Update_Library Board of Trustees 10 24 13Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Library Board of Trustees Update
From the Meeting of
October 24, 2013
Present: Mike Willis, President; John Anderson - Bricker, Frederick Miller,
Secretary; Trustees, Daniel Boice, Paula Connors, and Jenny Weiss
Excused: Diann Guns
The Library Board of Trustees met on October 24. Following is a summary of the
meeting:
• The first quarter of the fiscal year concluded with expenditures at 24
percent. Revenue collected is at 27 percent of projections.
• Library visits are even year -to -date, but did drop by 11 percent in
September compared to September of last year. Visits have not been
predictable recently and we do not have enough data to know, or predict a
trend at this time. Daylight Savings Time ends November 3 and soon
after this we will track library visits from 5:00 to 9:00 once again.
• The number of check -outs was down 4 percent; however, items checked
out to Dubuque residents increased 4.8 percent year -to -date. Open
Access transactions have decreased, which is to be expected given
restrictions on borrowing.
• Focus group meetings to discuss county -wide library services, have
concluded and about 60 people attended. Results from the online
questionnaire will be available very soon after which the committee will
meet to discuss next steps.
• The Planning Committee met and discussed three specific service
responses: Stimulate the Imagination (providing popular materials and
supporting popular topics), Create Young Readers (early literacy
emphasis), and Satisfy Curiosity (lifelong learning). The Planning
Committee identified three underserved populations: Hispanics, west side
residents, and the young adult population that often quit using the library
once they begin driving until they have their own children. Library staff
members then brainstormed ideas for delivering these three service
responses during Staff Development Day with a focus on outreach to
these populations. The results of that session have been sent to the
Planning Committee. The Committee will review this information, meet,
and prepare a recommendation for the full Library Board to discuss for the
plan of service. They will also identify next steps in the discussion of
strategic plans beyond a plan of service.
• The local John Deere Works awarded a $1,500 grant for a "Story Book
Walk" to the Library Foundation. The walk will take place in the spring of
2014. The Library received permission from popular children's author and
illustrator Mo Willems to reproduce two of his picture books and texts on
individual large posters that will be mounted into the ground with wooden
landscape stakes. Parents can stop to read the books as they stroll
through the Arboretum and a downtown park. Partners for this grant are
the Arboretum and the Multicultural Family Center.
• The Board approved a loan of Grant Wood's Appraisal to the Cincinnati
Museum of Art.
• The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2015 budget request the operating
budget, improvement level decision packages, and capital improvements.
Library Board of Trustees
Mike Willis, Board President
Jenny Weiss, Vice President
Frederick Miller, Board Secretary
John Anderson - Bricker
Daniel Boice
Paula Connors
Diann Guns
Susan Henricks, Director