Library Board of Trustees Update from Meeting of 10 27 11Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees Update
From the Meeting of October 27, 2011
Present: Paula Connors, President; Mike Willis, Vice President; Frederick
Miller, Secretary; Trustees, Diann Guns, and Jenny Harris
Excused: John Anderson - Bricker; David Hammer
• 25% of the fiscal year has passed; 25% of the budget has been
expended. Revenue is at about 18% of estimates. A check for direct
state aid arrived and was about 40 percent less than projected.
• Circulation, year -to -date, is up 11 percent. 76 percent of circulations are
for books; 24 percent for DVDs (after factoring the different loan periods)
• The vending machine library at Hy -Vee has been experiencing problems
and we are working daily with the manufacturer to resolve these issues.
• Several solutions have been identified to ensure smooth use of the self -
check machines by users. These include trying a different desensitizer,
reworking the security devices on older DVDs, and removing barriers on
our system that might stop a check out caused by messages on accounts.
• Himmel and Wilson library consultants recommend waiting until after the
first of the year to create and administer the community survey in order to
avoid the holidays.
• Open renovation construction - related issues were reviewed. The Board
expressed interest in continuing to meet with City Engineering regarding
outstanding problems.
• Adding downloadable music was discussed. There are two models
currently available to libraries: Freegal, which offers 2.5 million titles that
patrons can download and keep, and Rdio, which has 12 million titles for
patrons to keep on their computers, but will disappear if the account is not
renewed every year. The cost can run into the mid- $20,000s range for
Rdio and $10- $12,000 for Freegal. We may request a Foundation grant
matched by the DRA for downloadable music; however, this has not been
decided for certain.
Library Board of Trustees
,, r,
Paula Connors, Board President
Mike Willis, Vice President
Frederick Miller, Board Secretary
John Anderson - Bricker
Diann Guns
David Hammer
Jenny Harris
Susan Henricks, Director