Minutes Library Update 4 28 05
Carnegie-Stout Puhlic UbrwT
Librar)' Board of Trustees Update
From the lvleeting <?l
April 28. 2005
. The Library Board reviewed a report on Thursday morning activities which staff have
accomplished over the six months the library has been closed during this time. (a copy of
this report is available by request.) Major progress has been realized in the area of
collection development and management. During the first five months of closing on
Thursday mornings we are at 79 percent of the total items weeded during the entire FY
04. The report reflected all activities with a distinguishing asterisk by those jobs which
would have been difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish with patrons in the library at
that time. The library will remain closed on Thursday mornings with another formal
evaluation to take place in January of 2006.
. Pamela Del Degan and Stormy Mochal have been hired as Library Assistants to work
part-time in Circulation. Colleen Kersch (had the position of mail clerk) was promoted to
Library Assistant in Adult Services. Interviews for the mail clerk position will be held
during the week of April 25 to fill the position. Adult Services Manager, Ann Straley,
has announced her retirement beginning June 11.
. Discussion was held regarding an organizational change. Henricks proposed moving the
Young Adult (Y A) activity from Adult Services to Children's Services. "Children's
Services" would then be titled "Youth Services." Ideally, the Young Adult collection
should be in close proximity to Y A staff however this is not possible right now. This
should be addressed during the Library's renovation plans. Children's Services will have
more staff in the new Fiscal Year and will be in a stronger position to serve the Y A
patrons. Adult Services gained some hours for student assistants, but this does not
provide enough relief to the understaffed activity. Adult Services will be reviewed for
reorganization of responsibilities to include more programs for Adults such as a basic
introduction to the computer and Internet for Adults. These activities will be planned and
implemented during the ten hours per week that was dedicated to Y A. Adult Services
will continue through the summer overseeing the Y A program as the summer program
has already been planned. The Board concurred with the proposal.
. An increase in incidents in and around the library has taken place over the past six weeks.
The exterior lighted signs were damaged (pushed in) apparently from people sitting on
the sign, or leaning against it. Beer and whiskey bottles have been left in the area and
along Bluff Street. The CD player "boom box" located in the Adult Services Reading
Room was stolen. It was secured with a bike chain, but the thief removed the handle.
The replacement will have a security strip placed on it somewhere as well as a lock/chain.
A young girl went into the Staff Only area (office) in Children's Services and stole an
employee's purse. We were able to capture her on the security camera. A fire in the
back of the Library building was declared arson after observing a melted drain tile
leading to the building and a neighbor's gas can was missing. A man entered the office
of the Administrative Assistant and stole her purse which was in a cabinet. Henricks will
request to meet with Chief Wadding to discuss issues regarding police department
follow-up. The security system computer will be upgraded in order to eliminate the 3-
second delay in filming frames. The library now has nine security cameras; four on the
first floor and five on the second floor.
· Three volunteers were chosen for special recognition this year during the Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner: one from the Friends, George Maryuama; one from the
Foundation, Ed Everts, and Velma Van Ostrand, a general library volunteer who has the
greatest longevity. The three have a combined 47 years of service.
· 75 percent of the fiscal year has passed; the library is at 71 percent for expenditures still
anticipating coming in on budget. Henricks reported that Attorney David Hammer
visited and said he is planning to include the library as a beneficiary in his estate with a
request that materials be purchased with the bequest.
· Henricks reported meeting weekly with the architect and contractor regarding the
maintenance of the outside building. Bids are being received to replace window
treatments in the library and the steps to the main entrance which have heating coils in
them to eliminate ice.
From the Children's Department:
In preparation for the summer reading program staff have purchased T-shirts with the
program's them of "Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds" on them. One staff member
surprised her young son with one telling him she got it at the library. He asked, "Do we have
to return it?"
Library Board (?l Trustees
Michael Shubatt, Board President
Susan Henricks, Director
Alan Avery, Vice President
Mary L. Strom, Board Secretary
J.L. Felderman
Sue Lindsay
Kristen L. Smith
Tom Tully