February 19, 2008 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of February 19, 2008
Present: Helen Levitt, Gale Chapman, Suzanne Morrison, Herb Snyder, Leo Wilking, Richard Zeck
Absent: Prakash Mathew
Staff: Monique Andresen, Tim Dirks, Eve Haaland
Order of Agenda
Herb Snyder moved to approve the order of the agenda. Gale Chapman seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
Richard Zeck moved to approve the minutes of January 15, 2008. Herb Snyder seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Report
Eve Haaland reported on programs held since the last board meeting. Hobby Day was held January 21 with close to 200 people attending. Community members volunteered their time to assist with a robotic Lego demonstration and an origami station. A Volunteer Specialist from First Link provided quilt squares for kids to decorate that will become part of quilts for Project Linus, distributing them to the needy. Members of the Model Railroading Club set up two train tracks and talked about collecting trains. Local chess coach Joe McNamara provided chess boards and coaching talent to teach chess. Three staff members brought acoustic and electric guitars and helped kids try them out. Two staff members displayed science fiction collectibles. Two other staff members demonstrated and taught crocheting and beading. The day was coordinated by Cynthia Mason of Children’s Services.
The library hosted a story time in conjunction with the Fargo Dome February 1 with 154 attending. Monster Truck driver George Balhan read three stories, signed autographs, posed for pictures and gave away monster truck memorabilia. The Fargo Dome also provided 50 ticket vouchers to the Monster Truck event that were given to kids for completing book logs for Winter-Read-a-Thon.
Hearts and Hugs program was held February 12 with 91 people participating in the craft program.
Director’s Report
Tim Dirks reported attending the Friends of the Fargo Public Library February 12 where he presented three funding options. Thank you to the Friends for supporting all three, including a new picture book browser bin for Northport close to $4,000, plastic totes for the stories on the go approximately $120, and a new venture of book club in a bag which will contain ten paperback copies and information on the author and story for book clubs costing approximately $1,230.
The new Children’s Librarian, Merridith Edison, will start March 6. She has an education background and will be an asset in building programming and relationships with the schools.
The new Library Associate II full time position was filled by our own Amanda Bremmon who worked part time previously.
The library is in the process of conducting second interviews for the Young Adult/Reference Librarian position.
The main library building project is in the process of placing precast concrete and metal work. The Carlson Library project is coming to a close with punch list items and furnishings.
Statistical Reports
The large increase in main circulation is due to the temporary downtown location opening at the end of January last year. Statistics will be skewed as the construction projects progress.
The 2007 expenditures were presented. The library finished the year under budget. For 2008 with 8.3% of the year gone by, expenditures were 3.18% of the overall operating budget. Marketing was greater than the monthly allotment due to the purchase of library cards supply for the year. With Public Library Association annual conference in Minneapolis this year, the library is encouraging staff to attend. Out state conferences line item is greater than the monthly allotment due to the conference this spring. Office supplies are also over for the month due to annual supply orders and one time items for Carlson. The medical supplies line was also over 8.3% due to stocking the supply cabinets for the quarter.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
Carol Sawicki reported the Friends of the Fargo Public Library met February 12. The Friends have $15,613.91 in the treasury and have approved funding as outlined by Tim. After these requests have been accounted for, the treasury should still have approximately $10,000. The Friends had 276 members at the end of 2007. Instead of used book sales, the Friends have used book carts or areas at each of the locations. The Carlson Library Friends area generated $700 in January. The next board meeting will be at the Carlson Library March 12 and will highlight a demonstration of the online catalog. The group is recruiting new officers and directors for the annual meeting in June.
Continuing Business
A. Access to Library Materials by Minors
Distributed with the board packets was the ALA Council interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights regarding access for children and young adults to nonprint materials. Also included was a summary of policies from peer communities.
If there is a change in the Access to Materials policy to limit checkouts to minors it should be systemic to work whether checking out at the circulation desk or express self checkout.
The library card registration is explicit in that it is the parent’s responsibility of what the minor checks out on his/her library card. When cards expire and need to be renewed, this would be a parent education opportunity. Currently library cards expire after three years.
Another option is to allow parents to block certain item statuses from the child’s card. There was a question whether the system will be able to block only the adult material or if all DVDs would be affected.
Tim Dirks will look at the possibility of parent initiated blocks at the time of registration, stress coaching at the time of registration/renewal, and change minor card terms from three years to two years.
New Business
A. Timeline for Reimbursement of Library Endowment Administered by Fargo Moorhead Area Foundation
In the February 2006 minutes it was approved to invade the principle of the endowment for fundraising costs. $104,500 was withdrawn for such purposes. The board is aware of the commitment to reinvest those dollars to the endowment fund.
A report from the consultants will be included in the next board meeting along with the overall fundraising status.
Public Comment
There was no public comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission room. The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen