Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tom Bunger, Kate Paul.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m. and noted that he was happy to be meeting at the Ellettsville branch.
The consent agenda (minutes of Oct. 15, 2008 Board meeting; minutes of Oct. 27, 2008 Board work session; minutes of Nov. 12, 2008 Board work session; monthly bills for payment; monthly financial report; personnel report; Board calendar) was presented for approval. Penny Austin moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin noted that her report was distributed in the packet. Additionally, Sara noted that the March 2009 Board meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 25, 2009 due to a conflict with IU Spring Break.
Sara reported that the 2009 library budget has been approved by the Monroe County Council and will now be sent to the Department of Local Government and Finance (DLGF).
Regarding the Ellettsville Branch addition, Sara reported that the Common Construction Wage hearing was held on November 18 for both the Ellettsville project and the main library HVAC system. The Ellettsville Planning Department has approved a variance for parking at the Ellettsville branch for a net loss of two parking spaces. Bids are due at the Odle McGuire Shook offices on December 1 and she plans to have a recommendation at the December 10 Board work session. Additionally, the HVAC bids are scheduled for opening on December 9 with a recommendation made at the December 10 Board work session.
Sara Laughlin reported that the Main Library roof repair is in progress. Completion was expected by Thanksgiving but may be delayed by recent and future rain. Sara reported that the roofers discovered a six-inch hole in the rubber and the insulation was found to be totally waterlogged.
John Walsh asked whether the $2,000 deduction based on the condition of the ballast mat would be received. Sara Laughlin will check.
Sara Laughlin reported that administration has communicated with 13 architectural firms regarding the Main Library renovation. Representatives from eight firms attended a walk-through session at the library. Proposals are due on November 20, 2008. Sara asked whether any board members were interested in reviewing the proposals. Fred Risinger, Penny Austin and Randy Paul expressed interest.
Steve Moberly asked whether these will be formal bids. Sara explained that bids are not required for architectural services. These submissions are informational packets from the firms preliminary to interviews and selection.
Sara Laughlin reported MCPL has been awarded the Tom Zupancic Literacy in Libraries Award and will receive it at the ILF meeting.
Kyle Wickemeyer-Hardy reported that three enrollment learning sessions were held with approximately 70 employees attending. With the new offering of an Health Savings Account (HSA), a minimum enrollment of 10 persons is required. With enrollment still in process, 14 employees have already enrolled in the HSA.
Penny Austin asked whether any new enrollments have been picked up. Sara Laughlin explained that assessment has not been done yet but there will likely be some new part-time employee enrollments.
Fred Risinger asked whether employees seem pleased with the options. Kyle noted that all signs have been positive.
Steve Moberly asked whether legal counsel had reviewed the wording change for the personnel manual. Tom Bunger stated that he is comfortable with the wording.
Randy Paul felt that the community often looks to the library as a leader in the field of benefits. He believes that employees have been offered a good complete package including a PPO, HSA, life insurance, disability, and domestic partner coverage.
Fred Risinger agreed with Randy Paul’s statement.
Randy Paul moved, Fred Risinger seconded, to accept the resolution to change the wording in the personnel manual to reflect changes in allocation and funding strategy for Group Health Care and other benefits as well as a change in vendors. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin noted that the three-year strategic plan is the result of hard work by the committee (including three board members: Steve Moberly, Penny Austin, and John Walsh, as well as community and staff members), administration, and staff. She noted that at the November work session Rita Lichtenberg had suggested some additional language to state the importance of civic engagement. Sara presented Ms. Lichtenberg’s suggested wording to the committee, but the committee believes that the wording in the Vision statement “thoughtful, productive community life” covers that goal. The wording has not been changed. Sara expressed her thanks to Ms. Lichtenberg for her comments.
Penny Austin stated that the plan was community-driven and that efforts were made to meet everyone’s needs
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Fred Risinger commented that it is a great plan.
Sara Laughlin noted that the plan will be produced in a more finished, professional look and will be presented to the community in late January with a celebration.
Randy Paul moved, Steve Moberly seconded, adoption of the 2009-2011 Strategic Plan. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin reported that Ellettsville has no security staff and occasionally a situation will develop in the parking lot or elsewhere where individuals or groups are intimidating library patrons. The police have urged the library to post a loitering policy because Ellettsville has no ordinance on loitering. Administration has worked with staff on the wording in order to avoid negativity: Entryways and parking lots of the Monroe County Public Library have been designated as areas free from smoking, loitering, and skateboarding.
Fred Risinger moved; Penny Austin seconded approval of the loitering policy.
Discussion ensued. Penny Austin asked whether the sign will be posted at both Ellettsville and the Main Library. Sara Laughlin responded that she has not yet spoken with the Bloomington police. Currently the policy will apply only to Ellettsville.
John Walsh asked how many times the police are called to the Bloomington location. Sara Laughlin explained that they are called about twice a month but generally for emergency situations.
Randy Paul asked why there are no security personnel at Ellettsville. Mickey Needham stated that overall it is not deemed necessary, but on occasion Ellettsville has requested security on a temporary basis.
Dave Ferguson asked who will define loitering. Sara Laughlin stated that library staff will define it. If staff ask individuals to leave because they are harassing or intimidating others, police can be called and can then cite the individuals for trespassing.
Fred Risinger noted that in the community survey issues related to the loitering were among the biggest concerns.
Fred Risinger moved, Penny Austin seconded, to approve the loitering policy. Motion carried 5-1 (Randy Paul voting nay).
Mickey Needham presented the Ellettsville Branch Update, a pictorial view of “One Day at the Ellettsville Branch.”
The Board thanked Mickey for her presentation.
Randy Paul expressed interest in the self check-out machines both at Ellettsville and the Main Library. He asked for the numeric goal at the time of installation, i.e., what percentage of check-out was hoped to be redirected to self-check machines. He also asked about the anticipated effect on library staffing. Sara Laughlin stated that some libraries are reporting about 85% of all circulation through self-check with support available and said the goal is not to reduce staff but rather to make better use of staff time and to handle increased traffic without increasing staff. She noted that a Materials Security Task Force is currently investigating this as well as other matters. Pam Wasmer, Collection Services manager and member of the Task Force, spoke briefly about visits to Champaign, IL, and South Bend, IN, libraries. Sara Laughlin suggested tabling further discussion until the Task Force has submitted their findings.
Randy Paul discussed the lack of diversity on the Board and his belief that the library should work to attract more diversity among Board members, perhaps by advertising when an appointment is coming up, or, at a minimum, posting flyers in the library. John Walsh felt that it is not the library’s job to promote openings and that it would be out of place for the library to do the job of the appointing agencies. Randy Paul stated that he is not advocating involvement in the appointment process but rather suggesting efforts to make the public more aware. Dave Ferguson noted that he has seen Board positions advertised. Fred Risinger had mixed feelings but noted that the appointing agencies do publish agendas and that he has seen advertisements for appointments. He also felt that it is the responsibility of the appointing agencies to publicize the openings.
Sara Laughlin stated that she has sent letters to the two appointing agencies regarding the upcoming vacancies. She noted that she would be happy to call those offices to see if they would like the library to post notices.
On a sad note, Randy Paul reported that Cathy Rogers has passed away Cathy was a tremendous contributor to MCPL and to VITAL. Sara Laughlin added that several staff members had attended a memorial service.
None.
None.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Contact
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Updated:
December 19, 2008
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/200811min.html
