Minutes Library Update 11 17 05
Cl1megie-StoU[ Puhlic Lihrar)'
Lihrwy Board of Trustees Update
ii'omthe Meeting of
November 17, 2005
.:. The November Board agenda was amended to include the opening of bids received for
the redesign of the Administrative Assistant and Clerical Assistant's office. The Board
had requested an RFP be completed to reconfigure the administrative staff work area.
Administration offices will not relocate during the renovation; all changes have been
designed for long life. The successful bidder was Advanced Systems. The project will
be complete by the end of the year and funded by Enrich Iowa (State moneys).
.:. The Board selected an evaluation tool to use for the performance review of the Director.
The review will be complete by the next board meeting.
.:. Security -- Between June 8 and November 2, 2005 the Library was open 133 days.
A total of 150 incidents were recorded. Incidents were ranked #1 or #2
depending on the type of action required. 73 incidents (49%) were handled by
staff and/or the security guard (security was here 20 hours per week June-
August) for less serious infractions (running, loud talking, cell phone use,
disruption, arguing). 77 incidents (51%) were more serious and involved the
security guard escorting people from the library, property damage (rest rooms
vandalized three times, ceiling tiles stolen, creamers thrown against elevator
walls and building, graffiti, propositioning oflibrary staff, theft, people harassing
patrons out of doors, or pulling up flowers,) In the ten days following this report
4 additional "significant ": first - a patron losing control in the library and the
person he was with needing to pin him to the floor; the police were called and he
was led away in hand cuffi. Second ~ a man approaching patrons in the library
saying he/she had dropped their library card and to please step outside with him
and he will show them where it was found. Alert staff intervened. Third: a card
from a patron saying "When, exactly did the library become a daycare center for
loud, unsupervised kids? and "Can a policy to actually limit yelling be instituted
so that I can feel comfortable bringing my own children?" We have polices; staff
are often working with people and cannot intervene quickly enough. Four: a
patron refusing to abide by policy led to a police call which ultimately led to the
patron being pinned to the floor, handcuffed and arrested. Since this time
discussions have been held with the Chief of Police and the City Manager and a
proposal for security will be presented to the Board at their December meeting.
.:. Budget - 33% of the fiscal year has lapsed; expenditures are at 28.5% and revenue
generated is at 36.7% of projections. After fine-tuning the operating budget for Fiscal
Year 2007, the Library department came in at a 2.1 % increase. This comes at a time
when electricity is up 13%, gas 20%, postage faces a 9.4% increase, gasoline 20%,
telephone 13.5% and personnel costs 4.5%.
.:. Library managers met with OPN Architects to review the first conceptual design of the
proposed renovation which was a "bubble" design indicating space and square foot
allocations. The next design will include stacks and furniture and will be presented
prior to the next board meeting. Plans should be available for review by the board's
January meeting; February at the latest. Total project cost will be projected by the
architect following the board's approval of the design.
.:. The board reviewed a list of 62 nominees for participation in the Long-Range Planning
committee identifying 15 to be invited. The committee will meet for two days only,
January 14 and February 11,2006.
From Patron Comment Cards
"This is the first time 1 came here. It was fun and great and friendly service. Thanks for
having such a wonderful Library."
"I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for being so polite and helpful to me when
I've come to the library! 1 have appreciated all the help you have given me. Thanks
again!"
"We love the late hours and special activities that are available and accessible by the
children (public schools have early release on Wednesdays @1:05 p.m.) Would like to
see Library open until 6:00 p.m. on Fridays; also music downloads should be limited to a
couple of computers and volume should be regulated. All the staff is great!"
"Visited the Library on a Saturday a.m. I.) When, exactly did library become a daycare
center for loud, unsupervised kids? 2.) Can a policy to actually limit yelling be instituted
so that 1 can feel comfortable bringing my own children?"
"It's a cool, cool, library."
Librw)' Boord of Ii'uSlees
Alan Avery, Board President
Susan Henricks, Director
Sue Lindsay, Vice President
Kristen Smith, Board Secretary
Diann Guns
Beverly Kolz
Michael Shubatt