July 22, 2003 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of July 22, 2003
Present: Board Members Betty Kerns, Prakash Mathew, Jean Rayl, and Helen Levitt
Library Director Charles Pace
Staff Members: Monique Andresen, Nancy Giere, Cynthia Wray, Ann Miller, Carol Sawicki, and Friends Liaison Bob Mason
Order of Agenda
Prakash Mathew made the motion to approve the order of agenda with the addition of Internet Policy to continuing business. Jean Rayl seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
There are no additions to the minutes at this time. Jean Rayl moved to approve the minutes of June 24. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Reports
Nancy Giere gave the staff representative report. Mary Haedt broke her ankle and will be out of the office for about six weeks. Long-time volunteer Carol Sawicki has agreed to a temporary paid position to cover acquisitions in the interim.
Cynthia Wray reported on the Summer Reading Program and upcoming events. Attendance is averaging 60-100 people at each program. There have been over 100 people at some of the Island Park programs held next to the bookmobile. Despite the increased attendance, registration numbers held about the same as last year. The programming team will evaluate the types of programs and brainstorm how to get more registered for next year. The adult summer reading program is also very strong, with over 80 book logs turned in thus far.
A storytelling festival is planned for September 20, at Southpointe. This will be an all day event with storytelling from professional and volunteer storytellers. September is also the start of the fall story-time schedule.
October will see jazz on Sundays again this year as well as an adult program for Halloween. Pumpkin painting for kids will also take place in October.
The programming team is also planning the restoration of the Bodmer/Catlin prints, which is estimated at $3,000. An Adopt a Print fundraiser is planned in the near future with an unveiling of the restored prints to coincide with Communiversity 2004.
Ann Miller presented a new design for banners to be placed on the street light posts around the library and near Southpointe.
LSSI Management Report
An updated organizational chart was included in the board packet. This more accurately reflects the chain of command at the library.
The property manager for the Southpointe space inquired as to our need for additional space. The rear part of the adjacent space is available for a discounted rate. Charles Pace asked the architect Richard Moorhead to look at the area to see what might be feasible. He also asked Richard Moorhead to attend the August board meeting to discuss what role the library has in the redesign of the civic plaza area.
Work is continuing on the conversion to ExLibris. As a beta site, the Fargo Public Library will be one of the first three institutions to convert to the new system. The conversion is scheduled to be complete by August 2004 for all of the institutions involved.
Charles Pace attended an in-service day at LSSI in Germantown, MD. He was able to meet with colleagues and directors from around the country to learn about other parts of LSSIs operations.
As one of several thousand applications, the Fargo Public Library did not receive a Beaumont Grant. Acknowledgement goes to Ann Miller for her time in completing the application process.
Library Newsletter:
Programming has been very successful this year.
Southpointe News:
Demand for services is still very strong at Southpointe. The protective cap has been installed on the castle in the childrens area. This will reduce wear and tear on the castle space. The contractor was contacted to do some warranty work on the restrooms. Repairs are underway.
Staff News:
A candidate for the Youth Services Librarian position will visit the library July 25 for a final interview.
Statistical Reports
A final draft of the May financials was included in the board packet. The June financials other services line item needs to be adjusted by an amount that should be salaries and benefits. We are not overspent by 103%, but we will overspend this line item due to the volume our courier service is transporting between the main library and Southpointe.
Also, office supplies will be adjusted for a double payment of $425. The in-state seminars and conferences will also be adjusted to out-of-state seminars and conferences for a conference that was held in Bemidji earlier this year attended by our childrens room and bookmobile staff.
At midyear, we have 51.8% of our operating budget remaining.
Charles Pace communicated concerns of timely bill payment to Frank Pezzanite and Tom Hehman of LSSI when he was there. Prakash Mathew inquired if other colleagues faced the same predicament. Charles Pace did not know of any and stated no one communicated that they had these kinds of issues.
Prakash Mathew stated we may need to explore something beyond this. LSSI did a wonderful job of establishing stability at the library, but we may be at the point that we may need to reevaluate this and have a conversation with our city attorney as to the next step.
Friends of Fargo Public Library Report
Five words describe what has been going on with the Friends of the Library: sorting, shelving, boxing, disposing, and selling.
The book sale July 17 and 18 made $1,036. This is lower from past years. Several factors may have contributed to the lower sales, including the distance from the street fair with the construction detours and not making it in Best Bets in the Forum.
Memberships are ahead of other years at 223 memberships to date.
Continuing Business
A. Internet Policy
Helen Levitt was aware of people passing through the area wanting to use the Internet. The Vendprint system requires a card, which we charge a minimum $5. It may be causing public relations issues, but additional steps and more staff time should not be the alternative. As proposed, an Internet station will be converted to a raised stand to create a 15-minute express stand-up station that does not require a card. Funding for the stand may be presented to the Friends of the Fargo Public Library or taken from capital funds.
New Business
A. Request to approve use of Foundation funds for library card campaign
Jean Rayl moved to use FM Area Foundation Endowment funds to design and create a new library card. Prakash Mathew 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 after adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen