Session 07-04, a Regular Meeting of the Library Advisory Board was called to order on April 3, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. by Acting Vice-Chair Hawfield at the Homer Public Library Conference Room located at 500 Hazel Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:                                             BOARDMEMBERS:  WAGNER, MARTIN, SEAMAN, KEFFER, HAWFIELD, and BURSCH

 

ABSENT:                                               LORD (excused)

 

                                STUDENT:                                            LETTIS

 

                                STAFF:                                                  LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

SEAMAN/KEFFER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN.

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

 

There were no comments from the public.

 

RECONSIDERATION

 

There was no reconsideration.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

                A.            Minutes of the March 6, 2007 meeting

 

 

SEAMAN/BURSCH MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

 

VOTE: YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

VISITORS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

There were no visitors or communications.

 

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

Acting Vice-Chair Hawfield asked Library Director Hill if she wanted to add anything to, or highlight items from, her written report.  Ms. Hill remarked that April was going to be a very busy month due to National Library Week, which will kick off a season of programs at the library.  Ms. Hill mentioned that the busy season is almost upon us, and that the door counter showed that 645 people visited the library on the previous Tuesday, March 27th.

 

Mr. Hawfield asked Ms. Hill to tell them more about “For Mature Audiences Only.”  Ms. Hill explained that the eye-catching posters were advertisements for basic e-mail and Internet classes for senior citizens at the library.  The class sign-up sheets were so full that the Friends of the Library added more sessions, and there were also waiting lists.

 

Boardmember Wagner arrived at 6:15.

 

Mr. Hawfield asked Ms. Hill if there was anything the LAB should be mindful of in preparation for National Library Week.  Ms. Hill replied that the week-long celebration would start with a big book sale.  Once National Library Week was over, board members should read/re-read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan in preparation for “The Big Read” festivities that would be held in May.

 

A.                  Statistical Report for March 2007

 

Ms. Hill passed out the statistics for March 2007.  She pointed out that the numbers were up overall: circulation was up by almost 1,000, attendance was up by over 1,000, and almost double that of March 2006.  For years, the number of cardholders had held steady at 8,400 but now that number has climbed to 9,700.  Wireless use statistics were added to the Internet use column for the months of January, February, and March.

 

Ms. Wagner had a question about library volunteer hours.  She wondered if the volunteer coordinator would be recruiting volunteers.  Ms. Hill answered that so far, the volunteer coordinator was contacting prospective volunteers who had filled out application forms and there appeared to be plenty of volunteers and applicants.  She added she was concerned about summer and they may need more volunteers for the summer season.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Currently there are no committees.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

There was no public hearing.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

A.                  Planning for the Future: Survey

 

Mr. Hawfield asked Ms. Hill if Sue Coble, professor at the college, had contacted her about having the students from the statistics class do the library survey.  Ms. Hill replied that she and Ms. Coble were going to meet the next day.

 

B.                   New Library – Comments, Responses, Issues, and Challenges: Publicity

 

Mr. Hawfield asked if there was anything to add to what was discussed at the March meeting.  Mr. Bursch mentioned that the survey could also act as a form of publicity.  The Board asked questions about the design, execution, and analysis of the survey.

 

Mr. Bursch wondered how things were going with the RFP for surveillance cameras.  He mentioned that the restrooms were a hot spot and asked if they could be locked.  Ms. Hill replied that the matter had been discussed and didn’t seem to be a practical solution.  Library staff couldn’t handle the management of restroom keys for over 400 patrons each day.  In addition, Ms. Hill had discussed the possibility of restroom keys with other library directors who explained problems associated with keys and a small staff and why it hadn’t been a workable solution in their libraries.

 

Mr. Hawfield had visited the UAF Museum in Fairbanks and reported that students had been hired to walk around and monitor visitors.  They were paid to constantly wander and keep an eye on things, and it seemed to be a very effective method to make sure the museum was safe.  He was impressed with how well it worked at the university and thought it would be an excellent solution without a lot of investment.

 

Ms. Wagner wondered if library volunteers could check the restrooms on a regular basis.  Ms. Hill answered that volunteers knew to report problems to library staff, and that library staff were checking restrooms more often.

