, Jack
Steele, Al Stone, and Jacqueline Wallace.
Library Board Members Absent: Bill Cook, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, M. Madeleine Wawro
Staff Members Present: Kim Crowley, Mike Powers, Leslie Patterson, Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Charlotte Rehnberg
Guests: Gina Janett, City Council Member
Jack Schanz, Chair, Library Fund Committee
Jennifer Briggs, Stephanie Mosnik, James Suzuki, Young Adult Advisory
Committee
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the January 9,
1997 Regular meeting and the January 22 Retreat meeting stand as written.
Jack Steele sent copies of his January 28th response to Gina Janett's October 28th letter concerning the
Council's funding support to the Library over the past six years to the Mayor and Chris Kneeland and is
planning to forward copies to Will Smith and Chuck Wanner.
Jack Steele and Anne Ostrye-Macdonald will be guests on Phil Walker's radio talk show on February 17th.
Mr. Walker is involved in a citizen's group which is promoting the City's capital improvement projects.
Copies of a response to the January 28th article in The Coloradoan concerning the "Public library system in
a bind" were distributed to the Board. Although the response makes a good point about the formation of a
library district, it contains some inaccuracies, such as the writer's conception that the City owns the old Fort
Collins High School. The Acting Library Director is planning a response to the writer.
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A. Gina Janett, City Council Member
Council Member Janett was invited to attend the meeting to give insight on Council's views of library
services and to offer advice and guidance to the Library Board. The Impact Fee was discussed and
Jack Steele said that, even with the revenue expected from the fee, the library is still far behind the
averages for other Colorado libraries. Gina Janett said that the philosophy is to try to keep the library
current and that the Impact Fees are structured to help prevent the library from falling behind. She
suggested the Library collect data from the recommended indicator cities which are other cities in the
country that are college towns with similar populations as Fort Collins.
Discussion also involved the possible overlap of services offered by CSU's library; it was pointed out
that, although there are some services offered by both libraries, the collections of the two libraries are
distinct. A large number of CSU students come to the public library for help with their research needs,
a service which is not always available at CSU because the desks are staffed with other students much
of the time. In addition, the public library is more accessible as far as parking and more user-friendly
according to customer comments received.
Gina Janett said the Council often hears from the Library Board about the need for increased services
but seldom from the public. Kim Crowley pointed out that the library provides excellent customer
service and receives few complaints, however, the library does receive requests for more books,
materials, and a larger facility.
Jack Steele asked Gina Janett if the current Council feels that the library should feel satisfied because
of the approval to build the Harmony Library, and she said that Council knows there is still a deficit.
Funding for the new library came from reserves in a non-competitive manner in order to take advantage
of an excellent opportunity; some other City departments felt disgruntled and some Council members
wanted to know what the City didn't get in other areas because of it.
Gina Janett said that part of the City Plan for the future is the idea of decentralizing, to have jobs and
services near where people reside. She suggested the library explore where other branches could be
located instead of having one large main library. Do we want one library per quadrant, or just one big
library? Jack Steele asked if a plan of decentralizing would jeopardize the library's chances of
becoming part of a Civic Center, and Gina Janett responded that it doesn't, however, the question
would be the size of the library. Jack Steele responded that a lot of small branches require more staff
than one large library. Gina Janett said that even though more staff might be required, the idea of
decentralizing and having various nodes around the city would help cut down on transportation needs
and provide convenience to residents.
B. Leslie Patterson and the Young Adult Advisory Committee
The Library's Young Adult Coordinator, Leslie Patterson, invited three members of the Young Adult
Advisory Committee (YAAC) to speak to the Board and update them on their activities. Jennifer
Briggs, Stephanie Mosnik and James Suzuki explained that they joined the YAAC because they are
avid readers, it gave them a chance to get together with other teens who enjoy reading and learning,
and they want to help make the library a fun place for other kids, to come together and put aside their
differences for books. Their energy and enthusiasm for the program was obvious as they explained last
year's Teen Summer Reading Program, a lock -in sleepover which included a scavenger hunt and
midnight ghost stories, and their plans for this year's Summer Reading Program with a theme of past,
present and future. Some of the teens have volunteered as library PAL's.
C. Library Fund Committee Quarterly Report
Jack Schanz requested that Board members contact him with comments and questions concerning the
two committee report drafts that have been prepared. The first reviewed the Fund's financial history
through 1996 as a part of a community foundation, and the second examined possible advantages of
forming an independent Library charitable trust sometime in the future.
