Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tom Bunger, Rita Lichtenberg, Antonia Matthew.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m.
President John Walsh presented the minutes and consent agenda. Steve Moberly submitted corrections to minutes as follows: June 18 Board minutes: page 2E—clarify who Scott is (Scott Hunt, Odle-McGuire-Shook). July 9 work session minutes: replace “Emergency Fund” with “Rainy Day Fund.” Penny Austin moved; Steve Moberly seconded approval of the consent agenda. The vote was unanimous (John Walsh, Stephen Moberly, Randy Paul, Penny Austin. Dave Ferguson had not yet arrived.)
Sara Laughlin presented the director’s report. Circulation has been over 200,000 for three months in a row. She attributed this to the fact that we have a very good collection. She also felt that the weak economy was a driver as well.
Sara Laughlin presented a proposal to amend the Capital Projects Fund Plan to reflect the County Council approved amount based on a projected tax rate of .0066. The revised total for 2009 is $482,075. Sara proposed the Ellettsville addition be funded in full with the other two line items (main library remodeling & computer related purchases) being reduced by 9.3% each. A resolution to amend is required. John Walsh read into the record the “Resolution to Amend Library Capital Projects Fund Plan” whereby the plan entitled “Library Capital Projects Plan – Amended for Years 2009-2011” be adopted. Randy Paul moved; Penny Austin seconded the resolution. The vote was unanimous.
Sara Laughlin requested the reappointment of Pam Wasmer to the INCOLSA Board. The Board is a cooperative and every member has a vote. Steve Moberly moved; Penny Austin seconded reappointment of Pam Wasmer to INCOLSA Board. The vote was unanimous.
Sara Laughlin presented the 2009 CATS contract with the Town of Ellettsville wherein Ellettsville agrees to pay 50% of its cable franchise fees for the calendar year 2007, to be paid quarterly, totaling $11,166. Penny Austin moved; Dave Ferguson seconded acceptance of the contract. The vote was unanimous.
Sara Laughlin reported that the library roof on the Sixth Street side has been leaking since March. It is a 20-year-old roof with the rubber portion dating back to 1989. Preliminary bids were over $100,000, thus the library is required to hire a structural engineer or architect. STR Building Resources LLC has submitted two proposals for professional services: 1) Initial Roof Survey: $3,000 ($1,900 if awarded in conjunction with Roofing Specification proposal; and 2) Roof Specifications, Bid Procedure and Administrative Services: $8,400. Dave Ferguson queried where the company is located and what is known about it. Bonnie Estell responded that it is a Chicago-based firm with a branch in Westfield, Indiana. They are state-certified architects; have worked with Monroe County Community School Corporation as well as Hoosier Energy; and are highly recommended by MCCSC. Randy Paul moved; Steve Moberly seconded acceptance of the two proposals from STR Roofing Resources LLC. The motion passed with Walsh, Moberly, Paul, Ferguson voting aye and Penny Austin abstaining, noting that she has little knowledge of roofing matters.
Steve Backs presented an update on the Adult Services department. There are nine full-time librarians, three part-time, five full-time reference assistants and four interns. 53% of Adult Services staff time is spent at public desks. In 2007, 130,000 reference questions were answered. Adult Services (including Indiana Room, Audio Visual, Fiction, Non-fiction and Reference) also provides numerous other services, such as Author Alerts, Staff Picks, Books to Go, Community Organization File, Interlibrary Loan, and participate in the Job Search Inititative. Steve noted that he considers Adult Services to be the “sales force for the library collection.”
Randy Paul queried the needs of Adult Services and whether Steve felt they were in line with the proposed 3.7% budget increase for that area. Steve felt the percentage increase proposed for the collection budget seemed appropriate. He felt comfortable with striving to maintain a relevant collection. Discussion ensued regarding the collection and various services. Digital books were discussed with Sara Laughlin explaining that through our membership in INCOLSA our patrons have access to 700 downloadable audiobooks. MCPL collection currently contains 30 titles. Digital books can be “checked out” (downloaded) for three weeks and can be put on hold like regular print books. A detailed explanation is provided on the library’s website. The library will promote the service at the Monroe County Fair. Randy Paul asked whether the library promotes such services as helping people apply for unemployment benefits (mentioned as an example by Steve Backs). Steve explained that more and more residents are finding a computer to be almost essential for handling such tasks as applying for unemployment benefits and are utilizing the library’s public computers. Sara Laughlin added that the library is partnering with Work One to provide resources for people seeking employment (books, workshops, etc.).
Randy Paul reiterated his objection (previously stated at the July 9 Board work session) to the $80,000 budgeted from the Rainy Day Fund for legal counsel for union negotiations. He stated that the library will be negotiating with its own employees (some long-term) and such a budget amount shows lack of faith. He opposed having legal counsel at every negotiating meeting and felt that all documents should be reviewed by an attorney with final documents being approved by attorney before adoption. He stated that he has no faith in budgeting $80,000 with the intent not to spend it all if unnecessary. He felt the Board should consider such areas as increased health care costs for employees and the unanticipated roof repair and decide where the $80,000 would be better spent and that the Board should consider what would serve the community better: $80,000 in legal fees or $80,000 in other areas. He proposed $25,000 as a starting point for legal fees.
Dave Ferguson queried whether statistics are kept on the number of computer hours used by the public. Sara Laughlin stated that such statistics are kept, but not reported to the Board. There were about 580,000 logged on sessions last year and she will check to see what other statistics are available or can be tracked and how they might be added to the monthly or quarterly reports.
Dave Ferguson stated that Richland-Bean Blossom School Corporation is holding public meetings regarding a new building project and encouraged CATS to tape and program. Sara Laughlin will check with CATS.
Dave Ferguson noted that he had seen the invoice from 39 Degrees North but had not seen the work (copies were distributed). Sara Laughlin explained that in response to Monroe County Council member Warren Henegar’s question regarding what percentage of library card holders live outside Bloomington city limits, 39 Degrees North was hired to map the county. The study shows that areas farthest from the library have fewer library card holders. Sara noted that aligned with national research, which shows there is typically a drop-off in library use among those who live further than one mile from the library and then again after about five miles. It appears that the library is serving more non-students than students. The population data used was from the 2000 U.S. Census, so doesn’t reflect growth in apartments downtown. The study was distributed to all County Council members.
Sara Laughlin noted that copies of the latest Friends of the Library newsletter were distributed to Board members. She reported that five of the seven planned Strategic Planning Staff Sessions have been held. Following completion of the remaining staff work sessions, extensive session notes will be reviewed and the Strategic Planning Staff Team will produce an Action Plan by the end of August. She also reported that requests for proposals for a Classification/Compensation Study have been sent out and some inquiries have been received. Lastly, the library will be represented jointly with the Friends of the Library at the Monroe County Fair. The library will be promoting downloadable books and Job Search services.
None.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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August 25, 2008
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