Minutes Library Update 1 27 05
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Lihnny Board (!(I1Hslees LitH/are
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January 27. 2005
. A summaI)' of recent board work sessions was reviewed during the President's Report.
The community survey indicated 69 percent of the respondents supported the renovation
of the libraI)' and 53 percent support some type oflibral)' service on the west side of
town. The board agreed to move forward with the renovation and provide cost-effective
libraI)' service to the western part of the city short of a branch libraI)'. It was further
agreed that a storefront facility can meet many of the needs for west side service as it can
provide a drop off and pick up point and require vel)' little space. The board believes the
libraI)' is a good neighbor and can be an attraction for a business or organization who is
willing to donate a small amount of space for this purpose. The west side of town was
further defined as being between J.F.K. Road and the N.W. Arterial. The board will
review existing conceptual plans to determine if the long-term needs of the facility can be
met, or if the plans require review. The plans were drawn with the goal of providing
maximum use of space. This plan however requires the addition of several staff
members. When the plans have been reviewed and evaluated, the libraI)' board will plan
to meet with the City Council to discuss next steps.
. Staff member Sharon Dahl is retiring. Ms. Dahl catalogs all library materials. A search
will begin soon to replace her. Circulation Supervisor, Carin Schleicher has resigned
effective February 6 and accepted a position in South Dakota where she will be a branch
libraI)' manager of a new facility scheduled to open in March. She will be vel)' close to
her family which was of great importance as she pondered the move. A search has begun
for her replacement. Interviews are being held for the position of Information
Technology Specialist. Jim Anderson held this position and accepted a job at Loras
College.
. Staff Development Day, to be held in August, was discussed. This year staff will go
through a poverty simulation workshop. The goal is to learn more about the challenges
some of our patrons experience and have greater understanding for them.
. January will wrap up a major marketing campaign to recruit volunteers for the libraI)'.
The ad campaign was made possible by a DRA grant to the Friends of the LibraI)' and
began on New Year's Eve with a full-page advertisement. The campaign has been
successful and several new volunteers have been placed. One volunteer will begin
working in Administration to complete the Art Audit, another one will begin as an
assistant to our Volunteer Coordinator and will set up the software and input information
into the database to manage the program. The software will help us to match volunteers
and their skills with jobs available. Three other volunteers attended an all-day workshop
held at the library on the repair of audio-visual materials and books.
. Fifty percent of the fiscal year has lapsed and 51 percent of the budget has been
expended.
. The first of two structural studies was completed. The first study evaluated the structure
and compared the findings to a 200 I study. Overall the facility appears to be in vel)'
good condition, however the engineer is concerned about the level of hidden damage
caused by excessive vibration in the building which is fairly constant. Much of the
original molding was attached to ceilings and not anchored. Vibration causes this to
loosen without signs of stress, and it can come crashing down without notice. This last
happened in the Director's office around 5-6 years ago. The engineer evaluated damage
in Technical Services where part of the ceiling collapsed onto the false ceiling last spring.
This area still has a large (roughly 2' by 3 ') area of plaster ceiling which is in a state of
partial collapse. Plywood will be placed over the inside of the suspended ceiling to
prevent plaster from falling through into work space before it can be repaired. The next
study will be an actual vibration study performed by a geotechnical engineer to assess the
level of vibration and the feasibility of mitigating the vibrations.
. A new policy for volunteers was introduced, reviewed and approved.
. Library circulation is up 12% year to date, however gate count is down 3% year to date.
The lower gate count represents less visits to the library most likely due to being closed
on Thursday mornings. We will plan to have volunteers do a gate count for a specified
period of time and compare the numbers to the automatic count to rule out equipment
malfunction. Board members report hearing from dissatisfied patrons when they cannot
access the library on Thursday mornings.
. Correspondence from Unique Management Services (Library's collection agency) was
reviewed. $3.70 has been returned for eveI)' $1.00 invested. Recovel)' over the past five
years totals over $90,000 in materials returned and fines.
From Patron Comment Card:
"I love this place, if! could live here I would."
Ton Reference Ouestions:
"What is the etymology of the word dabar?" (Derives from the Hebrew language meaning the
Word)
"When was Easter Sunday in the year 1945?" (April I)
"What type of Greek columns are in front ofthe historic part of the libral)'?" (Corinthian)
Library Board of Trustees
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Michael Shubatt, Board President
'Susan Henricks, Director
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Alan AveI)', Vice President
Mal)' L. Strom, Board Secretary
J.L. Feiderman
Sue Lindsay
Kristen L. Smith
Tom Tully