Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board - Minutes - 07/21/1994CITY OF FORT COLINS PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING Ben Delatour Room - Fort Collins Public Library July 21, 1994 - 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: LIBRARY BOARD -- Anne Ostrye-Macdonald, Chairperson, Sandra Webermeier, Al Stone, Madeleine Wawro, Al Bednarz, Lee Anderson, Karen Dornseif ABSENT -- Ann Azari LIBRARY STAFF -- Linda Saferite, Robert Holzfaster, Barbara Surber, Larry Webber, Ellen Willis, Bob Copeland, Dean Willms LIBRARY LIAISON -- Ann Azari The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by the Chair, Anne Ostrye-Macdonald. The minutes of the June 16, 1994 meetings were approved. There was no correspondence. Mayor Ann Azari was attending a City Council meeting. Anne introduced LeMoyne Anderson and Alan Bednarz, the two new members of the Library Board. Anne asked them to say a little bit about themselves. REPORTS - On The Job With - Robert Holzfaster Linda Saferite introduced Robert Holzfaster, Office Administrator/Manager, to present his "On The Job With" report. Robert has worked at the library for over twenty years and has done many jobs. He has worked in the office since 1973. He has seen many changes come and go such as the bookmobile that was retired in 1981 when the county would no longer support it. In response to Lee Anderson's question on how the rural communities are served, Linda explained that there are small libraries and yellow shelves that now serve these communities. Robert reported on various responsibilities of the administration office. The office works in cooperation with other city offices and processes invoices and purchase orders to go to accounting, coordinates statistical information and data processing to produce the library budget, processes paperwork for employees that go to employee development, customer relations, employee relations, tracking grants, and tracking and processing revenue are some of his responsibilities. He is hoping that office staff will be increased to be able to handle the ever increasing workload. - General Report - Linda Saferite Linda demonstrated puppets that were made and donated to the Children's program by a volunteer and by Ann Blackstone, the library's graphic artist. There are over 5,000 children now registered in the Summer Reading Program. On August 2nd, Linda will be taking the proposal for new furnishings to City Council for preliminary approval. She asked the Library Board Members and others to attend this meeting to show support for this much needed funding. She is also there to recommend adoption of ordinances for the Young Adult Library Services Grant, Adult Literacy Grant and Special Library Projects. These will be up for final approval on August 16. Linda brought samples of carpet and fabric and explained how these would be used to improve the library's appearance. Once this funding is approved, she will begin to work on replacing worn out furniture and reviving the interior. This should begin in August and hopefully finish by January. f The LINC bookplates are here and the barcodes will be placed at the bottom of the front covers. A duplication machine will help with this project. This placement is to accommodate the Self Check-out Machines which speeds service to customers. Debra Kiefer has been assigned to coordinate volunteers for the library and is now working on organizing and recruiting. Debra is continuing to be the Homebound and Outreach representative. Sarah Scoby is the new Reference Librarian and she will be chairing the Multi -Cultural Committee. She is in the process of writing a grant to Hewlett-Packard to help build a the spanish language collection. Sue -Ellen Jones who is completing her library degree, is working with Linda on Library Standards as a practicum. The Barton Early Childhood Center is proceeding well. The artist who donated two stained glass pictures to the childrens department last year has again offered to donate additional artwork. Photos of the work were shared and it was agreed it should be accepted. During last months fire emergency, many fire fighters were brought here and stationed at the Armory. The Mishawaka Inn phoned and said the greatest need was for reading materials. Library staff hurried and took yellow shelf books to the Armory that day. A letter was received thanking the library for the books on such short notice. - How'd we do's Al Stone inquired on the status of a challenged book "The Grounding of Group 6" and Linda noted that this book is available to be read if anyone is interested. - Mini Library Update Linda and Eric Reno were interviewed this afternoon by Channel 14 regarding the Mini Library and the cooperative focus of Front Range Community College and the Fort Collins Public Library. Work is being done on an Inter -governmental Agreement and a land lease on the Front Range Community College Campus. The development specifications for a modular unit is in process. Karen passed around a conflict of interest statement and this is filed with the City Clerks office. She stressed that she will not compromise the Library Board in any way by being on staff at this library. Linda explained differences in space usage, etc. between this and the previous plan for the Mini Library. The pluses are more reference material, larger space, Front Range will supplement the collection and make it larger especially with the young adult collection and the LINC collection. This library will merge into the Dynix system. Other advantages will be a larger meeting room, larger study areas, a student center, enclosed study rooms and longer hours (52 hours/week). March 17, 1995 is the scheduled opening date. There will be forty parking spaces dedicated to the library and possibly timed to accommodate library customers as well as students. N OLD BUSINESS Anne reported that the libratpund Advisory Committee will be song up a group to overlook major fundraising projects. She and Jerry Roselle will be setting up this group and Giny Ward and herself will work on strategy and information. She will have more on this at the next Library Board Meeting. Anne passed around an example of a long range plan and Sandra explained its benefits. This is a basic draft but does show goals and future plans. The Library Mission Statement is also being revised. Al Bednarz asked if a long range planned had been discussed previously and Linda stressed that a branch was pointed out as a priority. There will be a celebration of the opening of the Mini Library. This is not a pressing issue but is was suggested that this is a good opportunity to make a community celebration of it and Linda asked to have this discussed at the next Library Board Meeting. NEW BUSINESS Anne reported on a trip she and Linda took to the Longmont Public Library and the Boulder Public Library and shared slides. Differences as well as likes and dislikes were discussed. These libraries opened up the idea of using Old Fort Collins High School as a possible site for a larger library for Fort Collins. Anne, Sandra and Karen worked up a proposal of converting the old Fort Collins High School building to a new library. This proposal was shown to Ann Azari and she suggested submitting this the City Council to discuss at a work session. Al Bednarz asked for reason why the building was not retained and the ADA requirements were not there. Linda explained that the proposal would call for all floors, electric, etc. to be upgraded. Poudre R-1 has a re- use study done and ready so City Council would need to intervene and ask to consider this proposal. A citizens vote by a Bond Issue or tax would be required to finance this project. Linda explained this site would fill many needs that the library has now such as more space and off street parking. Sandy noted that of the other considerations for the high school, this would be accepted by the public and would also be considered the best of a re -use plan. Lee asked what Poudre R-1 wants; probably a lease would be required. The facade needs to be left in tact, the best entrance would be at the back where off street parking would be. Discussion of location and feasibility studies were discussed and Anne explained that each step of the proposal would stop or continue this project. Al Stone moved to recommend to City Council to proceed with this proposal and Sandra Webermeier seconded the motion, all approved. Dick Stevens asked about the timeline, cost and how long before the high school would be available and asked Linda if this would be a good idea. She responded that she would highly recommend this proposal and the cost would be appropriate considering the lack of this type of space in Fort Collins now. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Surber Library Secretary BJS/