Minutes Library Bd 8 8 03 Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Board of Trustees'
Meeting Minutes of Friday, August 8, 2003
The Board of Trustees of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library (C-SPL) met in the
Library Board Room at 8:00 a.m,, Friday, August 8, 2003.
Present:
Board President Tom Tully; Board Vice President Michael Shubatt;
Board Secretary Mary Strom; Trustee Alan Avery; Trustee Jack
Felderman; Trustee Sue Lindsay; Trustee Kristen Smith; Library
Director Susan Henricks; and Recorder Denette Kellogg.
Library Staff:Library Activity Managers Ann Straley and Activity Manager Jean
Gullikson
$ityStaff: City Public :Information Officer Susan Gwiasda
1. President Tom Tully called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
"Moved to adopt the meeting agenda of August ~, 2003."
Motion: Stro m
Second: Felderman
Vote: Aye - 7/Nay - 0
2. Review of Library Safety and Security Issue Needs:
Hendcks reviewed her recent communications with the Library Board in regard
to safety and security issues at the Library. Henricks distributed a memo
received by the City Attorney providing a summary of the Library's liability in
regard to recent assault on a Library employee. Henricks reported on the
increase of vandalism and theft in the Library and reported that 26 DVDs are
missing with some of the theft preventative cases that contained the DVDs
left in the men's rest room. Children's Activity Manager Jean Gullikson
distributed a list of problem juvenile patrons and pages of the Library's
problem patron log for review. Gullikson reported that each summer the
Library deals with problem juvenile patrons on a one-on-one basis and the
patrons are provided with guidance on Library behavior. The Staff provides
rewards for positive behaviors and the problems are resolved. The gate count
for this summer has reached an all-time high with an average of over :~,200
patrons entering the Library each day. This past summer has been
extraordinarily troublesome as there are very large groups of problem juvenile
Library Board of Trustees
Minutes of August 8, 2003
patrons who are provided with one-one-one guidance but continue to break
the rules. A problem patron is placed in this category when he/she breaks the
rules and does not adhere to library policies. Gullikson gave a summary of a
typical day at the Library providing information on the daily problem patron
occurrences.
Henricks reported on the increasing amount of problems and vandalism which
is mostly due to large groups of children creating disturbances, which is
overwhelming to Library Staff as the Library continues to be understaffed and
is not able to deal with these added problems. Henricks reported on the
incoming extended families that are coming to Dubuque that are not
accustomed to the rules of acceptable library behavior. An added problem is
that many of the children are not supervised by an adult. Henricks gave the
example of Library staff calling the police for a very young child who was left
at the Library for the day by the parent/guardian. Strom suggested that
disturbing patrons who do not have a library card in their possession be asked
to leave the Library. Henricks explained the policy providing for services to
patrons whether or not they possess a library card and the additional staff
that would be needed if a new policy would be initiated in this manner.
Tully suggested that City Manager and Police Chief be contacted for input and
support in dealing with the ongoing problems. Henricks reported that she
has contacted the Neighborhood Bicycle Police and they are willing to come to
the Library when needed, but noted that their coverage area is very large.
Henricks has scheduled a meeting with Police Chief Wadding on August 11,
2003 to discuss the problems.
Felderman asked what age a child must be to be unaccompanied by an adult.
Henricks reported that children eight years of age or younger must be
accompanied by an adult in the Library. Children misinform staff of their age
and sometimes come with a teenage cousin or neighbor. The Board agreed
that the Library must be pro-active in enforcing the policy in regard to
unattended children.
The Board also discussed the need for the Library to be more pro-active in
banning problem patrons from the Library when a patron does not adhere to
Library policy. Felderman reported the need to contact City Staff to request
additional staffing to deal with the new populations of people coming into the
City.
The Board requested that that the City's Human Rights Department be
encouraged to address this community problem and include other service
Library Board of Trustees
Minutes of August 8, 2003
organizations such as St. Mark's Community Center and the YMCA Center
which is also being affected.
Felderman suggested that staff investigate acquiring a library card
identification checker machine that only allows Library cardholders to use the
Library.
The Board requested that the City Manager be contacted in reference to
liability issues in regard to Library security. The Board requested that in the
long term a legal opinion from the City Attorney be attained in regard to
adults and children entering a public building with or without a library card
and clarification on children come to the Library unattended.
The Board discussed the immediate issues of dealing with the problems.
Avery and Shubatt reported an operational need that security staff be hired to
help deal with the ongoing problems.
Adult/Circulation Services Manager reported that these activities are not
equipped with enough staff to deal with problem patrons and gave examples
of ongoing problems that staff deals with on a daily basis. Straley reported on
some staff's reluctance to enforce rules with minority groups. Straley
reported on the staff's desire and responsibility to provide good customer
service while also trying to handle the discipline problems with shortage of
staff to provide these services. Straley provided suggestions from staff as
follows; change the Tnternet policy to include the showing of T.D. or library
card to use, give no second chances for rule breaking, ask the bicycle police
to stop by, have staff be more proactive not reactive and a hire security guard
instead of Library staff to handle these problems.
The Board reviewed various options to deal with the ongoing problems
including developing and revising current policies to ban problem patrons
immediately when there are problems. The Board reviewed the need for
Internet patrons to provide a Library card to be allowed to use these services.
"Moved to approve in the short-term immediately hiring a
part-time security guard through August 2003 to help deal with the
ongoing security problems and on an as needed basis after that date
with funding from the operational budget. In the long term review the
current policies to include proof of identification to utilize library
services, in particular the Adult Internet term/na/s and rules surrounding
unattended children/charge the Library D/rector to empower staff to be
proactive in dealing w/th problem patrons; and provide input to the City
Planager and appropriate City Staff/n regard to the ongoing problems,"
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Library Board of Trastees
Minutes of August 8, 2003
Iv/orion: Avery
Second: Shubatt
Vote: Aye - 7; Nay- 0
The Board agreed that the security guard will work with Library Staff to help
enforce Library policies and provide a physical presence, and should also help
to empower Library staff.
Henricks reported that in the long term she would also investigate an
enhanced security system for the Library.
Strom also suggested that the Internet room be closed when ongoing
problems arise.
6. Communications/Public Comment: None.
7. "Plot~on to adjourn."
Not/on: Felderman
Second: Strorn
Vote: Aye - Z; Nay- 0
The Board adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
IVlary Strom~ Board Secretary
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