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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-10 Library Board of Trustees MinutesBozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Library Board /Staff Conference Room Bozeman Public Library Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE Present: Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Holly Brown; George Cole; Judy Mathre; Jacki McGuire; Chris Kukulski, City Manager; Paula Beswick, Foundation; Lois Dissly and Terri Dood, Staff; and Alice Meister, Director. Guests: Gary Gullickson and City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Chair Farmer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The August 25, 2010 Library Board minutes were accepted as presented. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Farmer changed the agenda to allow for public comment. Gullickson, who lives at 404 S. Church Avenue, wanted to discuss boundaries as a neighbor to the Library grounds. He noted that the alley was graveled and completed an hour ago but wondered if the Trustees had approved a jackleg fence as he is opposed to that, saying that the neighbors had been promised a visual vegetative barrier instead. He was told that they had not officially approved the fence; Gullickson wanted to put this item on the October 20 agenda. He said that a vent pipe in the alley had to be moved and an eight inch gas main was found, which involved digging in the creek. A three week project thus became a three month project with NorthWestern Energy repairing the damage and planting sod. He commended Goehrung on the mowing job done in that area but requested one more mow due to the spotted knapweed moving into the area. Goehrung said that this will be done. Gullickson is proud of the area's appearance and complimented Street Superintendent John Van Delinder and his department on the "super job" they did. However, he is concerned that Goehrung proposes to place a jackleg fence between the neighbors and the alley. He said that he and the neighbors had been promised a visual vegetative barrier of interspersed plants and trees. Gullickson noted that the trail on the Library grounds is busy with a higher traffic count than Wallace Avenue; he counted nearly fifty families using it. He suggested that the trail connect to Wallace Avenue. He also proposed that the trail lights be turned off earlier in the evening due to their brightness. He noted that he hosts many international visitors through the Montana Center for International Visitors (MCIV) and brings them to the Library. Gullickson left the meeting noting that he will return on October 20 with several people to give a PowerPoint presentation. CORRESPONDENCE Meister received public comments which included one from a person wondering why an overdue book did not show up on her record, as she had lent it to a friend and assumed it had been returned. An individual felt that overdue letters should be sent out when the fine exceeds the cost of postage. A staff member asked about collecting high school yearbooks in the Montana Room, but there was concern about the number that would be needed and whether to collect other local yearbooks. More racist literature was discovered in the non - fiction area. A patron discovered some interesting glitches in the Library's website and reported them to Dissly. Someone was concerned about the dying sod on the east side of the trail; it was discovered that NorthWestern Energy had put in the sod where there were no working sprinklers. Goehrung had several sprinkler heads adjusted to take care of watering the sod. On September 1 one of the cleaning people reported that there was water leaking in the large conference room. A person inquired about the use of Forest Stewardship Council certified wood in this LEED- certified building, and LEED expert Kath Williams responded that it was not used due to the timing of the project. Police Lieutenant Rich McLane emailed about the patron who left objectionable materials in the free magazine bin and noted that the "manner in which he left the printed material and the material not being egregious enough in nature make any prosecution possible." He did say that the Library was handling it "exactly the way you need to" though staff should be wary of shadowing him. There was a request from Epicenter Therapy Services in the Nash -Finch Building to please let people who use the meeting rooms know not to park in their lot. After eight years, Library substitute Nancy Rosen resigned her position due to other obligations. The U.S. Census Bureau sent a certificate and letter of thanks for partnering with them to achieve a complete and accurate census count in 2010. Meister also distributed an article saying the state Supreme Court upheld the Bitterroot Public Library's ban on an individual who had been barred from the Library but kept returning. Meister also read a letter about the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (STOP), in which the Library will participate. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT Meister reported that the Friends met on September 7 to discuss their annual meeting on October 21, where there will be an auction of collectible books and other items along with food and drink. They will also be selling Paula Poundstone's books at her performance at The Ellen Theatre on September 17. New board members are being sought; the next meeting is scheduled for October 5 at 6:15 p.m. FOUNDATION REPORT Beswick reported that she had fun with the dunking booth at the party for the end of the Summer Reading Program. She noted that the One Book -One Bozeman (OB -OB) program had taken off with 21 people attending the book discussion on September 1. Also that same night author Joe Marshall gave a book reading to 54 people. OB -OB author Kevin Connolly spoke at the September Stn MSU Convocation to 3000 to 3200 people, including 560 community members. Connolly also gave a great presentation with a powerful message at the high school the next day. Other events include "Skate to Starkey's" on September 21, a peer book discussion on September 24 at Sola Cafe, and a Longboard Deck Art Contest reception on September 30. Residents at Aspen Pointe are also participating in the OB -OB book. discussion. The Children's Festival of the Book featuring Lois Lowry is scheduled for November 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The popular Jazz & More series with Kelly Roberti continues through September 27. Montana Ale Works is a sponsor and will provide $5 off coupons at the last program. Three college preparatory classes are planned for this fall; information will be posted on links provided by the instructor. There was an art reception on September 10 for Kathleen Karlsen and another one at the end of October. Beswick is working on pledge donations; a house party at a Foundation Board member's house is planned. The next meeting will be either the end of this month or the beginning of October. