Minutes Library Update 12 16 04
Carnegie-SIDul Public UbriliT
Library Board of Trllstees Update
From the Meeting of
December 16, 2004
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During the President's Report the terms of board members were discussed. Five of seven
board members terms expire in June of 2005. During this critical time of a proposed
library renovation and long-range planning, the Library needs continuity on the board.
Michael Shubatt will talk with Corporation Counsel Barry Lindahl regarding one idea;
that of creating staggered terms. A letter written by the City Manager regarding the
library's residency policy was also discussed. It was noted that library employees are not
civil service employees. Also mentioned was the inability to fill the Information
Technology Specialist position in 2002 with the top candidates. Three candidates were
offered the position; three refused due to the residency requirement. The candidate who
was hired held the position for ten months.
Information Technology Specialist Jim Anderson has resigned to pursue a new career at
Loras College. He provided a month's notice and has been working very closely with the
Technical Services Manager to document and train in work for which he is responsible.
Advertising for the position began immediately; the deadline for applying is December
27.
Anastasia Bissell has been hired in a temporary full-time capacity to fill in for Sharon
Ewert who has been on leave. Anastasia holds a Masters Degree in Library and
Information Science and has worked in the library at the University of Dubuque .
Core Competencies has been launched. Core competencies consist of basic library
information which all library employees are expected to know - from what to do if
someone is trapped in the elevator to the library's mission statement. This information
takes the form of Frequently Asked Questions, which is 10 pages in length when printed,
and is located on the staffIntranet. Learning the answers to these frequently asked
questions will become part of new employee orientation.
Marketing library items for sale was discussed. It is believed there are opportunities in
the community for prints and note cards, etc., to be sold on consignment. We hope to
find a volunteer who is willing to take on such a project and call on various businesses.
The Foundation meets in January and board liaisons to the Foundation will request
funding to be used with the library's existing CIP money to purchase land for additional
library parking.
Budget on target with 44% of the year lapsed and 44% of the budget expended. The FY
06 budget was discussed. Board Member Mary Strom reported on attending a workshop
held over the ICN on having a Library Levy. This is one opportunity to enhance the
library's budget. Further discussion on this topic will take place during the Board's work
session on January 3, 2005. The workshop was taped and the program can be borrowed
from the State Library so that other board members can view it at their leisure.
The director will provide an overview of the community survey to the City Council on
December 20.
Fines/fees and circulation policy were reviewed and approved. A minor change was
made to each. Fines and fees noted that a $10 service fee is applied to accounts turned
over for collection after 60 days. "After 60 days" was deleted, as it may be a few days
more or less depending on the agency we work with. A patron pointed out this
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discrepancy when her account was charged $10 after 58 days. Also, privileges to new
accounts were tightened somewhat by not allowing Inter-library Loan service for the first
three months of a new account. The library has had too many cases of a new cardholder
requesting material from another library, receiving it, and never returning the item. The
cost of replacing the item to another library has been very costly.
The Library Foundation will meet in January and have an election of officers. The Board
and Director have been asked to recommend nominations to join the Foundation board.
Circulation is up 9% over last year; the gate count is down 3%, That circulation remains
high, in fact increased, has pointed out that people who want to check out material have
adjusted their schedules to the new library hours. Those who used the library for other
purposes: attend a program, read a newspaper or magazine, use a computer, etc. are
unable to visit on Thursday mornings; it is likely the gate count decrease is due in part to
reduced hours.
A major print advertising campaign will begin December 30 in an effort to recruit more
volunteers. A combination application and brochure are also being created to support the
campaign. A volunteer database to match volunteers with jobs is being purchased. The
campaign has been made possible by a DRA grant to the Friends of the Library.
Library Board of Trustees
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Michael Shubatt, Board President
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Susan Hemicks, Director
Alan Avery, Vice President
Mary L. Strom, Board Secretary
J.L. Felderman
Sue Lindsay
Kristen L. Smith
Tom Tully