A decision as to the Committee's grant recommendation for the January -March quarter cannot be made
until the Foundation report for October -December 1996 is received. The Foundation has already
approved withdrawal of $3,370 in the next six months or $1,685 per quarter. Jack has appealed that
amount and requested approval for $10,000/year since the Library has not withdrawn as much as it
could in the past. Diane Hogerty feels that the Foundation Board would probably approve that amount
if requested. This would provide $6,650 over the next six months or $3,325 per quarter.
In the past, the majority of the Committee have recommended withdrawing only dividends and interest
less the management fee. This would be about $2,000 for the next 6 months/$1,000 per quarter. A
vote will be called for as soon as the quarterly report is received from the Foundation. Next July, the
Foundation will approve approximately $11,000 per fiscal year and $12,500 for the following year.
D. Acting Library Director
Al Stone is unable to accompany Anne Ostrye-Macdonald to Legislative Day and an attempt will be
made to get a replacement.
The Marketing, Advertising and Communication Association (MAC) has donated more than 60 new
marketing related books to the library as well as a check for $400 which will be used for the purchase
of business related material.
Copies of the 1996 Statistical Report were distributed. Of particular note: non -print media circulation
was up 355% over 1987; 26% of the circulation was handled on self -check equipment, reserves
increased by 295% since 1986; registered customers were up 13.5% over last year; telephone usage
up 366% from 1986, 347 more calls came in through DialPac than the total number of in/out calls at
the Mini Library; Local History's public contacts were up 206% from 1989 and fine collections were
up 281% since 1986.
The library participated in the Community Internet Festival on January 25 where almost 500 people
attended. Another festival is planned in 1998.
Collection Development staff have begun purchasing materials for the Harmony Library; some materials
from the Mini's collection have been moved to the Main Library to make room for these new items.
Meetings concerning policies, procedures, construction, interior decoration, staff, security issues, and
signage have either taken place or are being scheduled. The Board was invited to visit the Mini Library
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to check out prototype chairs which may be used at the new library.
E. Friends of the Library - Charlotte Rehnberg
The Friends approved $1,300 for 100 CD-ROM disks and a CD-ROM Write Drive which will allow
Local History to make their own CD's to store original images. Charlotte also reported that Lu Benke
gave a presentation to the Friends on last year's Summer Reading Program which had over 6,000
children in attendance. Plans are proceeding for this year's October booksale at the Mall, and Charlotte
asked the Board to let her know if they hear of a facility that would be available for book sorting during
the summer.
OLD BUSINESS
A. CIP and Ballot Issues
Copies of the February 5th article from The Coloradoan concerning the "`Choices' capital projects sent
to voters" was distributed. Summaries of comments in favor and opposed to the ballot issues will be
included in a notice to be mailed to all registered voters prior to the election. If the Library's issues
are passed, the Board will need to recommend to Council when these projects should be funded. Radio
personality Phil Walker is co-chair of a Citizens Building Community Choices committee promoting
the CIP projects.
B. Update on Library Director Candidates
Mike Powers reported that first interviews are planned in Washington and Seattle over the next two
weeks, and it is hoped to have the fist of applicants narrowed down by mid March and to invite these
candidates to Fort Collins for further interviews by early to mid -April.
C. Annual Report
Copies of the Library Board's Annual Report were distributed.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Library Technology Committee Report and Discussion - AI Stone, Joanne Monath
The committee recommended training the Board on basic technology including where library
technology has come from, where it is today and where it may go in the future. It was decided to
devote the main portion of the April loth meeting to this training. Al Stone will put together an agenda
for the training, and Kim Crowley will have the technology staff present a session similar to what is
being presented to the public and staff. Jack Steele would like copyright information included in the
session. A copy of a recent report concerning libraries and communities in the digital age, "Buildings,
books, and bytes" will be distributed in the March folders.
B. Library Public Relations Committee Report and Discussion - Jacqueline Wallace
It was suggested to form focus groups to help promote the Library, such as groups of mothers with
children attending storytimes, the Young Adult Advisory Committee (YAAC), the Hispanic
community, business community, etc., and to find out what they would like to see at the library, what
it needs, and encourage them to inform friends and neighbors what future library service will be like
if nothing is done now. Jack suggested that he, the committee, and a Library staff member discuss how
to identify possible groups and ways to persuade these groups to participate.
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C. Items for March Meeting
It is planned to continue discussion of a public relations plan as well as the Library Fund Committee
recommendations. The Ways and Means Committee Report and Discussion will be postponed to a
future meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits