September 18, 2007 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of September 18, 2007
Present: Prakash Mathew, Gale Chapman, Herb Snyder, Leo Wilking, Richard Zeck
Absent: Helen Levitt, Suzanne Morrison
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Liaison: Carol Sawicki
Staff: Monique Andresen, Tom Fortin, Eve Haaland, Beth Postema
Others Present: City Commissioner Linda Coates, Russ Hodge of Hodge Cramer
Order of Agenda
Leo Wilking moved to approve the order of the agenda. Prakash Mathew seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
Prakash Mathew moved to approve the minutes of August 21, 2007. Leo Wilking seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Report
Eve Haaland reported the pace is slowing at Southpointe to a manageable level since the school year started. Story time started this week. Most ordering is complete for the Carlson opening day collection. Now the frenzy has moved from the selectors to technical services.
The staff had a baby shower for Sarah Kauffman, children’s librarian. The North Dakota Library Association annual conference will be held in Jamestown September 26-28. Ten staff members will be attending.
Cardboard banks are being distributed at all locations for a children’s coin drive. Many positive comments have been received about the building projects.
Director’s Report
The main library excavation of old foundations is nearing an end. Color is starting to appear at the Carlson Library with paint and tile. Photos are posted on the library web site documenting construction progress.
Collections are getting ready for the Carlson Library. This has been a learning process for next year with the main library collection.
Branch staff met with a police officer regarding service to New Americans. This helped educate staff about how the library can better meet their needs.
Statistical Reports
August was busy on multiple fronts. The door counter at Northport is malfunctioning. Northport circulation has increased significantly comparing last August, the first full month it was open, with this August.
Part time hours will be over expended, but overall projections will be within budget.
Currently there is a limit of one hour on computers. Some periods of the day have up to a two hour wait at Roberts Street. With school in session some computers sit unused during the day. For equity, the library will maintain a consistent policy for all locations. The time limits for computer use vary in libraries across the nation from an average range of thirty minutes to two hours. The one hour limit works well with ninety minute parking limits downtown.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
Carol Sawicki reported a balance of $12,992.42 in the Friends account. Book sale carts are at all three service locations and are doing well. The cardboard banks for the children’s coin drive were purchased by the Friends. Book talk books were also approved for purchase at the last Friends meeting.
Continuing Business
A. Library Director Search
The committee has narrowed the list of 22 applications down to five and writing assignments were sent to the semi finalists. The committee is planning to invite three finalists to Fargo November 1-2.
B. Budget Update
The library fared well in the budget process. For personnel, 3.5 full time equivalents were requested and the library received two-full time equivalents. The new reference/teen librarian and circulation position will be utilized at the new Carlson Library. Additional funding for part time hours was also approved. Due to traffic counts and demands on the personnel budget, Northport will remain closed on Sundays.
The library received $570,000 for books and materials next year at all locations. $60,000 will be used for Northport. $50,000 will come from sales tax set aside for operating and used for the main library opening day collection. $100,000 will be used to supplement the Carlson Library collection. $330,000 will be used for the main library which equates to approximately 12,000 new items for the new main library. Some areas targeted include small business, sciences, sports, regional history, self help legal, children’s nonfiction, teen collection, and the ever popular DVD collection.
The capital request was also granted for a drop down gate to be installed at Northport. This will allow for the book drop to be moved in front of the library for convenience of patrons.
C. Fundraising
October 2006 kicked off the $3 million capital campaign. $1.675 million has been pledged to date from approximately 125 donors through major gifts efforts. $1.325 million is left to be raised. Of the funds raised to date, 60-70% comes from the medical community.
After half the goal is raised, the next step is grant seeking from national and regional organizations. The major gifts efforts will continue with home receptions. $150,000 has come in the form of IRA rollovers to date. This option will be publicized further. The community campaign will be the last push. It is a realistic target to be less than $1 million away from the goal by the middle of January.
A brochure will be mailed to cardholders soon. Print ads will appear over the next two weeks. Six billboards will be used over the next four to five months. Hopefully television public service announcements will be going into the new year.
Public Comment
There was no public comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission room. After some discussion, the November meeting will remain November 20. The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen