April 27, 2004 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of April 27, 2004
Present: Betty Kerns, Helen Levitt, Prakash Mathew, Jean Rayl, and Virginia Dambach
Director: Charles Pace
Staff Representative: Nancy Giere
Order of Agenda
Jean Rayl moved to approve the order of the agenda, adding board vacancy to New Business. Prakash Mathew seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
Prakash Mathew moved to approve the minutes of March 23, 2004 as written. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Report
Nancy Giere reported Jake Fejedelem was hired as the new Teen Services Librarian and Britta Johnson was hired as the new Community Relations Specialist. Welcome!
We had successful National Library Week programs and a volunteer appreciation lunch. The bookmobile attended United Ways Share a Story day at Rheault Farm April 24; over 300 people visited the bookmobile. Staff participated in fourteen elementary school carnivals to promote library services.
Directors Report
Please refer to the Directors report distributed in the board packet.
Statistical Reports
The statistical information may look different over the summer as we transition to the new Aleph system. Certain services will stop for a period of time until the new system is up and running. Operating budget is 20.78% expended while 25% of the year has passed.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
There is no Friends of the Fargo Public Library report at this time.
Continuing Business
A. Facilities Plan Update
Robert Rohlf and Jan Feye-Stukas reported via speaker phone preliminary findings from the focus group sessions. They are in process of putting together final statistical data. Recommendations will include a new main building downtown, expanded and enhanced presence at Southpointe, and a small presence in north Fargo. Long range goals would include a southwest library to replace the Southpointe library within ten to twelve years.
Fargo could handle a capacity of three buildings with 75,000 square feet total. They will present a programmatic plan.
Traditionally capital funding for such projects is 90% public and 10% private funding.
A preliminary draft of recommendations will be presented to Charles Pace within two weeks.
B. Appointment of committee to conduct Director performance review
Prakash Mathew will edit the performance evaluation form. Batty Kerns and Helen Levitt will attend the May 14 staff meeting to distribute surveys to the staff.
New Business
A. Budget planning for FY2005
A special meeting will be held June 8, at 4:00 p.m. to discuss and approve the FY2005 budget.
B. Mid-year budget adjustment
Prakash Mathew moved to request $25,000 for collection development as a mid-year budget adjustment. Virginia Dambach seconded the motion; the motion carried.
C. Board Vacancy
Jean Rayl will no longer be a city commissioner but will remain on the library Board of Directors.
Virginia Dambachs position ends June, 2004. People interested in the position should write to the mayor regarding appointment to the library Board of Directors.
Public Comment
There is no public comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 3:45 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen