Session 05-07, a Regular Meeting of the Library Advisory Board was called to order on July 5, 2005 at 6:00 pm by Chair Mauger at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MAUGER, HAWFIELD, WAGNER, LORD, KEFFER
STUDENT: HARRISON
ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: BURSCH, SEAMAN (both excused)
STAFF: LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL
DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN
A.
Minutes
of June 7, 2005
LORD/HAWFIELD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.
VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Motion carried.
HAWFIELD/LORD MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Motion carried.
A. Statistical Report for June 2005
Library
Director Hill passed around a card from Ann Myren, congratulating the
City on
the library groundbreaking. Ms. Hill
reported a busy June and start of July.
The summer reading program is going strong with an increase in
participants for both kids and adults.
There are more programs being offered this summer because the
Friends of
the Homer Library can direct their funds to more areas now that they
don’t have
to raise money for a new building. The
Salmon Bake is coming up on July 16th. Ms.
Hill received a draft press release from Claudia Haines for a
program they are calling the “Year of Literacy”. Writer
Maria Finn Dominguez, who writes about Cuba will be
speaking at the Amped Cafe’ on July 28th and Lorraine
Peoples,
educator and author of You Can Teach Someone to Read will be
speaking at
Islands and Ocean on August 1st.
Ms. Hill passed around a copy of a short article that she had
given to
City Manager Wrede. It was an article
from the Anchorage Daily News that stated virtually every US public
library
provides free internet access but they have to ration the time due to
the
demand. The article pointed out at a
Fresno, CA library branch more time is needed by some to fill out an on
line
job application for the Home Depot opening there. Ms.
Hill shared an email that Claudia Caffe-Delapp, who runs a
B&B in Homer, forwarded to Library Director Hill.
The email was from a guest who commented that one of the
highlights of their visit was having access to the library; the
collection is
broad and interesting. Ms. Hill said
that they do try to tailor the library selections to the community.
Library
Director Hill reviewed the statistics.
She reported that business increased in June with higher
circulation and
a more than 300 person increase in attendance than last June. Story hour increased from 79 to 205. Ms. Hill commented that she needs to do some
formal asking on volunteer hours because the numbers are very low and
she knows
the Friends have been working. She advised
the Board that staff is trying to spend their funding consistently each
month
rather than having the pressure of doing it all at the end.
Library
Director Hill reported that she was in Kenai on June 20th
and gave a
1½-hour presentation on the basics of the capital campaign. The Board briefly discussed the status of
the Kenai Library.
Ms.
Hill said that the library staff is doing some strategic planning in
preparation for the move to the new library.
There are a lot of software upgrades that need to be done and
staff
wants to get as much training done as they can before the move. Ms. Hill commented that they are working on
gathering price quotes on software and highlighted some of the upgrades
that
are being looked at. She said they are
looking into the possibility of getting new public computers and she is
discussing WiFi options with ACS but still has not received a good
quote.
Lastly,
Ms. Hill passed out a copy of an article from the Library Journal about
the
Library of the Year, which is in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
There
were no committee reports.
Frank Vondersaar, city resident, gave the Boardmembers copies of information he has gathered on WiFi. He explained that he is thinking big and sooner or later we will have the blimp. It would hover over the library and provide WiFi access over 10-mile radius. There was discussion costs for WiFi and the possibility of future grants.
A. New Library Construction Update
City Manager Wrede and Public Works Director were unable to attend. Library Director Hill commented that she did not have a lot of information to offer but could say that work is running a week ahead of schedule and they are doing concrete work. There was discussion about when a Project Manager was going to be hired. The Board was under the impression that Public Works Director Meyer would be overseeing it until the concrete work was done.
Boardmember Lord expressed her concern as to whether or not the LEED documentation is being done properly and if the contractors have the checklist of requirements that need to be met. Chair Mauger stated that she would ask the City Manager about that and when a Project Manager will be hired. Ms. Lord said she would talk to Don Marlatt at Jay-Brant.
The Board discussed the sign that was put up that says “Imagine No More”. Several Boardmembers commented that people had asked them if the library was not going to happen. Student Representative Harrison suggested “Imaginations at Work”. Chair Mauger advised the Board that Public Works Director Meyer made the sign as his own personal project and said she would talk to him about it. The Board expressed their appreciation for Mr. Meyer’s work, but commented it was causing some confusion.
B. Planning for the Future: Roles of the LAB and Friends of the Homer Library
Chair Mauger reminded the Board of the points that City Manager Wrede brought up regarding changes to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), specifically the Friends of the Library sections. Chair Mauger explained that she and Library Director Hill mentioned the changes at the Friends meeting the following day. They passed on their feeling s that the recommendations were not substantive changes they were more like “never say never” kinds of changes, keeping options open and opportunities for communication when a particular issue came up.
