Report_Library Board of Trustees 1 28 & 2 11, 2010Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees Update
From the Meeting of
January 28 and Special Meeting of February 11, 2010
Present: President; Diann Guns, Paula Connors, David Hammer, Beverly Kolz,
Elizabeth Leeper, Kristen Smith and Mike Willis
• December saw 50% of the fiscal year lapse and overall 50% of the
budget expended. Revenue was at 50.5% of projections by the end of
December. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the budget
for salaries (at 53 %) due to the renovation and demands on the
Maintenance Department for moving and picking up work not covered
by the construction budget.
• Strong library use concluded 2009 reflected by a 6% increase in the
circulation of materials for the month of December as well as year -to-
date. Visits increased 4 %. Web site traffic was up close to 10% over
the previous month (13,105 visits) and over 45% of this traffic came
from new visitors. Of the overall visits 66% were direct to our URL and
20% resulted from a Google search. Patrons are frequently accessing
the Library's web site to generate requests for materials which was up
54% year -to -date. Pick up of materials placed on holds increased 34%
which follows the large increase in web site use to generate requests.
• The Library earned $168 in commissions for sales from
Art@yourlibrary. This money will go toward funding future
Art@yourlibrary events. Dubuque Main Street is organizing
Architecture Days again this year which will be held April 12 — 15.
Betty Baule has been representing the Library in the meetings to plan
events. We have been asked if the project students have embarked
on tying architecture and art together could be exhibited here as an
Art@yourlibrary event and are planning on this to be on the second
floor.
• The Foundation is losing two members: Bernie Giesler has resigned
for health reasons and Ed Everts is resigning in October when his
retirement begins.
• The Board approved the updated Volunteer Policy. The only
substantive change was the addition of a sentence telling volunteer
candidates that they will hear back from the Library within two weeks of
applying.
• The Board discussed outstanding issues regarding the construction.
One issue is the floor of the meeting room and the status of the
Board's request to increase the warranty.
• During a special meeting held on February 11, 2010 the Board
discussed the City Manager's FY 11 budget proposal to the City
Council and the impact this will have on services if approved as
recommended. All agreed serious discussions would need to take
place followed by difficult decisions on how the Library can maintain
the current service levels without adequate staff. The Library's
Accreditation would be lost at the least. These discussions will be
postponed until after the presentation to City Council and the City's
budget is filed with the State of Iowa in March.
"6.)
Kristen Smith, Board Secretary
Paula Connors
David Hammer
Beverly Kolz
Elizabeth Leeper
Mike Willis
Library Board of Trustees