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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 01/09/199711 Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland 11 Staff Liaison: Kim Crowley 11 I[Chairperson: Jack Steele Phone: 225-0877 (h) 11 A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Thursday, January 9, 1997, in the Ben Delatour Room of the Fort Collins Public Library. The following Library Board members were present: Bill Cook, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Joanne Monath, Jack Steele, Al Stone, Jacqueline Wallace, and M. Madeleine Wawro. Staff Members Present: Kim Crowley, Mike Powers, Ellen Willis, Dean Willms, Pat Doughty, Marjorie Teklits Friends of the Library Liaison: Jean Dietemann Guest: Jack Schanz, Chair, Library Fund Committee The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the December 5, 1996 meeting stand as written. CORRESPONDENCE A copy of a letter from Linda McNamara to City Council members encouraging their support for improving Library services as priorities are set for Building Community Choices was shared with the Library Board as well as a copy of a letter from Camila A Afire, Dean and Past -President of REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish-speaking) encouraging the recruitment of a person for the Library Director position who is committed to diversity in staff and services. A. Friends of the Library Report President, Jean Dietemann, reported that the Friends are discussing ways to be more proactive and are hoping to initiate some new programs. They were pleased to have the Mayor and Literacy Program Coordinator Connie Rockwell attend their recent meeting. As the Literacy Grant has been discontinued, any gifts and donations made to the literacy program are being processed through the Friends of the Library. In addition, Jean reported that the Friends did not agree with a proposal to give LINC Centers access to the books they collect but, rather, would prefer a program to have youth volunteers do work for them in preparation for their annual sale in exchange for "book bucks." B. New Main Library Committee (Options) - Bill Cook, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald Promotional ideas for a new main library included: Having the Library Fund Committee place a newspaper ad detailing library needs in the community and to solicit a support group for a library development fund; submitting letters to the editor promoting the location of a new main library and creating a vision of what the downtown area would be like with a library, restaurants, hotel, recreation center, etc.; making presentations to Council to reiterate the need for the land acquisition portion of the CIP and the importance of a new main library; have the library services video return to cable TV to continue promoting the need for standards and a new main library; maintaining contact with downtown businesses to stress the importance of the library's presence in maintaining a vibrant downtown area; and meeting with Council Members on a one-on-one basis. Obtaining a petition in support of funding for a new main library to submit to Council was suggested as part of a citizen's initiative. Library partnering suggestions included ajoint justice center, ajoint youth activity center in the northern section of the proposed Civic Center, working with the Chamber of Commerce to initiate a ballot issue for ajustice center/library/performing arts center, and working with the school district to make land trades and, perhaps, build an alternative school center and library in the Civic Center. Kim Crowley will provide Madeline Wawro with a copy of suggested Poudre School District/City of Fort Collins Joint Projects which includes expanded service at LINC sites. Another option suggested was to expand the present library into the museum and possibly create a no car/pedestrian plaza connected to Old Town. In the meantime, it was suggested to continue to develop the LINC sites, ensure full funding for the Harmony Library, hire a new Director who will pursue a new main library, and organize a guild or support group to raise funds and add political support for a new main library. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald felt that a citizen's initiative would be difficult. Bill Cook suggested using an advertisement to get the public to work together to help in efforts for a new main library. AI Stone did not favor partnering efforts but, rather, a separate group with a clear focus to push for a new main library. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald felt expanding the present Main Library might be a more palatable idea. Considering another branch rather than a new main library was also a suggested option. C. Acting Library Director Approximately 36 items were donated during the Library's holiday donation drive. Customers who contributed items wrote their name on a holiday ornament which was placed on the Library's Christmas tree, and large thank you notes to all were posted throughout the building. Jack Steele suggested an article be written about the holiday donations for the Library Focus page in The Coloradoan. Copies of outreach statistics for December and year-to-date were distributed. For the year, 6,392 books were placed on Yellow Shelves, 619.1 hours were used for outreach, 3,445.3 miles were traveled doing outreach, 589 calls were made and 4,120 items delivered to homebound customers. Thanks to money provided by the Friends of the Library and help from local Girl Scouts, token Christmas gifts were given to homebound customers. Year-to-date circulation statistics reflected an 11.8% increase over last year, and total circulation 2 reached 1,200,000. The search for a new Library Director has been narrowed down, and it is planned to conduct telephone interviews, perhaps send a representative to the ALA conference if enough of the applicants are attending, and develop a list of questions which would require a written response so that the list can be further reduced to 3-5 applicants. Ellen Willis, future Branch Manager of the Harmony Library, reported that she has been attending weekly construction meetings and that the site for the new Library has been fenced off in preparation for construction to begin. Late 1997 is the expected completion date. Ellen will do a presentation to the Friends organization about the library at their February 12th meeting. In the meantime, preparation for collection development for the Harmony Library is underway. D. Special Reports Bill Cook reported that he is planning to attend a meeting concerning important community issues and intends to mention the Library. Al Stone and Anne Ostrye-Macdonald expressed interest in attending this year's Legislative Workshop on February 27, and information concerning the event will be sent to them. OLD BUSINESS A. Review Retreat Issues Subjects for discussion at the January 22nd Library Board Retreat were agreed upon. B. Finalize Interview Questions for Library Director Interviews Jack Steele and Bill Cook will provide wording for an additional question concerning the acquisition of a new main library. Samples of interview comment forms were distributed. C. CIP Meetings Mike Powers reported that a final list of Capital Improvement Project recommendations for the April ballot will be decided upon by City Council members at the January 14th meeting. D. Annual Report Jack Steele asked Library Board members to let him know if they have any changes to the draft report. NEW BUSINESS A. Library Fund Advisory Committee Discussion involved the Library Fund Committee and its present charter. Jack Schanz recommended that either the charter be revised to fit the present Committee or that the Committee be changed to fit the charter. He prefers that the Committee focus on endowments and suggested the formation of a task force reporting to the Committee which would be responsible for fund raising. Jack will return to the February Board Meeting to report on the current status of the fund. B. Items for the February Meeting Jack Steele has invited Council Member Gina Janett to attend the February 13th meeting, Leslie Patterson and a member of the Young Adult Advisory Committee will update the Library Board on their activities, Jack Schanz will report on the Library Fund, and reports from the Library Board Technology and Public Relations Committees are scheduled to be presented. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marjorie Teklits 0