LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD UNAPPROVED
REGULAR
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER
6, 2007
Session 07-09 a Regular Meeting of the Library
Advisory Board was called to order on November 6, 2007 at 6:00 pm by Chair
Hawfield at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E.
Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: BOARDMEMBER
MARTIN, WAGNER, HAWFIELD, SEAMAN, KEFFER, FAULKNER
BOARDMEMBER
LORD
STAFF: LIBRARY
DIRECTOR HILL
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved by consensus of the Board.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA
None.
RECONSIDERATION
There were no items for reconsideration.
APPOVAL OF THE MINUTES
A. Minutes of the September 4, 2007 Regular Meeting
LORD/FAULKNER - MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
Boardmember Lord indicated her name was missing from
the members present at that meeting.
Correction on under Pending Business, Item A, first
paragraph, bullet item 3; add “and a member of the Friends of the Homer
Library” to the persons to be on the task force.
There was no further discussion.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
VISITORS AND
COMMUNICATION
A.
Friends Report –
Boardmember Nancy Lord
Boardmember
Lord did attend the September meeting, but not October as she was out of town.
Library Director Hill did attend that meeting and included some comments in her
report.
Boardmember
Lord reported she advised the members of the Friends regarding the Landscaping
Task Force and Friends member and Treasurer Mary Lou Burton immediately offered
to be involved with the Task Force. She also reported that she was very
impressed with the new Coordinator, Jonnie Roos and what she has contributed to
the Friends since her placement.
Chair
Hawfield commented he has extended an invitation to Ms. Roos to attend the
monthly Board meetings. Library Director Hill commented that the Ms. Roos had
planned to attend last month but there was no quorum and she has a scheduling
conflict for the meeting tonight.
Boardmember
Lord reported that the Friends are in need of Boardmembers. They are interested
in members who have specialized skills such as lawyers, accounting, non-profit
fundraising, etc. The next meeting will be November 14, 2007.
Boardmember
Lord inquired about the John Straley, Alaska Writer Laureate, presentation.
Library Director Hill reported that unfortunately none of the members of the
Young Adult Writers Group had attended the workshop held by Mr. Straley. The
following day Mr. Straley spent with students at Homer High School. The Public
presentation held at Islands and Ocean later that same evening was excellent and
the attendance numbers were under the anticipated but presentable.
LIBRARY
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A Director’s Report for November 2007
Library
Director Hill had nothing further to add to her report. She did comment that
the staff has been training and is going quite well. The training involves
library functions using the Internet, outreach to teens and reference. She
cannot believe that one-year has passed since opening the new library.
Chair
Hawfield commented he was in Haines, Alaska visiting their library. He gave a
brief comparison of their Library and the Homer Library.
Boardmember
Martin commented that Nan Porter, a library volunteer, had written a short
story titled, “Books, Library and Mom” about growing up in Homer and her
experience at the library.
Boardmember
Lord questioned if the Landscaping Task Force was able to look at the
landscaping and if a date has been set when they will be meeting. Library
Director Hill responded that due to scheduling conflicts a meeting with the
City Manager and Director of Public Works has not happened. Library Director
Hill explained that it must be determined what portion is the City’s
responsibility and which would be the volunteer’s responsibility. Then the task
force will be able to schedule a meeting date. She did speak with Parks
Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty before bringing this issue before the Board.
Boardmember
Keffer commented that she liked seeing the public comments in the Director’s
report.
Boardmember
Seaman commented she was impressed that Safeway remembered the library’s first
anniversary. Library Director Hill stated that Safeway sent a huge bouquet to
the library for the Grand Opening last year and to commemorate the first
anniversary they sent a beautiful autumn arrangement.
Boardmember
Lord asked for clarification on “Shelf Reading.” Library Director Hill
explained that is when shelves get out of order from patrons browsing and they
need to be systematically read and marked on the shelf reading map to keep the
books in call number order.
B.
Monthly Statistics
Library
Director Hill summarized the monthly statistics for the Boardmembers.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
A.
Artwork Selection Committee Report –
Boardmember Eileen Faulkner
Boardmember
Faulkner, Chair of the Art Section Committee reported that there has not been
much progress since they have not had a quorum for the September and October
meetings. The next scheduled meeting will be the end of November.
Chair
Hawfield requested when a date is set for the meeting if he could be notified.
There
was no further discussion.
PUBLIC
HEARING
None.
PENDING
BUSINESS
A.
Planning for the
Future – October and November 2007 - Survey
Library
Director Hill commented that she received a second draft of the Survey but it
was not formatted in time to make it as a handout for the meeting. She will
work at completing this and email it to the Boardmembers.
Library
Director Hill stated she had training materials from a Web Junction webinar for
a recent course entitled, “A Hitchhiker’s guide to Library Surveys.” She will
email helpful information from this webinar to the boardmembers as well.
Library
Director Hill read emails received from Sue Coble regarding the survey and how
to perform the survey. Ms. Coble addressed the following points:
1.
Optimal way to employ
the survey.
2.
Financial issues
distributing a survey.
3.
Survey response
percentages.
4.
How the survey results
could be used.
a.
Library Services
b.
Grant applications
5.
Random sampling or
coding of surveys
6.
Input requested from
the Boardmembers and the Friends.
7.
Volunteers to
implement the survey.
She
will try to get this completed and to the boardmembers in the next two weeks.
Chair Hawfield offered his assistance in any way to expedite the task.
B.
New Library –
Comments, Responses, Issues, and Challenges
Library
Director Hill commented that some of the same issues have been coming up but
there has been work at addressing these issues such as the landscaping, signs,
skateboarders, and lighting. She
briefed over the comments that were received.
Library
Director Hill reported the status of artwork for the library, the temperature
in the library and the cost of running the fireplace.
Boardmember
Wagner commented on one of the comments received regarding “Scrabble.” She also
reported that Scott Hyson the woodworker who created the tables and countertops
out of the recycled gym floor was repairing the damaged items on his own. He
declined any outside help or funding to repair the tables and countertops. He
is making progress.
Boardmember
Martin commented that she was informed by a friend that was doing some research
using the old newspapers that someone had cut out some articles. Library
Director Hill will follow up with staff on the status of this as she was
unaware that this had happened. She added that her mother-in-law lived in
senior housing at Friendship Terrace and was supplied with library books once a
week by Sue Gibson. She inquired if this was a normal service provided by the
library. Library Director Hill responded that it was and the staff was hoping
to extend the senior outreach program to include seniors who were homebound,
but right now they are short staffed and do not have the volunteers.
Boardmember
Keffer mentioned that she has received a complaint that the library only
collected mysteries and techno-thrillers. Library Director Hill responded that
it was true the library did have those materials but assured her that they also
had classics, literature, non-fiction, etc.
The library services the entire community and needs to collect something
for everyone.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
2008 Meeting Schedule
There
was a brief discussion on the dates.
The
2008 meeting schedule was approved by consensus of the Board.
B. Budget Hearings
Chair Hawfield inquired what the Boardmembers can do
to show support for the library budget. Library Director Hill stated that she
has met with the City Manager about which Council meetings the Boardmembers
should attend to provide testimony in support of the library budget. He also
stated that there was time on every agenda under Committee Reports. The next
three council meetings on November 13, 26 and December 10, 2007 provide
opportunities for the boardmembers to speak in support of the requested library
budget. There was a brief discussion among boardmembers on the future dates and
the importance of speaking up at these meetings about the library budget. It
was also discussed who could and would attend these meetings and what should be
reported. Chair Hawfield will talk with people who might testify about the
library budget at upcoming council meetings. Library Director Hill reported
that the budget was approved by the City Manager now it is up to approval by
the Council.
The subject of longer hours for the library to be
open to the public came up during the budget discussion. Councilmember Novak
has spoken about his desire to see the library open more hours at a previous
council meeting. The inquiry came about because Friends had asked about
volunteers working some new programs but there is a liability issue. The
additional hours would require additional staff time and/or staff. Chair
Hawfield will discuss the matter with Councilmember Novak. The Boardmembers
agreed it would be best to wait to see what the survey results and wishes of
the public will be on extending the library hours.
Boardmember Lord asked
about the status of the old library sale, she is very concern about the drain
of the budget. Library Director Hill commented that there is a platting issue.
The City Manager is handling that and he would be the person to address the
questions. Chair Hawfield will speak to him about the status of the old library
and email his response to the boardmembers.
A. City of Homer Directory Updated October
2007
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
COMMENTS
FROM CITY STAFF
None.
COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
Boardmember Martin, Wagoner and Faulkner had no
comment.
Boardmember Lord encouraged the boardmembers to read
the ethics information that was distributed to the members.
Boardmember Seaman will be in Anchorage in December
so will not be at the meeting.
Boardmember Keffer commented that they still did not
have a student member and she will pursue leads for potential members from the
high school. Library Director Hill stated there were applications on the
Clerk’s website and she will forward applications to the school councilor’s
office.
COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR
Chair Hawfield stated the boardmembers should have
received the ethics materials in the mail recently and he recommended that each
member read and complete the paperwork and have it submitted to the Clerk’s
Office by November 21, 2007.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business
to come before the Board, Chair Hawfield adjourned the meeting at 7:30
pm. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2007 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: