HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-2013 Library Board of Trustees MinutesBozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Board Meeting Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Minutes
Attendance Present: Board Chair Ron Farmer; Trustees Judy Mathre, Jacki McGuire, Jennifer
Pawlak, John Gallagher; Bozeman Public Library (BPL) Director, Susan Gregory; BPL
Department Heads Lois Dissly, Terri Dood, Mary Jo Stanislao; BPL Friends President David
House; BPL Foundation Director Paula Beswick; City Superintendent of Facilities James
Goehrung; Bozeman Sculpture Park President Chaucer Silverson.
Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Farmer at 4:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes Trustee Jennifer Pawlak moved that the minutes of the April 24, 2013
meeting be approved. Trustee Judy Mathre seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously
to approve the minutes.
City Facilities Report City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung presented a report on
his department’s activities. Student volunteers from Belgrade worked on cleaning up the grounds
today. An herbicide treatment for the dandelions problem is planned and Goehrung will put
flags up to warn people. His crew will also replace some dead trees on the property. He has
been in contact with the contractor about leaks in the flat roof of the library and will have an
inspector come over to look at it; work should be covered under the warranty. Goats might still
be used to control weeds on the east side of the building. He will be working with the City's
Engineering Department to widen the sidewalk on the building’s south side which will be paid
for out of the Library’s Depreciation Fund.
Bozeman Sculpture Park (BSP) Report New President, Chaucer Silverson, reported that
BSP will work with the City on contracts for future exhibits. He distributed handouts showing
new banners, website, and logo that will help identify and brand the park. Three new people
joined the BSP Board and they are hoping to add a fourth who will act as treasurer for a total of
sixteen (16) members. They will be discussing the acquisition of more new sculptures at their
next meeting but will be working with City Attorney Greg Sullivan to formalize questions about
insurance before adding them. The vandalized sculptures are being dealt with. One was designed
to decompose and will be allowed to do so, one can be repaired, and the third piece will not be
returned because it was too fragile for outdoor exhibit. The BSP Board will work with the artist
to help pay for repairing the piece. BSP and the Gallatin Art Crossing did not merge as was
previously considered.
Correspondence BPL Director Susan Gregory shared correspondence from library patrons.
One patron had concerns about the Library’s catalog with regard to holds and wanted to talk to
staff. A second left a comment about shooting the Internet and bringing back snail mail and
conversation. Another suggested that the Library be open Sundays during the summer. There
were two notes from the Montana Library Association to Gregory; one thanking her for being a
presenter at the group's conference and the second was congratulating her on being elected as
ALA Councilor. The Meth Man sculpture will be removed by the artist's family member.
Director’s and Staff Reports Gregory reported that with 92% year gone there is still 17.6 %
remaining in the budget. Circulation statistics went up during the past month. Several staff
members and trustee Jennifer Pawlak met with Amy Bekkerman to identify which statistics to be
tracked and presented to the Board. They hope to have a draft of the new forms by the end of
July and will bring them to the Board for input. They will also be investigating software that can
be used to record stats at the desks. Gregory graduated from Leadership Bozeman 25 and
attended the final retreat May 16-17 at the 320 Ranch. She attended the Montana Shared Catalog
meeting in Miles City May 1-3 and persuaded the MSC Advisory Board to allow the Library to
use Most Wanted as the home location designation for the new leased book collection. Gregory
and staff member Kari Grimm gave a presentation to the Wonderlust group.
Lois Dissly announced that Scott Blackwell had given notice of his resignation as of June 6.
Volunteer Coordinator, Gail McMillan hosted a delicious and fun Volunteer Brunch May 22.
Overdrive's Digital Bookmobile will be coming to the Library May 30. She reported that, thanks
to a generous donation from the Bozeman Friends of the Library, five new MAC laptops have
been purchased. Dissly and Kari Grimm attended a Social Media training at the City which
proved to be a good brainstorming session. The Library currently has 2,300 Facebook Likes.
Terri Dood told the Board that the new leased book collection which is sponsored by the
Friends, has been named Most Wanted and books are currently on order. Dood and Foundation
Director Paula Beswick have been teaching basic computer skill classes to a small group at
Aspen Pointe.
Mary Jo Stanislao reported that staff schedules have been adjusted due to the Library being
closed on Sunday’s beginning in June. City Manager Chris Kukulski, Assistant City Manager
Chuck Winn, and Administrative Service Director Anna Rosenberry met with staff June 15 to
talk about the budget.
Children's Librarian Cindy Christin was not able to attend the meeting so Gregory described the
tour that she, Christin, Trustee Judy Mathre, and City of Bozeman Parks & Recreation Director
Mitch Overton took of the Library grounds. Discussion followed about ways to enhance the
front and east sides of building for creative learning space including adding ping pong tables on
the oval in front of the Library.
Strategic Planning Gregory presented copies of the draft Strategic Plan that Library Strategies
consultants, Peter Pearson and Sue Hall had helped develop. Chair Farmer asked if staff
had input and was told that the entire staff had not. The work plan for implementing the
goals has not been completed and the staff will meet again to finish it. The Foundation
and Friends will develop their own plans that will work in tandem with the Library’s plan
Action once it has been approved. After further discussion, Judy Mathre moved to approve the
draft plan as the final with some minor corrections and John Gallagher seconded. The
motion was approved unanimously.
Friends of the Library Report President David House announced that the Friends would be
working on their own strategic plan which would fit with those of the Library and Foundation.
The group is working to formalize its operations. It would like input from the Library Board and
Foundation to help them continue the process.
Foundation Report Foundation Director Paula Beswick reported that she had sent out the
draft of the Foundation's Development Plan which includes transitioning her out of programming
and giving that responsibility over to Library staff and the Friends. The Foundation Board will
meet June 1 to discuss the plan. Trustee Judy Mathre will send out a copy to Library Board
Trustees. The new plan would have the Foundation act as an advocacy for the Library.
Foundation Program Coordinator, Jeannie Gracey-Etgen will be leaving her position at the end
of June. The Art Committee met and selected five new art exhibits for the upcoming year. The
final performance of Exploring the Arts featured Megan McKeever. Jazz And More begins June
10. Beswick worked with an MSU student volunteer to do a focus group at Bozeman High and
was pleased with the input they received from the students. The next College Prep class will be
for parents learning to let go of their college-age children. The chamber music series will
continue on Mondays at noon through June and July. A new yoga teacher has been found who
will teach classes every Tuesday from 11-11:45 a.m. in June and July. The art opening reception
for photographer Alex Garcia Ruiz will be held June 7 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. The Foundation will
sponsor two writing contests in the fall, one for the Children's Festival of the Book and the other
in conjunction with the MSU Convocation's Life of Pi. The Ellen Theatre will host a special
One Book – One Bozeman event highlighting the book Last Stand: Ted Turner’s Quest to Save a
Troubled Planet on Friday, June 21 with Ted Turner and author Todd Wilkinson. Country
Bookshelf will be selling books for signings. Hosted by the Library Foundation, proceeds from
the event will benefit the Bozeman Public Library. All are invited for a book discussion on
Friday, June 14 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Susan and Paula will be doing a
follow-up article about strategic planning for the July issue of the Bozeman Magazine.
Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Farmer adjourned the meeting at 5:43
p.m.