November 25, 2003 Minutes
Board of Trustees
Fargo Public Library
Minutes of November 25, 2003
Present: Board members Betty Kerns, Prakash Mathew, Helen Levitt, Jean Rayl, and Virginia Dambach
Staff members: Library Director Charles Pace, Monique Andresen, Nancy Giere and Friends Liaison Bob Mason
Facilities planners: Bob Rohlf and Janice Feye-Stukas, Professional Library Consultants
Order of Agenda
Helen Levitt moved to approve the order of agenda, moving the Facilities Planning Process to continuing business. Prakash Mathew seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Minutes
There are no additions to the minutes at this time. Virginia Dambach moved to approve the minutes of November 10. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Staff Reports
Nancy Giere presented the staff report. Many staff members met with Bob Rohlf and Janice Feye-Stukas regarding the Facilities Master Plan. Sandy Boutain has resigned her position at the library. Charles Pace is looking at redesigning the position as a combined teen librarian and technical support. Diane Briggs, or Mrs. Claus, will be visiting many organizations in the community this December as part of our Outreach programming.
Director’s Report
The conversion process for the new ALEPH system is continuing. Some staff now have access to version 16, which will be the version we use when fully converted. Training and preparation will accelerate in the weeks ahead as we transition to the new system.
Author Michael Luick-Thrams will be here November 25 for a multi media presentation entitled “Midwest Rescuers of Jews 1933-1945”. The Fargo Public Library will offer a free hands-on computer class to explore Microsoft’s Word software November 13.
New paperback book racks have been put in place at Southpointe. We average 400-500 patrons per day. The amount of materials being shuttled back and forth between Southpointe and the main library is also continuing to grow at a rapid rate.
Statistical Reports
Number of registered borrowers has increased to 46,511. More than 400,000 people have used the facilities of the Fargo Public Library. Program attendance increased 42% from October 2003, and increased 37% year to date. Print circulation reflects a 12% increase year to date from last year and non-print increased 45% year to date.
Friends of the Fargo Public Library Report
October 14 was the last regular meeting of the Friends. Several working meetings have taken place since then to sort and organize books. The last sorting meeting is December 1 before the book sale. Members only are invited December 4 from 4pm to 6pm. The sale is open to the public December 5 from 4pm to 6pm and December 6 from 10am to 5pm. There will be a bag sale the last hour of the sale.
Continuing Business
A. Facilities Planning Process
Bob Rohlf and Janice Feye-Stukas interviewed 26 library staff members as well as many people from other city offices including planning, engineering, and the mayor’s office.
The questions asked the staff were more technical regarding services. The questions were similarly focused for particular areas when interviewing other city offices as well as the board questions.
After discussing the board questions, Bob Rohlf will compile the data collected from this first visit and progress from there.
New Business
A. Review of staff goals for 2004
Attached to the board packet is a list of library goals for 2004 as compiled from the last staff meeting.
Public Comment
There is no public comment at this time.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 16, at 4:45 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Andresen