Library Update 1 22 04Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees
Update
From the Meeting of
' January 22, 2004
The meeting opened with a discussion among Library Board of Trustees
members and the Library Foundation Board members. The Trustees asked the
Foundation to consider three things: support the building renovation project,
support the operations of the building project by fundraising each year to
make it possible to add needed staff, and to donate the Foundation's
endowment as seed money to begin the renovation. This level of support
would likely require a change in the mission statement of the Foundation. The
Foundation will'discuss this at a future meeting.
Ideas for DRA grant requests were reviewed and approved. The Friends of
the Library and the Library Foundation will be asked to consider writing one
of four grant proposals: Volunteer Program Enhancement, Developing a
Young Adult Graphic Novel Collection, a Die-Cutting Machine, and an
Interfictive Book Collection for children.
Preparation for the Director's performance evaluation is underway and is
scheduled for March.
Michelle Hellmer, Circulation Supervisor was the successful candidate for the
opening of Librarian I. Short staffing in Circulation was discussed as there is
a need for a 40-hour a week supervisor however this is not possible due to
short-staffing in Reference. The only way the Reference desk can be
adequately staffed is use non-departmental personnel such as the Circulation
Supervisor, Technical Services Manager, the Director, and soon the
Children's Services Manager. The Director can spend as much as 25% of the
week worldng at the Reference Desk.
Board Member Sue Lindsay has been contacting those who have expressed
interest in volunteering at the library as noted on their Friends application
forms. It is hoped the library can recruit new volunteers with this personal
touch.
Budget is on target; 50% of the year has lapsed and 50% of the funds have
been expended. The request that the library's programming budget be
restored and materials budget be restored was not recommended. Last year
programming was restored by the sale of a rare book, however we are without
ideas this year. Last year 17,000 people attended special programs at the
library which will be lost if this is approved by Council. New policies have
been initiated to mm around materials quicker as we cannot buy as many
duplicate copies of books. These have been perceived as unfriendly and
negative comments and complaints are made by patrons on a daily basis.
Library Anecdotes
A woman phoned to request information. The information would not require a
great deal of research, however there were four people waiting at the desk for
assistance. I asked the woman if I could phone her back with the information in
ten minutes. "Oh, no," she replied, "you don't want to call me back. I'm calling
from Germany." "Germany?" I asked dumbfounded. "Yes, I'm in Germany but I
had this question and I knew I could trust my hometown library to answer it!"
A mau called the~ reference desk and requested a phone number for a company
based in Chicago. I provided the information; he thanked me and hung up. When
the phone rang again there was a group of people needing assistance at the
Reference Desk, so the caller went into voice mail. It was the same man who
needed the phone number. Apparently the phone number was not, in fact, the
phone number but the fax number and he asked ifI could double check it and call
him back. The correct number was found through another source and the call
back was placed. The strange thing was that, according to the call back number,
he had called us from Florida.
Library Board of Trustees
Tom Tully, Board President
Michael Shubatt, Board Vice-President
Mary L. Strom, Board Secretary
J.L. Felderman
Sue Lindsay
Kristen L. Smith
Alan Avc:~'y
Susan Henricks, Director