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Meister noted that the August statistical report showed a 16.88% increase in circulation. Non -print usage increased 30.69% with nonfiction second at 14.05 %. Fiction was third at a 12.15% increase, and magazine usage was up 4.01%. Questions asked were down 14.18 %, but website visits increased 103.37% Meeting room usage and children's programs were down, but adult library programs increased. Door traffic decreased 8.37 %. The FY2011 budget showed 84.81% remaining at 20.8% of the year completed. Meister said that September 15 is "Montana Library Day ", which is a project of the Montana Library Association, the Montana State Library, and 750 Montana libraries. It is an opportunity to chronicle a typical library day and provide results on how libraries provide invaluable services to Montana citizens. The FY2011 library Budget was approved at the City Commission meeting on September 13. This past year's Library Depreciation Fund of approximately $79,000 will be used for the General Fund instead (Sean Becker was the only Commissioner to vote against this cut), but no other cuts were taken. This means the Library can now start advertising for three half -time Library Assistant positions, as well as Library Aide II substitute positions, as soon as possible. Meister will be attending the Montana Shared Catalog meeting on October 7 -8 in Great Falls; she will be going to Helena on October 12 -13 to learn more about the BTOP grant. There will be an all -staff daylong meeting on Friday, October 15, for which the Library will close. The Library Grounds Master Plan Committee will meet on September 17. City Planner Allyson Bristor will replace Planner Courtney Kramer in leading the planning coordination. The Committee's goal is to come to the Board in October for an update and guidance for future planning. Programs this month included one on sculptor, jewelry maker, and artist Harry Bertoia, which attracted 27 people. There will be a reading September 17 (Constitution Day) of the Constitution at noon presented by AAUW. On September 16 John Winnie Jr. will present an evening program on Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. A series of Jungian classes are planned over the next four months. A new series of computer classes will start September 18 at 8:30 a.m. (instead of 9 a.m.). Next month Pascale Hickman, who has a doctorate in French Literature, will teach beginning French. George Cole interviewed Alan Kesselheim and Meister on libraries and literature; the program will be played at a later date on George's RealTime program on I<EMC /KBMC at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. Staff is using the 3M digital library assistant to shelf -read the collection. An inventory of the collection is planned. The remaining stack lights are due in this week. The Gallatin County Libraries Long -Range Planning Committee will present their annual reports to the County Commission on October 26 and will meet with Finance Director Ed Blackman after the presentations. There might be a change in the percentage of county funds received by the county libraries due to the new census figures. She also mentioned an article written by Wayne A. Wiegand, F. William Summers Professor of Library and Information Studies, Florida State University, about the Library in 21 century America, which mentions the Bozeman Library. The Gallatin Valley Interfaith Association held a peaceful demonstration on September 12 to protest the nationally proposed September 11 Burn the Koran event in Florida. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION /ACTION: Meister showed a picture of a large metal structure holding local civic CIVIC SIGN; DISTRIBUTION AND club signs, which was requested to be placed on Library property. The VERIFICATION OF THE NEWLY idea died for lack of a motion. Meister distributed the newly printed PRINTED ETHICS HANDBOOK TO Ethics Handbooks to all five Trustees, who signed for them. There was ALL CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD a question of whether to include the library director in the Trustee MEMBERS; TRUSTEE EMAIL email distribution list from the Library's website. The solution was to DISTRIBUTION; LIBRARY DIRECTOR say " Library Board and Director next to the email address, so people SEARCH COMMITTEE were aware of the recipients. Regarding the Library Director Search Committee, Kuku[ski said it could take a long time to select someone and that City procedures should be used. He would be happy to be involved and will be placed on the Committee. It was decided to have a representative from the Foundation (Beswick) and a representative from the Friends (Gallagher). Two Trustees should be on the Committee, and Mathre and McGuire volunteered. Mathre will chair the Committee. Mayor Jeff Krauss was suggested as an elected official, and Brown will contact him. Reference Librarian Jane Basile will be asked to represent the staff, as she did with the 1997 Search Committee. A presentation packet such as the one from Fargo, North Dakota was discussed, as Cole thought it would be useful to have. He noted that it will take time and money to attract good candidates. The Committee will make recommendations to the Board, and the entire Board will interview the final candidates. BOARD MEMBER'S AND CITY Goehrung said he is waiting for the insurance carrier to respond OFFICIALS' REPORTS regarding the hail damage. The skylights will need replacing, and he will work with Martel on the roof concerns. A fabric membrane material might be used. Aggressive roof replacement will take place next spring. Goehrung had concerns about digging holes for a jackleg fence on the southwest side due to asbestos concerns. He was also concerned about the expense if asbestos is found. There has been no formal action taken regarding the fence, and he wondered who told Gullickson and the other neighbors that they would have a visual vegetative barrier. He will attend the Library Grounds Master Plan meeting to hear the committee members' comments. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 4 p.m. in the Library Board /Staff Conference Room.