 

Ms. Keffer asked Ms. Hill if people were still filling out suggestion forms for the library.  Ms. Hill replied there were a lot of comments about computers and things we’ve already discussed, but also that library staff continues to look at and see if improvements could be made.  For example, she has increased bandwidth based on the desire to improve computer services.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

A.                  Boards/Commissions Training with Gordon Tans, City Attorney

 

Ms. Hill had received a message from the Planning Director suggesting that there be training for City boards and commissions by Gordon Tans, the City Attorney, during the week of April 16th.  The message explained that Mr. Tans had been in Homer in 2004 to train the members of the Planning Commission.  He covered topics such as general meeting procedures, the Open Meetings Act, ex parte communications, making motions, etc.  The training would be with all the other boards and commissions during a morning session of maybe a couple of hours.  Hill asked the LAB members if they had any interest in attending this type of training.  The Board was concerned that Chair Lord would not be in town during the proposed training.  Mr. Hawfield commented that several of the LAB members were familiar with meeting procedures, and that the Clerk’s Office would keep them on track during LAB meetings if necessary, so he was on the low end of interest in participating.  However, he thought it would be a good opportunity for those members who would like to become more familiar with meeting procedures.  Mr. Hawfield wondered if it was possible that the LAB be notified of the training schedule, and that members could participate if they so desired.  He applauded the City’s desire to give the board and commissions this training opportunity and thought the City was very much doing the right thing.  The LAB members agreed that they would like to know the date and time of the training, and then decide individually if they would attend.  The Board also thought it could be helpful to have a “Roberts Rules Lite” cheat sheet for small groups such as the LAB.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

There were no informational materials.

 

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

There were no members of the public present.

 

COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD

 

Mr. Bursch commented that it had been a rough winter as far as fuel bills were concerned and wondered how the fuel expenses were for the library.  Ms. Hill explained that there must be a bottleneck somewhere in the system, because she’s missing some recent fuel bills.  There have also been an ongoing problem with the boiler, but Hunter Mechanical has been to Homer several times to work on the problem, and they believe it’s been fixed as of a few weeks ago.  The boiler is working efficiently at this time, and should continue to work efficiently from now on.

 

Ms. Keffer said that when she was in Seattle over spring break, she took her husband to the Seattle Public Library.  Tax preparation services were being offered at the Seattle library and Ms. Keffer wondered if there was a desire to add those services to HPL.  Ms. Hill answered that tax forms were available at HPL and many people came to the library to pick up tax forms; library staff also taught people how to download forms from the computer if they didn’t already know how to do this.  Ms. Hill wasn’t aware of the need for tax preparation services at the library.  Mr. Hawfield wondered what the local accounting firms might think of this idea.  Ms. Hill reiterated that it hasn’t come up as far as she knows.  Ms. Keffer stated that the Top Drawer 2007 readings were scheduled at the library for the evening of April 18th, and one of the readers would be “yours truly.”

 

Ms. Martin had no comment.

 

Ms. Seaman had no comment.

 

Ms. Lettis informed the Board that she would be going to college at the end of the year and asked how a new student member would be selected.  She has a choice of attending five schools in Washington or Oregon and hasn’t made a decision yet.  Mr. Hawfield explained that the procedure could start with her – if she knows of an underclassman who is interested in learning about volunteer service to the community and the library, the LAB would love to have her suggestions.  Ms. Lettis will still be in Homer for the May meeting, and maybe for summer meetings as well, unless she has other obligations.  She will let them know the date of her last meeting.

 

Ms. Wagner said she has lots of plants for the plant sale.

 

Ms. Hill wanted to make sure that those who needed to restate their interest in continuing as a LAB member had done so.  Next month, the LAB meeting will be back in City Hall.  She thanked them all for coming to the meeting.

 

Mr. Hawfield told the Board he was surprised to be in Homer for the meeting.  His meeting in Cordova had been postponed, which would mean he would miss Ms. Keffer’s Top Drawer reading.  He noted that the May meeting would be the second Tuesday, rather than the first, of May.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

WAGNER/BURSCH – MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7:15.

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.  The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

               

 

 

____________________________________

HELEN HILL, LIBRARY DIRECTOR

 

 

 

Approved: _________________________