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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-25-14 Library Board of Trustees MinutesBozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Bozeman Public Library—Staff/Board Room Wednesday, June 25th, 2014 Minutes Attendance Present: Board Chair Ron Farmer; Trustees Judy Mathre, Jacki McGuire, Jennifer Pawlak; Bozeman Public Library (BPL) Director Susan Gregory; BPL Department Heads Terri Dood, Cindy Christin; City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung; Friends President David House; Library Foundation Director Paula Beswick Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Board Chair Ron Farmer at 4:04pm. Approval of the Minutes Trustee Judy Mathre moved that the minutes from the May 28, 2014 meeting be approved. Trustee Jacki McGuire seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes. Public Comment There was none. Correspondence BPL Director Susan Gregory shared correspondence from Library patrons. Jack and Barbara Kligerman sent a postcard from Paris. A patron requested that the Library spread out the items in the Children’s lost and found so that patrons may search through it. Another patron suggested that the Library carry postcards with photos of the Library exterior. A white supremacy flier was left in a book and found by a staff member. Another patron was unhappy with the new DVD circulation policy, and requested that the lending policy be changed from 14 days back to seven. Director’s Report Director Susan Gregory presented the schedule of Library holiday closures for the coming year. Gregory asked the Board about using November 11th (Veteran’s Day) as a staff enrichment day. The Board discussed Library closures during elections, and recalled that the Library remains open on Election Day unless it is a presidential election. Since this year is not a presidential election year, November 4th was removed from the holiday schedule. Employees who work on Election Day in November will be entitled to a comp day. Action Trustee Jennifer Pawlak moved to approve the holiday schedule as amended. Trustee Judy Mathre seconded. The Board unanimously approved the holiday schedule as amended. Director Susan Gregory reported that the PIE committee is working on putting together the November 11th staff day, and is excited about the idea of getting a bookmobile from the Lewis & Clark Library System in Helena here so that staff can board it and get a better sense of what kind of specifications they would like for the Bozeman Library bookmobile. The staff day will start at the Baxter Hotel in the morning, break for lunch, and end back at the Library in the afternoon. The Board will be invited to attend, and pie will be served. BPL Director Susan Gregory reported on the staff meeting that occurred at the end of May. Staff members Beth Boyson and Carrie Genovese presented on their visit to the American Library Association Annual Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., where they visited the offices of Montana legislators to advocate for Montana libraries. Cindy Christin shared about the Library’s Summer Reading Program for children, and Kerry Williams shared the children’s library etiquette campaign she created and is sharing with Montana libraries. Katie Biehl spoke about the Adult Summer Reading Program, and the Foundation generously catered the meeting. Gregory reported that she and Michael Tallichet from the Bozeman Sculpture Park Board gave a tour of the Bozeman Sculpture Park to the top 25 donors of the Kansas City Art Institute on May 30th. The donors chose Bozeman as an art destination after visiting Provence, France and San Francisco in previous years, and were impressed with the art offerings here, along with the Library. Gregory met with Bozeman Sculpture Park (BSP) President Chaucer Silverson, Gallatin Art Crossing (GAC) President Tate Chamberlin, and Bozeman Public Library Foundation Director Paula Beswick to discuss the possible merger between BSP and GAC. The BSP Board will meet on June 24th to discuss the merger and will keep the BPL Board updated on its decision. Joshua Wareham has been hired in Circulation to fill a 40-hour vacancy for a Library Aide II position, and will start training on June 23rd. Members of the Board and staff members attended the June 9th City Commission meeting in which General Fund Fiscal Year 2015 requests were presented to Mayor Krauss and the Commissioners. The Library’s budget was not cut, and the Library was granted a 12-hour Children’s Department position. Gregory, Paula Beswick, and staff members Terri Dood, and Hannah Vidrich will attend the American Library Association conference in Las Vegas on June 26th. Gregory proposed and the Board agreed to move the BPL Board meetings from the fourth to the third Wednesday of the month in order to accommodate the Director’s attendance at regular City Directors’ meetings. This move will also allow the City Manager to resume attendance at the Library Board meetings. Trustee Pawlak asked about the remaining budget for the current fiscal year, and Gregory replied that all funds are encumbered, and that there will not be a remaining balance. She said that the July and August, 2014, budget reports should reflect the appropriate expenditures. Staff Report Terri Dood announced that the launch party for the Maker’s Movement is July 1st. She and her department are in the process of filling a 15-hour Reference position. Cindy Christin reported that the city has approved her request for a 12-hour position in the Children’s Department. Christin shared photos from the Maker Mondays program. Christin also spoke about the letter to the editor in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that concerned an incident in the Children’s department in which a patron felt that he was turned away from library programming for his three year old. Christin explained the misunderstanding and noted that she reached out to this patron and to the paper to clarify that the Library welcomes any and all children to its summer programs. Trustee Pawlak asked about the laptop that was recently stolen from the library. Gregory stated that the police were involved and that the case is ongoing. City Superintendent of Facilities Report City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung reported that the city received a number of calls about the triangular area on the far end of the Library property. People have complained about the number of vehicles in that area, as well as the lawn care situation. Goehrung noted that the area is being mowed weekly. Trustee McGuire asked about irrigation in the areas that have been planted by MSU master gardeners, and Goehrung answered that these areas are indeed irrigated (though less so than other planted areas) even though they are planted with drought tolerant plants. Goehrung reported that the Sweet Pea Festival has requested use of the area east of the parking lot for bike parking, and that permission was granted to use that area during the festival. Trustee Pawlak asked about pathways on the front lawn. Goehrung replied that the pathways can likely be installed soon. Regarding the pedestrian walkway, Director Susan Gregory reported that she spoke with Brit Fontenot yesterday and the only news is that the easement is still at the attorney’s office. Fontenot will keep us updated on any progress. Friends Report Friends President David House reported that the Friends are preparing for the upcoming book sale, which runs from July 11th -13th. House appreciated the recent opportunity to speak at the annual Volunteer Brunch. He noted that the Friends now provide discretionary funding for all the departments, and the department heads can request funding at any Friends meeting as the need arises. House will put together a list of things the Friends have funded to be made available in the Library. Trustee Mathre asked if Friends funding runs through the City, and House replied that that is correct. Foundation Report Foundation Director Paula Beswick reported that she gave a presentation to the Sunrise Rotary Club pitching the bookmobile program and seeking funding. The Sunrise and Noon Rotary Clubs have both committed $5,000 so far and a grant for $20,000 (with a matching grant of an additional $20,000) of funding has been submitted. $35,000 of funding has already been secured from the county. Beswick will present an update on the bookmobile to the staff this summer and continue to solicit their input. She and Library Director Gregory hope to be able to meet informally with the county commissioners later this summer to discuss the bookmobile project. The first Day on the Green concert is Sunday with the Hooligans performing from 4-7pm. The Children’s Festival of the Book website has just launched, and the One Book One Bozeman website has been updated. More One Book One Bozeman events have been added, and the kickoff is August 21st. The Foundation is finalizing its summer appeal. This communication will emphasize the Foundation’s efforts to support the Library’s strategic plan, provide additional support for children’s programming, and to launch the campaign for a bookmobile. Beswick also mentioned that the Elk Rivers bookstore in Livingston has a foundation that wants to partner with BPL and independent bookstores to bring authors to the area to give readings. Finally, Beswick received a suggestion from a patron requesting a kids-free yoga class. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Ron Farmer adjourned the meeting at 5:19 pm.