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LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING — APRIL 12, 2006
6:00 P.M.
Council Liaison: Ben Manvel Staff Liaison: Brenda
(Phone 221-6670)
Chairperson: Nina Bodenhamer
(Phone: 266-9611)
A regular meeting of the Library Board was held on April 12, 2006 in the Ben Delatour Room of
the Main Library at 201 Peterson Street. The following Library Board members were present:
Nina Bodenhamer, Don Oehlerts, Ralph Olson, and Molly Thompson.
Library Board Members Absent
City Staff Members Present:
Friends of the Library Liaison
Friends of the Library/
Library Awareness Committee:
Guest:
Bob Burns, Melissa Pattison, and Mary Robertson
Brenda Cams, Carson Block, and Marjorie Teklits
Sharon Bleicher
Marty Tharp
Jean Blaylock, League of Women Voters
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairperson Nina Bodenhamer. Ralph Olson
moved to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2006 and March 8, 2006 meetings; Don
Oehlerts seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Correspondence:
There was no correspondence to be read at tonight's meeting.
Reports/Presentations:
a. Director's Report - Brenda Cams
Board members were given copies of recent newspaper articles in their packets, including
the letters to the editor about the library.
Business Librarian Jean Anderson has resigned and accepted another position in the Las
Vegas area.
The Friends of the Library funded participation at the Public Library Association
Conference for seven staff members. Staff learned much and have plans to change some
of the ways we do things. It was a great experience for all who attended, and staff are
very appreciative that the Friends made this staff development opportunity possible.
As always, there is quite a variety of "How'd we do?" comment forms. Besides
comments about the great library and wonderful staff, customers are still having
problems with parking at Harmony Library. The good news is that the college is
remodeling their lot and it looks like expansion of the library lot will be incorporated in
the project. Money collected from tines will help tremendously. Some Board members
didn't realize that money collected from tines at the Main Library have to be returned to
the City's General Fund, while due to the agreement in the IGA, money collected from
tines at Harmony is put aside for projects such as the possible lot expansion or new
carpeting when needed.
Brenda extended thanks to Molly Thompson, Melissa Pattison, and Sharon Bleicher for
attending the volunteer brunch on April 81h.
b. Friends of the Library — Sharon Bleicher
The Friends made over $6,600 at their mid -winter used book sale. The Friends Shop
collected about $1,300 over the three-day sale.
The Friends are very proud of their remodeled web site which is now up and running. I1
can be reached through fortnet.org/fol. Carson Block said he would like to create a link
from the library's site to the Friends' site.
Terri Sullivan and Sharon attended David Roy's community meeting; Sharon said Marty
Heffernan gave a good presentation and overview, and the majority of the audience was
very supportive.
C. Library Technology — Carson Block, Technology Coordinator
Carson's began the slide presentation by identifying members of his staff and what
function they perform in Systems Administration (SA).
Statistics from 2005 included:
Customers searched the library's database 220,693 times (a 2 1 % increase over 2004);
Customers retrieved 327,050 documents (32% increase over 2004);
Customers visited the library's website 165,114 times (compared to 104,380 in 2004);
Customers visited the Local History sitel8,585 times (slightly less than in 2004).
Over the past 2 '/z years, Systems Administration:
Brought SA staffing to full level and refined the staffing mix for maximum efficiency;
Received funding for BCC Technology Funding;
Performed network infrastructure overhaul (security; scalability for potential growth);
Continued improvements in the automation system (hardware and software upgrades,
beta testing; participation);
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OWL redesign (Our Web Library);
Created an integrated training plan;
Created electronic adult and teen summer reading program registration and data access;
Established technology stabilization for Local History effort;
Current projects include:
Wise spending (BCC reserves for 2006-2007);
Pursuit of alternative funding for Library operations, including transitional planning for
operations under a new funding model;
ADS (building on foundation of network change);
SAM session and print management;
Electronic registration for Children's summer reading program;
Wireless Internet access for the public at both libraries.
Future Projects include:
Transitional issues for the library under a new funding model;
Scalability for all potential electronic operations;
Virtualization of server resources;
E-commerce;
Self-service continuum;
Web infrastructure overall;
Better statistics.
The Board thanked Carson for his very informative presentation.
d. Public Relations — Molly Thompson
Molly will start planning the next Quarterly Newsletter; Brenda suggested distributing it
electronically. Suggested topics: Summer Reading Program, Library District and
funding options, the Volunteer Brunch, volunteer hours, and the Annie Walk; Sharon said
the next Friends newsletter is due out in early May also.
Old Business
a. Library Funding
Don Oehlerts said he started working in libraries 55 years ago; he feels it's tragic that
funding issues have to be revisited every generation. It's like pushing a plow and it's
hard to get people focused on what we do. It's a shame we have to go through it all over
again.
Jean Blaylock will propose a study of Larimer County libraries to the League of Women
Voters; they meet on May I't and then break until September. Nina suggested giving
them a one page information sheet, a READ poster, and telling them about all the good
things the library does. Also, Jean attended David Roy's community meeting in March;
she said the question about an appointed Library District Board vs. an elected Board kept
Other:
coming up, and it should be addressed. She said it would be nice if more Council
Members held open meetings with the public.
Ralph said he is sure neighborhood associations would be interested to learn more about
the library, especially those in the southeast where there is a potential for a new branch.
Perhaps they would share the information in their newsletters.
Marty Tharp said the Library Awareness Committee is planning public education during
the months of June and July. Connie Hanrahan, from Mantooth Company, is bringing
ideas on how to get the message across to people in a simple and consistent manner.
Brenda said there is a meeting scheduled with County officials on April 21" to discuss a
Library District option . The County is planning to ask for property tax increases for jail
improvements this fall.
Don Oehlerts volunteered to represent the Library Board at the May 191h Harmony
Library Advisory Committee meeting.
An updated roster with current contact information was distributed.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Magorie Teklits
Administrative Secretary