Boardmember Lord said although she was not here when Mr. Wrede made his suggestions she made some changes to Article 4. On the first paragraph before A, the sentence that begins “Other than the funds described in Section B. below” Ms. Lord suggested omitting that line and say “There shall be no transfer Friends funds to the City for ordinary operational costs or reliance of the City on Friends for operational funding.” She feels that meets the intent of the Friends not to be paying for things the City should pay for, but still allow for Mr. Wrede suggestion.
Discussion ensued and it was brought up that a circumstance may arise in the future that the Friends may decide that they want to cover a gap in the operating budget. Mr. Wrede’s point was not to close off avenues with language that is too absolute. The following points and suggestions were brought up:
ü The Friends were clear on their statements that they want their money to go toward extras not City costs.
ü Ms. Lord’s revision says “ordinary operational costs”. If there was some extraordinary situation, it could be considered.
ü Mr. Wrede had suggested the phrase “except by mutual agreement” be included.
ü Adding “with the exception of voluntary will and intent from the Friends” at the end.
ü The Friends have a very decided mission.
Chair Mauger asked, what if someone donated a new Xerox copier to the library and the City won’t accept the donation unless the Friends agree to pay to have the machine maintained every year, which would be a contribution to the operational budget. She asked if the Board felt the language would prohibit that kind of arrangement. The Board agreed that it would be an extraordinary situation. They agreed that “ordinary” is the loophole if there is a situation that needs to be worked with.
Boardmember Lord offered a second edit under Budget item E. It says, “The Friends will create and distribute to any interested party an annual budget that sets forth its projected revenues including those derived from fundraising donations and its endowment together with the projected costs for programs and materials.” Ms. Lord suggested adding “and equipment, labor and endowment growth. Friends shall consent with Library staff before making purchases for the library:” That would ensure that the City was willing and able to accept and deal with the purchases.
The Board discussed this edit and agreed with it.
LORD/HAWFIELD MOVED TO ADD THESE TWO AMENDMENTS.
VOTE: YES: NON-OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
Boardmember Hawfield will make the changes and submit them at the next Friends meeting. Chair Mauger will check with the City Manager to see what kind of timeline they could anticipate with getting this to the City Council.
LORD/ HAWFIELD MOVED TO GIVE THE CHAIR PERMISSION TO SIGN THE MOU AS OF THIS MEETING DATE.
There was brief discussion.
VOTE: YES: NON-OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
Boardmember Lord recommended that once the MOU was signed the Board should move on the policy development on the responsibility of exhibits, displays and use of library grounds for functions. The Board agreed to add it to the next agenda. Library Director Hill said she would bring the existing policy and any models that she knows about. The Board agreed that the policies need to be in place before the new library opens. The suggestion was made to look at the policy Haines has for their new library.
C. Review of Budget Planning Process
The Board discussed the idea of having a Finance Committee of two people to discuss new revenue generators. Chair Mauger listed five recommendations that the Board had discussed at prior meetings and suggested that each Boardmember could take one, research it and bring information back to the next meeting. Boardmember Keffer agreed to research seeking gifts, Boardmember Wagner agreed to look at the coffee kiosk; Chair Mauger said she would get information regarding the KPB Service Area.
Boardmember Lord suggested that Library Director Hill provide information to the Board regarding her operating budget. She pointed out that the Board may have suggestions to offer and will be able to support the decisions.
There was further
discussion
about contacting the Friends to see if anyone would be interested in
participating in the Committee.
A. Review and Prioritization of 2006-2011 Capital Improvement Plan
The Board reviewed their 2004 recommendations for the CIP and the projects in the current draft CIP. There was brief discussion about some of the projects.
HAWFIELD MOVED THAT THE BOARD USE THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT MEETING TO ABSORB SOME OF THIS AND COME UP WITH THEIR TOP FIVE.
Chair Mauger said that anyone who was not going to be at the next meeting could email in their top five for discussion.
VOTE: YES: NON-OBJECTION-: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
There
were no public comments.
Boardmember Hawfield commented that he is glad to see the work being done on the new library.
Boardmember Wagner commented about the survey for the new library and if it hasn’t been done already she suggested someone be hired sooner than later to do the wetlands survey. She asked Chair Mauger to include that in her email to Public Works Director Meyer.
Boardmember Lord commented that she missed the groundbreaking ceremony, but when she was at the bank’s drive-through and saw the work being done over there it was such a great feeling. She advised the Board that she won’t be at the August meeting and pointed out that the Board forgot to have their election last month. According to the Bylaws it should be done in June.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 pm. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for August 2, 2005 in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue.
MELISSA JACOBSEN, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
Approved: