Minutes_Library Board of Trustees 1 17 11Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees Update
From the Meeting of
January 2 7, 2011
Present: Diann Guns, President; Vice President; Paula Connors, David
Hammer, Elizabeth Leeper, Fred Miller, Kristen Smith, and Mike Willis
• Fifty percent of the fiscal year has lapsed with expenditures at 52 percent; revenue
is at 40 percent of projections. Fine revenue is down and is expected to rebound
in a few months. The fine threshold was raised to $10 maximum up from $5
allowing more time for fines to accumulate before someone has to pay to continue
using their library account. This was done to reduce barriers experienced when
using the self -check machines. Revenue from the state is down, and projected to
shrink even more.
• Check out of adult books and DVDs accounted for a 3 percent increase in
circulation during the month of December, and the number of visits is up 2
percent. Some Iowa libraries have reported circulation is down, or stagnant. The
number of questions answered has risen 124 percent which continues to validate
the need for the four additional service kiosks /desks.
• Electronic resources grew with 10 of the 17 databases demonstrating increased
use and four of them about the same. E -book downloads have increased rapidly
with the number in January, as of the 17 nearly double what it was for the entire
month of November.
• The Friends of the Library welcomed two new board members, Mary Bums and
Barbara Wendt. The Friends are planning a second book sale in April of this year
because of the great number of books they have with little storage space. The
Friends agreed to sponsor another year of funding for "Books- to -Go" and
"DVDs- to -Go" as well as provide money so that we can install an amplifier in the
Children's Program Room.
• In an effort to reduce our expenditures for supplies and postage we are going to
more fully use our automated telephone notification (Tele- Messaging) system.
The new procedure will increase the number of calls made by Tele- Messaging
and no notice will be sent until the final one.
• Sue Epstein from Susan Baerg Epstein Ltd. will visit the Library February 22 -24
to spend time in Technical Services and will present her findings to the Board at
their meeting on the 24
• Dr. Edward Alt has donated money for the purchase of books, snacks, and
incentives so that we can start a book discussion group at the Boys & Girls Club.
If enough funding remains we will introduce a similar book discussion group at
the Multicultural Family Center.
• Several concerns regarding the lack of resolution on aspects of the renovation
project were discussed such as the peeling paint on the mezzanine, failed elm
veneer, cracked glass floor, and ongoing HVAC problems. New issues associated
with HVAC were discussed such as the water leak which traveled to second floor
and permeated a bulkhead behind the reference desk and leaking across a 35 foot
span as well as staining the paint. We will follow up to ensure there is no mold.
The Board approved contacting Weldon Labs to determine the cause of the paint
failure over the mezzanine prior to the decision to repaint. Other issues include
the security system and veneer on the Children's seating area benches.
• The Board voted to uphold the policy of offering benefits to part-time employees
working 20 hours or more per week.
• A comprehensive review was completed regarding the use of sick time by
employees resulting in many receiving letters of thanks for their dedication and
excellent attendance rate and some who will be required to submit a doctor's note
for each absence.
• The Board voted to restrict guns and dangerous weapons on the Library grounds
and in the building except by those in law enforcement. This will become part of
the patron behavior policy; a new revision will be sent out shortly.
d a.444A:ii zoo.)
Diann Guns, Board President
Kristen Smith, Board Secretary
Paula Connors
David Hammer
Elizabeth Leeper
Fred Miller
Mike Willis
Library Board of Trustees
Susan Henricks, Director