July 27, 2004 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of July 27, 2004
Present: Betty Kerns, Helen Levitt , Prakash Mathew, and Jean Rayl
City Commissioner: Linda Coates
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Liaison: Robert Mason
Director: Charles Pace
Staff Representative: Karen Kohoutek
Order of Agenda
Helen Levitt moved to approve the order of the agenda. Prakash Mathew seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
Jean R ayl moved to approve the minutes of June 8, 2004 . Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Report
Bonnie Kern from the bookmobile will be retiring after 11 years of service. Her last day is August 19. Cassie Wangen is leaving the childrens room August 13.
Jessica Clark has been hired in the childrens room. Melisa Duncan has been hired as the community relations specialist. Welcome to the library.
Directors Report
Friends of the Fargo Public Library and the Fine Arts Garden Club have been recognized with plaques displayed in the flower beds which are funded and maintained by the two groups.
Bonnie Kern , Denise Cameron , and Nancy Giere will be presented with certificates for safe driving of the bookmobile. They will also be receiving mugs for five years of accident free driving.
The new library card design from H2M, coordinating our library card campaign, was distributed. Both wallet size and key chain size cards will be provided.
Parking lot gates will be left open on the weekends when the new parking gates are completed. The budget proposal also contained POP coupons to be used at downtown parking lots to help alleviate parking issues.
An emergency ODIN Directors meeting was held in Jamestown on June 22. During this meeting the decision was made to delay implementation of the new system. The new timeframe for going live is October or November.
July 1 a new database package was implemented as part of a statewide plan. June 7 Charles Pace spoke to the Kiwanis group in Fargo about the library facilities plan. June 10 Betty K ern, Prakash M athew, and Charles Pace presented the budget to the City of Fargo finance committee. June 14 the C-Span bus was at the library.
Jake Fejedelem and Charles Pace discussed the possibility of implementing a wireless network at the library. A meeting with Ron Gronneberg and Dave Hokstad of the City IT department led to approval to move forward at the beginning of the next year.
Our newest board member, Dr Herb Snyder received an award for a column he wrote called Small Change in the Journal of Library Administration and Management.
Charles Pace attended the American Library Association conference June 24 to 29. He attended a program discussing mentoring and a preconference regarding the slogan @ your library. He will present a program at the North Dakota Library Association conference pertaining to the @ your library campaign. He will also speak to the executive board regarding starting a mentor program in North Dakota .
Charles Pace will be on vacation starting August 5, returning August 16. Beth Postema will be in charge in his absence.
Statistical Reports
We circulated 449,613 items throughout the first half of the year. We exceeded 50,000 registered borrowers. Total circulation increased 12% year to date from last year. More than 11,000 people walked through the doors of Southpointe.
We have collected over $40,000 in fines this year. Year to date we expended 47.71% of the budget. 47.08% of the materials budget has been expended.
Jean Rayl suggested eliminating the City of Fargo detail budget report from the board packet. The information is duplicated in the one page spreadsheet.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
The July book sale was preceded by furious sorting and shelving after the shelves were moved for re-carpeting. A poor turn out to the book sale may lead to reevaluating having it at the same time as the street fair. Close to $1,000 was raised at the book sale with a bank balance close to $11,000.
Continuing Business
A. Status update on Sullivan School negotiations
Charles Pace met twice with Richard Moorhead to tour the facility and discuss facility requirements. A preliminary draft lease was received and brought to Pat Zavoral and the Mayor. The building has the potential to include meeting rooms, a teen center, a small coffee area, and an area for Friends of the Fargo Public Library .
B. 2005 Budget update
Betty Kern, Prakash Mathew, and Charles Pace presented the proposed 2005 budget to the city budget committee. Prakash Mathew would like to thank the city for support of the building plan. Jean Rayl stated the budget adjustments for a $2,500 ramp and $25,000 materials increase had been approved. The City of Fargo preliminary budget will be released August 16.
New Business
A. Review and approve serials policy
Helen Levitt moved to approve the serials policy as written. Jean R ayl seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Public Comment
There is no public comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held immediately following adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen