Library Update 9 2 04
('orlwgie-Sloll/ Puhlic Librar,.
Libral'\' Hoard oj l¡'IISlees (ipdale
From/he Meeling of
Sep/embt'l' 2. 20iN
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The library's residency policy was discussed. A motion to eliminate the current policy
was made, failing due to a 3-3 vote. The current policy stands. The policy will continue
to be reviewed at an upcoming Relations Committee meeting and a future Board meeting
as presently, the policy does not reflect the City's policy identically. In practice, all new
hires are told ofthe City's policy. The library requires a policy which reflects practice as
well as meets library staffing needs.
Efforts to recruit Foundation members continues and candidates have been contacted.
The Foundation will meet on September 23. Foundation President, Janet Marxen's term
is up; she will not seek reappointment as she has accepted a position in Minneapolis, MN
and will not be available.
Dubuque Museum of Art Director, Geri Shafer has accepted an offer to serve on the
Library's Art Subcommittee. The Library Director will contact existing Art
Subcommittee members to ask them if they are willing to serve another year.
An application has been received by the International Internship Program. The library
will apply for an intern to work in the library's Technical Services department. Previous
experience, working with intern Nanako Hashini, was very positive.
Over the course of the year, the need for increased security on the second floor
(Children's Activity) has been noticed. (examples, purse theft, beer cans in rest room,
CD-ROM theft) Henricks met with Per Mar security to discuss needs and obtain a quote
to add cameras to the existing system.
The idea of a coffee service in the library, in the form of a café or kiosk has been
determined not feasible due to an investment in plumbing and electricity to meet Health
Department regulations as well as staffing required. It is not realistic to staff a kiosk
strictly with volunteers for so many hours a day. The option of a small coffee cart with
air-pump containers of coffee was discussed and has possibility. Director will put
together a cost analysis as well as space and staffing needs to determine feasibility. This
will be presented at the next Relations Committee for a recommendation to the Board,
The Friends of the Library have donated $5000 for a new start-up collection in the Young
Adult department to introduce the format of "graphic novels." Graphic novels are often
known as "comic books" however they are more literary. (Maus I by Art Spiegelman
won a Pulitzer Prize.) This format has wide appeal among teens, many of whom have a
hard time sitting with a book and are attracted to the quick, visual depiction of a story.
The Friends of the Library will have a book sale October I and 2. Library Administration
partnered with the Friends to have a silent auction as a fund-raiser. Well known authors,
actors, actresses, and those in sports have been contacted requesting a donation of an
autographed picture, doodle, or other artifact which can be placed in the silent auction.
The donations have been arriving steadily; about four a week.
The library's community survey has been completed with results coming in at a 95
percent confidence level. Dr. Len Decker will present the results to the Library Board at
a meeting in late September or early October.
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The National Endowment for the Arts recently released a report described as a "bleak
assessment of the decline ofreading's role in the nation's culture." The 47-page report
can be summarized in one sentence: "... reading in America is not only declining
rapidly among all groups, but the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the
young." Indeed the results of the survey are shocking. The rate of decline for the
youngest group surveyed (I8-24) was 55 percent greater than that of the total adult
population, which was not a pretty picture to look at itself (I 9 percent decline.)
Readers tend to spend much more time in their communities and activities, particularly
arts activities, The study describes readers as "active and social." Infact, the more
books read, the higher the level of participation in other activities whether this is
volunteering or visiting a museum. That the youngest age group has the lowest reading
rate should be sending off alarm bells. Librarians and teachers alone cannot resolve this
threatening condition. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, caregivers. . . all of us must
encourage our young people to read. One of the most successjùl WlO'S of achieving this is
to model reading and have books readily available. Get caught reading. And. get caught
readingfor jùn.
Libran Hoard olli'lIllees
Michael Shubatt, Board President
Susan Henricks, Director
Alan Avery, Vice President
Mary L. Strom, Board Secretary
JL Felderman
Sue Lindsay
Kristen L. Smith
Tom Tully