April 26, 2005 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of April 26, 2005
Present: Betty Kerns, Prakash Mathew, Helen Levitt, Herb Snyder
Absent: Jean Rayl
Staff: Nancy Giere
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Liaison: Bob Mason
Director: Charles Pace
Others: Richard Moorhead of Image Group, Bob Rohlf of Robert H Rohlf Associates, City Commissioner Linda Coates
Order of Agenda
Herb Snyder moved to approve the order of the agenda with the addition of bookmobile discussion. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
Helen Levitt moved to approve the minutes of March 22, 2005 . Prakash Mathew seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Report
There was no staff report at this time.
Bookmobile Discussion
The bookmobile is in need of a new engine. Currently it is inoperable. Central garage quoted $9,000 to $10,000 to replace the engine and it would take approximately one week to replace. The bookmobile is fifteen years old and at the end of its useful life expectancy. Other issues include a broken back window, malfunctioning generator, and shelving in disrepair.
The usage has declined since Southpointe opened. Children at daycares tend to also use the main library and Southpointe with their parents. The increased usage on the north side is due to extended stops at Northport. Loyal customers use the bookmobile and emotion is tied to the bookmobile.
Alternatives include fixing the bookmobile and continuing service with no change, parking it in the Northport parking lot, or purchasing a full size van retrofitted for book shuttles and reorganizing our outreach services.
Another option is to expedite the north branch construction. This may increase costs as it will not be feasible to reuse currently owned furnishings utilized at the Southpointe branch.
The main priority for the bookmobile is a presence in the Northport area. A secondary priority is offering programming this summer as in previous summers.
Charles Pace will talk to the property manager of Northport regarding permanently parking there and power sources for the generator. He will also investigate prices for a van as soon as possible. This information will be e-mailed to board members and a decision will be made by the next meeting.
Preliminary Library Building Program Main Library Only
Bob Rohlf presented the building program for the main library. It was determined by the previous facilities plan the main library would be approximately 45,000 square feet. The building program process was a series of give and take compromises to maintain that size.
The program recommends the distribution of major building spaces as follows. Proposed first floor areas are circulation services; popular library area with adult fiction, media collections, teen center and new items; childrens services; coffee and Friends sales area; meeting and conference rooms; administrative and technical services with receiving and storage; and general staff facilities. Proposed second floor areas include information services; adult non-fiction collection with Fargo history alcove; technology lab; quiet study room; and periodicals.
Adult collections would increase from 81,000 items to 198,000 items mainly due to an increase in media collections. Childrens collections will slightly decrease from 62,000 items to 57,000 items. Seating will increase overall from 88 to a seating capacity of 138. Computer terminals will increase from 34 to 48.
Prakash Mathew moved to approve the main library building program as written. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
New Business
A. Appointment of budget committee for FY 2006
The budget committee will be Linda Coates, Betty Kerns, Charles Pace , and Monique Andresen.
B. Review and repeal Display Case policy
Helen Levitt moved to repeal the Display Case policy as the information is included in the Art Display policy. Herb Snyder seconded the motion; the motion carried.
C. Review and approve revised Gifts and Donations policy
Information pertaining to the tax-deductible status of donations will be included in this policy and reviewed at a later date.
D. Review and approve revised Reference policy
Herb Snyder moved to approve the revised Reference policy as written. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Directors Report
There was no report at this time.
Statistical Reports
The library circulation statistics no longer reflect comparative numbers from previous years as the two systems, Pals and Aleph, pull numbers in a different way. It would not be like comparisons.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
Recently approved funding totaled approximately $7,500 which will leave a balance of $9,600. Currently 173 household memberships have been received. Another membership letter was sent recently. The book sale will be June 7 from 5pm to 7pm for members only. The public book sale will be June 8 from 4pm to 8pm . A bag sale will conclude the sale on June 9 from 5pm to 7pm . Additional funding requests were received and will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Continuing Business
A. Update on site selection process
The building committee is leaning toward Northport on the north side and Ed Clapp Park on the south side for the two branches. The main library is still being discussed. The next public forum will be May 11 at 7pm.
B. Review and discussion of long range plan goals
At the last staff meeting Charles Pace discussed the strategic responses included in the current 2002-2006 long range plan. Some responses are no longer valid as a literacy partnership has dissolved between community organizations. Charles Pace proposes the ten strategic responses be reduced to six and one new goal added. Other additional goals may be added to maintain seven to ten goals. This information will be reviewed and discussed at a future meeting.
Public Comment
There was no comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held May 11, 2005 , at 9:00 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen