LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD                                                                                               UNAPPROVED                                                                                                                                                                                                            

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 2, 2009

 

 

Session 09-06 a Regular Meeting of the Library Advisory Board was called to order on June 2, 2009 at 6:08 pm by Vice Chair Eileen Faulkner at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:          BOARDMEMBERS WAGNER, BEATTY, LARSON, FAULKNER

 

ABSENT:           BOARDMEMBER SEAMAN, HAWFIELD (EXCUSED)

 

STAFF:              LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

                        DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

 

Approval of the Agenda

 

Vice Chair Faulkner requested a motion to approve the agenda.

 

WAGNER/LARSON – MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Public Comments Regarding Items on the Agenda

 

None.

 

Reconsideration

 

There were no items for reconsideration.

 

Approval of the Minutes

 

A.            Regular Meeting Minutes from May 5, 2009         

 

Vice Chair Faulkner requested a motion to approve the minutes.

 

Library Director Hill noted a correction on line one, under Public Comments. It should be Representative Seaton.

 

WAGNER/LARSON – moved to aPPROVE the AMENDED minutes.

 

There were no further changes.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Visitors and Communications

 

A.            Friends Report – Library Director Hill

 

Library Director Hill stated it was a tense meeting since it was the same night as the East End fire. The meeting was very straight forward consisting of various reports. The theme for the summer reading program this year is Be Creative at Your Library. The program is open to all ages and lasts for 8 weeks.

 

B.         Visitors

 

 There were no visitors scheduled.

 

Library Director’s Report

 

A.          Director’s Report for June 2009    

 

There is no report this month. Library Director Hill did note that the availability to download information should be available later this month. She responded to questions regarding increased access to the internet. The time has been increased to 4 hours. She quickly reviewed the suggestions received and there were none submitted regarding the building only on books.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

B.            Monthly Statistics – May 2009                 

 

Library Director Hill distributed the May statistics. She noted that the numbers were lower. She had no explanation for the cause. She spent several hours on the desk herself due to the high numbers of visitors. She explained that the decline in meeting room and study room usage was relative to the school year. The Library tends to be busier during the school year after school hours and in the summer; it is busy throughout the day. She feels the library is still very busy but patrons are not checking out the books, just accessing the space. Library Director Hill explained that library cards are purged from the system every three years. There are approximately 1000 more cards holders since the new library opened.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

Committee Reports

 

A.         Art Selection Committee Report – Eileen Faulkner

 

June is the last month to view the Quilts if you have not seen them yet. McNeil Canyon has supplied a number of items that will be on display the entire summer. There was a brief discussion on the next scheduled exhibit and announcements for the new exhibit. Sarah Banks will be the next artist on display for July through September.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

B.         Landscape Committee Report – Kyra Wagner

 

Boardmember Wagner stated that the dynamics have changed somewhat. During the last meeting, discussion included putting the funding towards increased personnel time from the city. She mentioned that Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty has retired. A decision was made to place mulch and improving the soils around the gardens. They also discussed the FFA (Future Farmers of America) kids who were looking for opportunities to do some fundraising. When she approached them with the total hours required they were a bit terrified at the thought of 12 hours each week, so it may need to be broken down into tasks for them.

 

Boardmembers discussed the plants that were hardest hit this winter on the Library property and around town. Boardmember Larson commented that the overall landscaping for the Library is very overwhelming. Boardmember Wagner responded that the ash fall dispersed the snow early leaving the plants exposed to the cold. Vice Chair Faulkner commented that many species are coming back but later this year.

 

The group discussed setting the next meeting date for the Landscaping Committee. They discussed purchasing plants and the proper procedures to follow. Library Director Hill commented that she did not have the budget or plant listing with her at the time. She will email the list to the members. The group recommended attending the Plant Sale on Saturday, June 6, 2009. The next regular meeting for the Landscaping Committee will be on June 18, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

Public Hearing

 

None.

