Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Program Room 2B
Tom Bunger, Wayne Clark, and Rita Lichtenberg.
President Fred Risinger called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
The consent agenda (Minutes of February 17, 2010 Board Meeting; Minutes of March 10, 2010 Work Session; Monthly Bills for Payment; Monthly Financial Report; Board Calendar, and Personnel Report) was presented for approval. The board calendar reflects a change of the October work session to October 6 due to the library being closed for Staff Day on October 13.
Steve Moberly moved; John Walsh seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin presented the Director’s Report noting that it has been a very busy month.
Sara Laughlin presented a main renovation update. The parking lot asphalt is down, sealing and striping will soon be done, followed by landscape repair work. The VITAL office will be painted soon. Shelving on the second floor is being moved in preparation for carpet. The shipping date for the carpet is April 2.
Sara Laughlin distributed a “Return on Investment for 2009” handout. The return-on-investment has increased – from $1.64 in 2007 and $1.80 in 2008 to $2.03 in 2009. The return-on-investment does not factor in such services as CATS, homebound delivery, VITAL, holds, and author alerts.
The CATS contract with Monroe County was presented for approval. Michael White discussed the contract noting that other than the dollar amount the only change from last year’s contract is that Monroe County Commissioners have requested that CATS continue to tape Ellettsville Town Council meetings and Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation meetings even though there is no contract with the Town this year. The income from the County contract for 2010 is $216,000.
The CATS contract with the City of Bloomington is in the final stages and may be available at the April board meeting.
Kari Isaacson moved; Steve Moberly seconded approval of the CATS contract with Monroe County as presented. Motion carried unanimously. (This action was taken following the RFID discussion and action below.)
Fred Risinger read a statement from Randy Paul regarding the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) purchase. Randy was supportive of the RFID purchase but felt that the timing was bad. He preferred to wait a year or two until the library finances were more secure. Randy recommended moving as much of the $750,000 purchase price as possible to future years of the Library Capital Projects Fund.
Sara Laughlin reviewed the timeline, funding, and recommendation to purchase the RFID and automated handling system:
| 2010 Operating Fund | $217,440 for supplies, conversion station rental, and temporary staff for tagging |
| 2010 LIRF Fund | $237,034 for self-check hardware/software, and security gates |
| 2011 Capital Projects Fund | 2011 Capital Projects Fund $296,939 for automated materials handling equipment |
The anticipated timeline is:
June-December 2010—tagging of collection
January 2011—security gates installed, self-checks begin using RFID
Early 2011—automated materials handling equipment installed
Following discussion, John Walsh moved; Melissa Pogue seconded approval of the purchase of RFID and Automated Handling System as recommended by the RFID Selection Committee and as proposed by the Integrated Technology Group (ITG). Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin recommended hiring Ted Mendoza to conduct an energy audit of MCPL as discussed at the March work session. Steve Moberly had requested that Sara check with Facilities Manager Mark Mobley as to whether there had been any previous energy audits. Sara confirmed that there were none on record.
John Walsh moved; Melissa Pogue seconded hiring Ted Mendoza to conduct an energy audit of MCPL as proposed. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin presented the Capital Projects Fund Proposal for 2011-2013. The proposed expenditures for the Capital Projects Fund are:
| 2011 Plan Year | |
| Materials Handling System | $322,000 |
| Computer-related Purchases | 125,489 |
| Office Equipment | 23,560 |
| Energy Savings | 60,000 |
Total: |
$531,049 |
| 2012 Plan Year | |
| Main Library Renovation Phase 3 | 417,313 |
| Computer-related Purchases | 125,000 |
Total: |
$542,313 |
| 2013 Plan Year | |
| Main Library Renovation Phase 4 | 74,006 |
| New Branch Site | 365,000 |
| Computer-related Purchases | 125,000 |
Total: |
$564,006 |
The Board discussed the Capital Projects Fund Proposal. Steve Moberly suggested that the description under the $60,000 Energy Savings line in Year 2011 end after the word “efficiency.” He did not feel that it should necessarily lead to LEED certification.
Steve Moberly moved; John Walsh seconded changing the wording in Energy Savings Year 2011 as described above. Motion carried unanimously.
Further discussion ensued. John Walsh stated that he understands the reasoning behind moving the new branch back a year but felt that it was important to start planning for it before the Capital Projects Fund was reviewed by the Monroe County Council.
Sara Laughlin stated that we plan to meet with the County Planning Department to pinpoint some potential sites and to utilize 2010 Census numbers (as available) and other trend data about growth in the county.
Steve Moberly commented that only very rough census numbers will be available by Spring 2011. Steve Moberly suggested inviting City and County planners to attend a board work session in the future.
John Walsh moved; Kari Isaacson seconded advertising the Library Capital Projects Fund Proposal for Years 2011-2013 as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
Wayne Clark suggested contacting the library’s energy provider to request a free energy audit rather than hire an energy consultant. Mr. Clark’s primary reason for speaking to the board was that he felt he had been discriminated against when using the public computers. He felt that others were given preferential treatment; that employees had displayed “snippety” attitudes; and that when calling to register a complaint with the director he had not received prompt attention.
President Fred Risinger thanked Mr. Clark for his input and stated that the board may review the existing policy if necessary.
Rita Lichtenberg commended the library staff and expressed her opinion that the library is the bedrock of democracy. Ms. Lichtenberg inquired as to what the RFID system would do; whether the expense was justified; and expressed wariness of additional technology. Director Sara Laughlin briefly explained what the system will do and stated that the expected payback from the system will occur in about three years.
Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Contact
Us Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County, Indiana ° (812)349-3050
Updated:
April 30, 2010
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/201003min.html
