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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-2013 Library Board of Trustees MinutesBozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Small Meeting Room, Lobby Bozeman Public Library Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Minutes Attendance Present: Board Chair Ron Farmer; Trustees Jennifer Pawlak, Judy Mathre, Jacki McGuire, John Gallagher; Bozeman Public Library (BPL) Director, Susan Gregory; BPL Department Heads Lois Dissly, Terri Dood; BPL Friends Vice-President David House; BPL Foundation Director Paula Beswick; City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung; Deputy Mayor and Library Liaison Jeff Krauss. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Farmer at 4:05 p.m. Approval of Minutes Trustee Jacki McGuire moved that the minutes of the December 19, 2012, meeting be approved. John Gallagher seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes. Correspondence BPL Director Susan Gregory presented correspondence from Library patrons. Two patrons requested that foreign language DVDs be shelved together by language to allow easier browsing. A patron asked if Montana Library2Go site could be modified to allow eBook search results to be sorted by device. A note commenting on the Alexander Calder print next to the Circulation Desk mentioned that a similar print had recently been appraised at $50,000, prompting a discussion on the need for an itemized appraisal of the Library’s art collection. Friends Report BPL Friends Vice-President David House reported on the Friends' activities. The Friends’ annual meeting will be January 23, which will include the election of new Board members and presentation of their revised bylaws for discussion and vote. He thanked John Gallagher for his 13 years of service to Friends including 8 years as president. There has been progress in the matter of Lindley Perk’s insurance requirements, with two questions still awaiting legal opinion from City Attorney Greg Sullivan. Foundation Report Foundation Director Paula Beswick presented a report on their activities. Paula reported that the “Meth Man” sculpture has been picked up by Gallatin Art Crossing for potential artistic recycling. The Foundation’s final budget analysis for 2012 shows a $12,000 drop in fundraising while investments showed an increase of over $200,000. She has prepared a proposed budget for 2013 which will be presented to the Foundation Board at their February 5 meeting. Final totals for Foundation programs have been tallied, with 14,418 people attending 134 programs in 2012, averaging 107 attendees per program. New Foundation officers, (President Lauren Acton, Vice President Denise Malloy, Secretary Darryl Henning, and Treasurer Vicky Lucien), will take their seats at the February 5 meeting. Susan and Paula will attend the ALA midwinter conference from January 25 through 28 in Seattle, and will meet with consultant Peter Pearson regarding the strategic planning initiative. A planning team meeting will take place on January 30 to select individuals from the community to take part in the strategic planning process. Paula has asked to be a judge in the Schools Foundation Spelling Bee on February 8. The Living Your Passion speaker series continued on January 22 with Chris Boyer presenting his Lighthawk aerial photography work. The Jane Austen night on January 15 was a success, and on February 1 the Foundation will host an Opening Reception for a joint exhibition by Megan and Michael Blessing. The first Notes at the Library Chamber Music event will take place at noon on February 4. The Exploring the Arts series will continue on February 11 with the MSU Cello Ensemble. The Foundation has issued a call for artists to begin planning 2014 exhibitions for the atrium gallery based on the theme “Big Ideas”, and is also accepting nominations for the Cornerstone Award. City Facilities Report City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung presented a report on his department’s activities. The Richard Parrish glass sculptures over the Circulation desk have been reinstalled. James is working with the Engineering Department on the proposed sidewalk expansion on the east side of the Library’s parking lot. He has also been coordinating with the Bozeman Police Department to improve security in and around the Library building, to include glass for the doors in the staff entry and (possibly) loading dock, lights over the exterior book drops and along the east side of the building, and expanded hours for the lights on the trail running alongside the building as well as those in the parking lot. The skylight panel that was mis-manufactured will be replaced as soon as the threat of snow dissipates. Director’s Report BPL Director Susan Gregory began her report by stating that 50% of the Library’s 2013 budget remains, with 42% of the fiscal year left. Susan thanked those who responded to her email regarding House Bill 203. She and Cindy Christin worked with the State Library and attended the Appropriations Committee session on HB 203 to support an increase in State funding for public libraries. Susan went with Paula and Foundation Program Coordinator Jeannie Gracey-Etgen to a Bozeman Business & Professional Women (BPW) meeting at the Community Café, leading to discussion among the Library staff to form a team to volunteer periodically at the Community Café. City Attorney Greg Sullivan asked Susan to act as a judge for the Bozeman High School Debate Tournament. The popularity of the dramatic readings continued with Jane Austen Night, and Jack Kligerman is laying the groundwork for an evening of readings of works by Mark Twain for the Fall of 2013. Susan mentioned the committees that she and Paula will attend at the ALA midwinter conference. Circulation librarian Mary Braun will also attend as an ALA Emerging Leader to collaborate on a project for presentation at the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference in Chicago at the end of June, 2013. Trustee Jennifer Pawlak inquired about the lack of web-related statistical information on the monthly report, which is due to a different tracking matrix being used; future reports should contain statistical information, though comparison with the old tracking parameters will be difficult to assess. Items for Discussion/Action The Board reviewed the proposed revisions to the Library’s Meeting Room Policy. City Attorney Greg Sullivan has suggested that the policy should be expanded to include the Library’s grounds, and expressed the opinion that the Library should follow the Municipal Code in the same way that groups must seek a permit for a parade, for example. Susan expressed the opinion that, due to public expectations of access, some exceptions should be possible. In conjunction with the desire to improve the security of the Library facility and property, especially when meeting rooms are in use after the Library closes, Susan proposed contracting with a private security firm to ensure that the building is cleared and secured at 9:00 p.m. at an estimated cost of $196 per month. Susan asked that the Board consider approaching such a plan as a procedural rather than policy matter, in hopes of putting it in place around March 1. This proposal has the support of Greg Sullivan from a legal standpoint. The Board decided to delegate authority for this procedural change to Susan for implementation. Greg Sullivan has asked for more information (such as examples of policies from other libraries) to ensure that the Library has the best possible policy in place, and Craig Willard of Bozeman Public Works has discussed the possibility of blanket permits for Library functions. The proposed Meeting Room Policy will be reviewed and revised by Library staff and resubmitted to the Board at a later date. City Reports Deputy Mayor Jeff Krauss reported that the City Commission will meet in February to set their goals and begin planning for 2013, and invited input from the Library to help the Commission streamline administrative processes leading up to budget planning. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Farmer adjourned the meeting at 5:09 p.m.