 

Pending Business

 

A.            Library Improvement Plan

 

There were no topics for discussion.

 

Deputy City Clerk Krause stated that she had received an email from Bill Smith stating he would love to attend a meeting to discuss his findings and recommendations on the heat exchanger however he was required to attend Borough Assembly meetings on the same evening as the Library Advisory Board meetings. He would be more than willing to meet at another time and day with the Boardmembers.

 

The Boardmembers discussed setting a date for a special meeting. Vice Chair Faulkner requested that an email reminder be sent to her and Chair Hawfield. She will talk to Chair Hawfield on suggested recommendations.

 

Boardmember Wagner brought new Boardmember Beatty up to speed on the outstanding issues with the Library.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

B.            Library – Comments, Responses, Issues, and Challenges

 

There was no discussion.

 

C.            Youth Involvement        

 

a.         Status Report – Hawfield and Wagner

 

This was postponed to July meeting for Boardmember Hawfield’s input.

 

NEW BusinesS

 

A.            Welcome new Boardmember Julie Beatty

 

Vice Chair Faulkner welcomed Julie Beatty and fervently hoped that once settled in she will decide to serve on a committee or two.

 

B.            Annual Elections – Chair, Vice Chair and Friends Liaison

 

Vice Chair Faulkner opened the floor for nominations of a Friends Liaison.

 

Boardmember Wagner nominated Bette Seaman.

 

Vice Chair Faulkner closed the nominations for Friends Liaison.

 

VOTE. YES. BEATTY, LARSON, WAGNER, FAULKNER.

 

Motion carried.

 

Vice Chair Faulkner opened the floor for Vice Chair nominations.

 

Michael Hawfield was unanimously nominated by the Boardmembers.

 

Vice Chair Faulkner closed nominations.

 

VOTE. YES. LARSON, WAGNER, FAULKNER, BEATTY.

 

Motion carried.

 

Vice Chair Faulkner opened the floor for nominations of Chair.

 

Boardmember Wagner nominated Eileen Faulkner for chair.

 

There were no further nominations.

 

VOTE. YES. BEATTY, LARSON, FAULKNER, WAGNER.

 

Motion carried.

 

Informational Materials

 

a.           Ordinance 09-xx Amend Homer City Code 1.48 Membership and Verbiage

b.           Memorandum dated May 18, 2009 Re: Ordinance and Bylaw Changes

c.           Library Advisory Board Bylaws with Changes

 

There was a brief discussion on the changes proposed to update Boardmember Beatty. It was noted that Chair Faulkner term was going to be short if the changes were approved.

 

Comments from the PUBLIC

 

None.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

Library Director Hill thanked the new officers, including the new Chair. She welcomed Julie Beatty.

 

Deputy City Clerk Krause commented that she would be gone for two weeks, to continue her education component required for obtaining her CMC, Certified Municipal Clerk certification and then she will be going to Florida to spend a week with family.

 

Comments from the Board

 

Boardmember Larson welcomed Julie Beatty. She really hopes to see movement on the landscaping for the Library. She feels it is something they have inherited. It is like Afghanistan, with the battle of the burdock. She is concerned that things are not coming up yet.

 

Boardmember Wagner welcomed Julie Beatty.

 

Boardmember Beatty looked forward to being on the Board.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

Vice Chair Faulkner welcomed Julie Beatty again. She thanked everyone for attending and their input.

 

She reminded the Boardmembers that new chairs for the Landscaping and Art Committees would be needed. She has discussed with Vice Chair Hawfield having an energy “czar” or liaison, not a committee, to oversee the efficiencies of the library.

 

There was a brief discussion on this idea and determined that they will postpone any decision on appointing a liaison at this time.

 

There was no decision made on setting a meeting date with Mr. Smith at this time.

 

adjournment

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, Vice Chair Faulkner adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for July 7, 2009 at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

 

                                                                       

 Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

Approved: