Report_Library Board of Trustees 4 23 15 Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees Update
From the Meeting ofApril 23, 2015
Present: Mike Willis, President; Dan Boice, Secretary, and Trustees, Angela
Allred, Paula Connors, Patty Poggemiller, and Jon Trotter
Excused: Jenny Weiss
• The close of March represents 75% of the fiscal year lapsed. Expenditures were at
68% and revenue collected is at 82% or projections.
• Check-out of library materials is down except for eBooks, eAudio, and Freegal.
eBooks and eAudio have increased 23% compared to the same time last year and
Freegal (free downloadable music) has increased 141% compared to the same
time last year.
• Funding to restore library hours to 61 results in our ability to hire 5 part-time
people for up to 17 hours each a week. Next year (July 2016), funding will be
recommended for a return to 64 hours and assistant positions will then increase to
20 hours a week.
• The Board approved restoration of hours to 61 per week effective May 3 if
enough on-call staff is available to fill in until new employees are in place. New
hours are: Monday—Wednesday, 9:00 — 8:00 p.m.; Thursday Noon— 8:00;
Friday and Saturday 9:00—5:00, and Sunday 1:00 —5:00.
• The Board discussed the advantages of having a person on-staff, or as an
independent contractor, work on marketing. The Board agreed that there is a need
for greater resources devoted to marketing but funding remains a concern. The
topic was tabled for another month while additional information is gathered—
primarily how libraries of similar size evaluate the effectiveness of marketing.
• The Board voted against signing a lease for a satellite library at this time and
postponed expansion of west side service. Library service to the west side of the
community will remain as part of the library's strategic plan and was referred to
the Relations Committee for discussion to identify next steps in this process.
• The Board voted to extend the contract for the Heade painting, which is held by a
New York gallery, for another year. The market for this type of work has
plummeted so the painting will be kept in a warehouse and not offered for sale
unless the market rebounds.
• The Board agreed to having pictures of patrons added to the Koha database but
stressed that this is optional and not a requirement for getting a library card. The
advantage to having a picture in Koha is increased security for the patron as well
as being able to check out materials if a card or ID has been forgotten.
Library Board of Trustees
Mike Willis, Board President Susan Henricks, Director
Jenny Weiss, Vice President
Dan Boice, Board Secretary
Angela Allred
Paula Connors
Patty Poggemiller
Jon Trotter