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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 02/09/1995CITY OF FORT COLLINS PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD M NUTES - REGULAR MEETING Light and Power Conference Room 700 Wood Street February 9, 1995 PRESENT: LIBRARY BOARD: Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Chairperson, Le Moyne Anderson, Alan Bednarz, Karen Dornseif, M. Madeleine Wawro ABSENT: Linda Knowlton, Al Stone CITY STAFF: Linda Saferite, Mike Powers, Robert Holzfaster, Ellen Willis, Dean Willms, Larry Webber, Marjorie Teklits FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY LIAISON: Shirley Chase The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by the Chair, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald. The minutes of the January 12, 1995 meeting were amended to show a correction. Planning for the customer survey was primarily discussed at the January 31 Survey Committee. This is part of the Library Facilities Masterplan effort. CORRESPONDENCE The February 7, 1995 memo and flyer describing the April 4 mail ballot election process and deadlines was distributed to Board members. SPECIAL REPORT Assistant City Manager, Steve VanderMeer, gave an overview of the City Dialogue process to the Board, and the Phase I: Community Forums Worksession Report was distributed to Board members. Concern was expressed by the Library staff and the Board that the Library was excluded from the major themes listed in the report. Steve VanderMeer responded by informing that it is represented in "sub themes" under Education and Cultural opportunities. He suggested Board members stress to City Council the importance for the Library to be included in the Dialogue issues. REPORTS -On The Job with Renee Biehl, Bibliographic Specialist Renee described the process that occurs when new books are acquired, from entry into the Dynix database to barcoding and attaching security strips and plastic covers. This work is completed with the assistance of four full-time Library Assistants, two part-time employees and a team of Library volunteers. 14,000 items for the new Mini Library have already been processed. Part of Renee's job is to make the catalog user friendly to the public. She informed the Board that the Fort Collins Public Library will become part of the OCLC. -General Report - Linda Saferite The Library's Dynix system was on display at the City's Technology Fair. At some point in the near future, Fortnet will be available through the Library's catalog. Each department in the City has a representative at the Information Management Board, and Kim Crowley be the Library's representative for the time being. Kathleen Macdonald, a CSU senior, is a Public Relations Intern. Her draft proposal for the promotion of the new Mini Library and National Library Week/Customer Appreciation Day was shared with the Board. Customer Appreciation Day is planned for Monday, April 10 and will be hosted by members of The Friends of the Library. The purpose of this event is to thank customers for their patience during the Library's recent renovations, to entice new cardholders and to encourage new membership in the Friends of the Library. Linda Saferite, Bob Copeland (Program Administrator -Reference) and Kim Crowley (Systems Administrator) visited the Boulder Library to acquire knowledge about their CD ROM technology as far as sources, arrangement and how it is used. Mike Powers and Linda Saferite will visit the Koelbel Branch of the Arapahoe Library District in March. Koelbel is a good example of a library integrated with public art. Robert Holzfaster will present monthly library usage statistics at Library Board Meetings starting in March. Circulation declined slightly in 1994; it is just under 1 million. This is most likely due to barcoding work and renovation closures; January 1995 circulation increased 4% over January 1994. A Library Volunteer Statistics report, which showed an increase of volunteers for January, was distributed to the Board. Ellen Willis (Program Administrator-Children's/Media) attended The Old Town neighborhood meeting to discuss planned landscaping changes over the next few years for safety, security and aesthetic reasons. -How'd we do's Ann Ostrye-Macdonald suggested contact be made with customers who encouraged the use of old Fort Collins High School as a new main library before the School Board meets on Monday, February 13. -Mini Library Update The targeted opening date is July 1, and construction will begin next week. The Mini Library will occupy 3,600 s.f., and the U.S. Government is leasing 3,000 s.f. in the rear of the building. Furniture and shelving placement, design of the Circulation desk, and staff schedules are being planned for the Mini Library. -Refurbishing Update The Circulation desk has been installed as well as two Self Check Machines; the Children's/Media desk is in the fmal stages of installation. Public reaction has been very positive although comments were received about the close quarters in the media area. New furniture for the Children's area is being 701 0 assembled; the staff lounge refurbishing has been completed, and lockers have been received and will be installed shortly. Receipt machines are helping to reduce employee injury as well as speed up the check-out process. Customers need to be told that the receipts are the only place where due dates are noted. Customers may wish to write the due date on the date due slip in the book as an additional reminder. It was suggested that the receipt tape be done in a different color so as not to resemble a typical store receipt, and this will be looked into. Library Board members commented that efficiency has dramatically increased, and the circulation line moves faster. OLD BUSINESS -Old Fort Collins High School Linda Saferite and Anne Ostrye-Macdonald attended the January 23rd School Board Meeting. The School Board will vote on the reuse of the school at their February 13 meeting. They gave approval for the City to conduct a feasibility study for the reuse of the school as a new main library and youth recreation center; a scope of work is being prepared and consultants to conduct the study are being contacted. The Library Board will have the opportunity to meet with the consultant, Bob Rohlf. The feasibility study may be available by April. Alan Bednarz inquired as to whether the use of Old Fort Collins High School is economically feasible vs. building a new main Library. The study results should answer this question. Anne Ostrye-Macdonald suggested a special Library Board discussion be held depending on the result of the School Board decision. -Long Range Plans 1994 Library Board goals will be reviewed by Anne Ostrye-Macdonald and Karen Domseif. The Library Facilities Masterplan has to be completed by November 1995 in order to fit into the City Dialogue process. Linda will request 1996 funds for a Library building program which requires a library consultant to advise building configuration for a new main Library, collection size, amenities to be offered, and will include ideas resulting from the 1994 Library Board Retreat. Linda Saferite will meet with Nancy Knepel of the High Plains Regional Library Service System next week to discuss the planned customer survey, directions to take, and a draft plan will be prepared. -Library Fund Advisory Committee Anne Ostrye-Macdonald will speak to Ginny Ward, head of the Library Fund Advisory Committee, to find out how the committee is set up, its purpose, what their goals are, and its relationship with the Library. -Library Board Retreat Anne Ostrye-Macdonald will review the Library Board goals for 1995 with Al Stone, some of which include: establishing a community forum; conflict of interest sessions; joining the Friends of the Library organization; defining the relationship between the Library Fund Advisory Committee and the Library; a video of library services; a Policy Manual; hosting community meetings to obtain input from the public; intellectual freedom awareness; developing rapport with City Council; attendance at a Colorado Library Association conference; and possible quarterly work session meetings. 3 Anne Ostrye-Macdonald will invite Eloise May from the Arapahoe County Library District or Jamie LaRue from the Douglas County Library District to a future Board meeting to speak about the role Library Districts play. It was suggested that someone from the City be invited to a Board Meeting to discuss CIP funding. It was suggested that all Library Board action items be included on agendas so that they can be reviewed by the Board prior to meetings. Le Moyne Anderson would like to see a more formal voting process at Board meetings, and this will be further discussed at a future meeting. Karen Dornseif suggested that a Board member respond to Letters to the Editor in local newspapers that concern library issues. This will also be discussed at a future meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marjorie Teklits Library Secretary 4