Minutes Library Update 8 24 & 8 28 06
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. Jugllsl 2-1 and .1ugus! 28, 2006
. Fundraising Counsel, Kurt Saterbak, has concluded 3/4 of the interviews necessary to
learn what the community has to say about the renovation project. Although this is not
enough for validity, several reoccurring themes were outlined in his report that was
presented to the Board and forwarded to the City Council members as they plan their
goal setting session this week. The 7 perceptions emerging from the interviews so far
are:
I. Quality library services are essential to every strong community and
those who were already users of the library understood the need to transform
space to make it usable for today's services and materials offered.
2. Fundraising is a viable resource to provide part of the renovation costs.
Interviewees feh the current economy and philanthropy efforts provide t
the environment to conduct a successful campaign.
3. The fundraising campaign should raise no more than half the costs; the
city should provide the rest.
4. Adequate financial resources exist in this community to raise the rest.
5. There is adequate leadership in the community to lead a successful campaign.
6. The community will be open to supporting a capital campaign for the Library
and we can expect to raise $2.5 - $3 million.
7. The Library has several steps it needs to take before it can begin to secure the
gifts needed to make the renovation happen: An extensive marketing and
communications plan based upon a detailed case for support. Also, there is a
need to raise awareness in the community regarding the entire scope of services
and resources available at the Library to the residents of the community.
. Components of the Library emergency and disaster plan for technology service were
reviewed. There is a need to store a back-up server off-site that is up-to-date and
remains ready to go to provide a seamless transition to service in the event of a
disaster. It was agreed that to maximize this resource the servers should be located
outside the power grids of the City. Estimated Costs to provide this service through
a outside service bureau run from $7,000 to $15,000 up front and up to $200 per
month to maintain Internet access to the servers. Short term and long-term solutions
were discussed and agreed upon that will be a much smaller investment. To
complement the Emergency and Disaster Plan which is under development, the
afternoon of the Library's recent Staff Development Day was hands-on disaster
training. Working with real materials (books to papers and photographs) staff
identified quickly what was worth salvaging and the steps required inunediately to
save the material.
. The Library received accreditation by the State Library of Iowa for another 3
years. This is one objective measure of the library's commitment to provide
excellent programs, collections, and service.
. The C.O.P. office was officially opened on July 31. The officers are
transitioning into their new office so we have not seen them much of them yet.
Library staff is continuing to record incidents that a police officer, or a security
guard could have dealt with had one been on hand. It is important to log these
incidents as it demonstrates the time and level of involvement required by an already
busy staff and will be a consideration when the evaluation of the program takes place
in six and nine months time.
. A date was set for the Relations Committee and the Planning Committee to review
the updated Personnel manual. The manual mnst also pass through City Personnel
and City Legal before a new edition is published. All staff comments were
discussed and considered carefully for change or inclusion in the new manual.
. The art subcommittee plans to meet on August 28 to plan an event for
. October, which is recognized as Arts & Culture month.
. Sue Lindsay is no longer able to serve on the Library's Foundation. Beverly Kolz
was appointed to the Foundation's board as a representative fthe Trustees who will
serve as liaison with Kristen Smith, a long-standing representative to the Foundation.
I~lhn.:tr.l' Board qtTrlLl,'lces
Susan Henricks, Director
Alan Avery, Board President
Sue Lindsay, Vice President
Kristen Smith, Board Secretary
Diann Guns
Becky Hauder
Beverly Kolz
Michael Shubatt