Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Program Room 2B
Tom Bunger and Rita Lichtenberg.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
The consent agenda (Minutes of January 20, 2010 Board Meeting; Minutes of January 20, 2010 Board of Finance Meeting; Minutes of February 10, 2010 Work Session; Monthly Bills for Payment; Monthly Financial Report; Personnel Report; and Board Calendar) was presented for approval. Steve Moberly moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Sara Laughlin presented the Director’s Report, Fourth Quarter 2009 Report, and 2009 Annual Report to the State Library. Sara reported that circulation was down in November and December primarily due to the Children’s Department being closed for renovation and to the two-day holiday closings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Overall, annual circulation increased by 4.2% over 2008.
The Main Renovation Update was deferred until later in the meeting.
Steve Moberly proposed the following slate of officers for 2010: Fred Risinger, President; Kari Isaacson, Vice President; Melissa Pogue, Secretary; and Dave Ferguson, Treasurer. Steve Moberly moved; Randy Paul seconded approval of the slate of officers as proposed. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Mickey Needham reported that VITAL and El Centro have moved to meeting rooms 1A and 1C on the first floor. Demolition of the VITAL area is in progress. Staging for the second floor work is in progress. The reopening of the Children’s Department will be celebrated on Sunday, February 28 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Randy Paul commented on a $620,000 gift to the library from Alice Freese in the 1960s. He felt that it would be nice to invite any remaining Freese family to the reopening of the Children’s Department as further recognition of this gift.
Randy Paul commented that he had attended the last Friends Board meeting. He felt that the library board and administration should be supportive of and recognize the many good things that the Friends do for the library and also recognize that they are not interested in major fund-raising. He was concerned that the library does not have a formal structure for major fund-raising and encouraged the board to move forward.
Fred Risinger felt that a long-range committee comprised of some board members as well as community members was a possibility.
John Walsh noted that Sara Laughlin has been working on her responsibilities with regard to recommendations from the Long-Range Financial Planning Task Force. He suggested putting the matter on the next work session agenda.
Sara Laughlin felt that perhaps within the existing 501(c)(3) structure of the Friends a development committee could be established or a second group could be established. She felt that fund-raising is not the library board’s work.
Dave Ferguson agreed noting that the library board is a governing fiscal board.
Steve Moberly commented that the Friends do an excellent job but they have chosen not to see their role as one of major fund-raising (development). He added that the library should be proactive and consider hiring a development officer and perhaps re-aligning some staff positions. He added that major development work requires a trained professional.
Kari Isaacson and Randy Paul agreed that a hiring a professional would be a good idea.
Dave Ferguson suggested inviting someone from the Long-Range Financial Planning Task Force to attend a work session or to help set up a fund-raising structure.
Steve Moberly added that Curt Simic would be ideal but is currently out of town.
Bara Swinson presented for approval an agreement with Unique Management, Inc., for collection agency services. A one-time purchase of Polaris software ($3,150) plus annual maintenance of $525 would be required. Unique will charge a fee of $8.95 for each account turned over to them. The fee will be recovered through a $10 processing fee added to each account submitted. Attorney Tom Bunger has reviewed the contract.
Steve Moberly asked whether the collected funds would be paid to MCPL or to Unique. Bara clarified that all funds would be collected by MCPL. Steve Moberly noted that the projection for 2010 did not show much return (approximately $8,600). Bara explained that the library hopes to also retrieve missing materials and that collection of fines for the previous two years should also be considered.
Steve Moberly asked how much money was collected from fines in 2009. Bonnie Estell estimated the amount to be around $160,000.
Following additional discussion, Dave Ferguson moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the contract with Unique Management, Inc., for collection services. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin explained that this resolution allocates $5,400 from the 2010 Library Capital Projects Fund to match the Opportunity Online Hardware Grant in 2010. This is the required matching funds of 25% of the grant for this year. The grant is from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Indiana State Library.
Kari Isaacson moved; Melissa Pogue seconded approval of the resolution as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin reported that the City and County contracts are not yet available. Both contracts will reflect payment of 50% of 2008 franchise fees collected, approximately $216,000 from the County and $325,000 from the City.
Sara Laughlin reported that the Monroe County Commissioners have requested that CATS continue to tape Ellettsville council meetings even though there is no contract for this year. CATS will continue to tape the meetings in 2010 but may not be able to continue after that.
Fred Risinger commented that Direct TV should be paying franchise fees as well as Comcast. Sara Laughlin noted that franchise fee requirements are governed by federal law and there has been pressure from cable companies to pursue this. The City of Bloomington is the local unit with legal standing.
Rita Lichtenberg spoke regarding fund-raising. She felt that the community should be informed of specific areas that might be cut without funding. She felt that the local newspaper could help publicize the matter and that the “average” citizen should not be overlooked.
Steve Moberly thanked John Walsh for his excellent service as president of the board for two years.
Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Contact
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Updated:
March 25, 2010
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/201002min.html
