HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 11/14/1996A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on Thursday, November 14, 1996, 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.
Staff Members Present: Linda Saferite, Mike Powers, Ellen Willis, Dean Willms, Kim Crowley,
Bob Copeland, Robert Holzfaster, Marjorie Teklits
Friends of the Library Liaison: Leslie Diverdi (absent)
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by the Chairperson, Jack Steele. The minutes of the October 10,
1996 meeting stand as written.
CORRESPONDENCE
A copy of Council Member Gina Janett's October 28th letter to Jack Steele and the Library Board concerning
Library budget information from 1990 to the present was distributed. Chair Jack Steele is preparing a response
and mentioned plans to invite her to join the Board at their January meeting in order to exchange views and
concerns. He also suggested inviting other Council Members to attend meetings during the next year.
A. Library Fund Committee - Jack Schanz
Committee Chair Jack Schanz reported their October 21 meeting was canceled due lack of quorum.
He said that the Committee is contemplating a second attempt for a Progressive Dinner fundraising
event in the spring and intends to expand the list of invitees, send out invitations at an earlier date,
include a donation request as an overture, follow-up invitations with telephone calls, and perhaps ask
invitees if they know of anyone who would like to participate in Fund work. Another fundraising
activity possibility is a "preopening" wine and cheese party for the new Harmony Library which would
have local booksellers available to sell books which the public can purchase for the Library.
Bookplates acknowledging their gift would be put in the books and fliers informing the public about
the Library Fund would be distributed. Past efforts to publicize the fund included a Letter to the Editor
of the Coloradoan from Char Jack Schanz. Jack explained to the Library Board that the Fund
Committee welcomes their publicity ideas and suggestions. Jack Steele suggested using the "Library
Focus" column in The Coloradoon as a way to make the public more aware of the Fund. As far as the
organization of the Committee, Jack proposed that either the current Board pursue a labor intensive
effort to raise small amounts of money or expand the Committee to nine carefully chosen members
expert in fundraising activities to raise funds in larger amounts. In view of the current Committee's
inability to fill the vacancy that presently exists, he felt that attempting to organize a larger committee
was not practical. He plans to bring the Board up-to-date on Fund activity at the January meeting.
B. Friends of the Library Report - Jack Steele
Leslie Diverdi is resigning her position as Friends of the Library liaison to the Library Board and it is
hopeful that the Friends will appoint a new"representative in the near future.
C. Mike Powers Presentation
Mike informed the Board Members that the City Manager has given Council a recommended fist of
Capital Improvement Projects that will be taken to the Community for more outreach and a survey.
Council will review the list again on December 17. The City Manager recommended that the
Technology portion of the Library's submittal be funded at $3.2 million. Although a New Main
Library did not make the list, the City may consider acquiring land for a New Main Library and
Performing Arts Center for the future.
Mike mentioned that a Full Service level is still being discussed for the Harmony Library for 1998 and
that the Board's approach to Council needs to be an educational one.
It was mentioned that, because of limited resources, LINC libraries only meet the needs of some
residents. If an infrastructure of LINC and technology can be built, the public will be more apt to use
these neighborhood centers for their Library needs.
Mike Powers appointed Kim Crowley as Acting Library Director until a new Director is selected.
D. Library Director Report - Linda Saferite
A training needs assessment form was distributed to the Board and they were encouraged to submit
it to the State Library.
Copies of Patricia Fuentes -Cross' report describing her outreach effects to the Hispanic community
were distributed. These efforts included visiting 30 homes in the Hispanic community where she
informed residents of services the Library offers, information on bilingual storytimes, and how to obtain
a library card. It was suggested to invite Patty to a future Board meeting to talk to Board Members
about the program.
A copy of the quarterly report from the bookdrop courier was distributed. It shows which areas are
most active. Eliminating pickups at the inactive Preston and Poudre LINC sites enabled a drop
location at Steele's on Harmony Road to be added.
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With the assistance of a volunteer, the Library's Local History Historian has prepared a Digital Access
grant application which would provide Internet access to over 300,000 photos.
Board Members were given a copy of the Rotary READ brochure which was distributed to public and
private schools in the community. Entry forms for the contest, which encourages children to read for
at least 10 minutes a day during National Children's Book Week November 4-10, are due this week
and the winners will be awarded $10 gift book certificates at a future City Council meeting and a
School Board meeting.
A draft press release proposing an increase of the current $2 processing fee for lost materials to $15
to cover costs incurred in the processing and replacement of such materials and an increase in the
maximum fine on each item from $2 to $5 was distributed to the Board. These changes will go into
effect in January.
At the conclusion of her report, Linda Saferite thanked the Library Board for their support over the
past three years and said she is proud of their accomplishments and hopeful that more good things will
happen for the Library in the future.
"How'd we do's?"
There were no comments on this month's customer comment forms.
A. City Council Hearings, etc.
The 1997 budget was approved at Council's Second Reading. An Adequate level of service for the
Harmony Library was approved for the last two months of 1997. Copies of the six month planning
calendar were distributed and important dates for Capital Improvement Program issues noted
(December 17, January 14 and February 4).
B. Harmony Library Status
Bids for construction of the Harmony Library open on November 19 and construction will begin
approximately two weeks later. As the interiors and furniture budget are very slim, Front Range
Community College is trying to secure donations for the community, technology, and children's room
of the Library as well as for other buildings they are constructing on the campus. Staff is working with
the same interior design firm who did the Mni Library. Jack Steele asked that a brief Harmony Library
status update be given to the Board monthly.
C. New Liaison with Library Fund Advisory Committee
Bill Cook has been appointed Library Board liaison to the Library Fund Committee.
D. Library Board Retreat
A Library Board retreat will be planned for mid -January. It was also suggested to have another retreat
during Fall 1997, after the new Director is in place.
A. Review 1997 Work Plan and Calendar
Copies of a draft Work Plan, Work Plan Schedule, and a fist of five Library Board sub -committees
were distributed. Telephone reminders around the first of each month reminding Board members when
their presentations are due will be handled by the office.
B. Discuss 1996 Annual Report
Jack Steele is working on the Annual Report and asked Board members to let him know what they
would like included. Copies will be included with the December Library Board packet.
C. Discuss role and questions for Library Director Interview
Jack Steele said that a majority of the December 5th meeting will be devoted to discussion of the
Library Board's role in the selection of a new Library Director. Board Members were asked to bring
a fist questions they would like to present to candidates.
D. New Committee on Partnering
Madeleine Wawro, Al Stone and Bill Cook will be members of the Partnering Committee which will
seek ways to partner with other entities to improve Library services, consider public and private
partners, and suggest ways to effectively partner.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Teklits