Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Library/Staff Conference Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
4:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Holly Brown; Al Kesselheim; Marilyn King; Jeff Krauss, Mayor; Rose Vallor, Friends Board; and Alice Meister, Director. Guests: Chris Kukulski, City Manager; and Fiona Vallor.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:40 p.m. by Chair Farmer after a tour of the new Library building.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Brown moved to approve the minutes of the September 20, 2006 meeting, King seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
CORRESPONDENCE
Meister received a request from a Dillon author who is interested in giving a book talk, and she responded to the individual that next January might be a better time. She had also received a card of congratulations on the new Library from the Parmly Billings Library Director.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT
Vallor reported that there is over $36,000 in the Friends budget, though they are still waiting to pay their costs for the basement and their portion of the coffee shop. J & V equipment is on order for the coffee shop, where four tables and an easy chair will be placed. The lease between the Friends and Wild Joe’s has been finalized; the Friends’ attorney was Andrew Willett, and Wild Joe’s attorney was Tom Stonecipher. Brown noted a clause that allowed Wild Joe’s to be open a minimum of twenty-five hours and suggested that it be changed to cover the same number of hours the Library is open. The lease now reflects a five year initial lease with a three year option. The rent is $1200 monthly with 7% of gross sales due the Friends after Wild Joe’s revenues reach
$13,000 per month. The Friends will print 200 copies of Phyllis Smith’s history of the Library book to sell at the book store. They are also pursuing the legacy project of a 100 pound (or lighter) mobile to hang in the new Library. There will be an article about the Friends in the Grand Opening tab that will come out in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in early November. Mary Doyle is a possible new member. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Friends and the Trustees is still pending; John Gallagher continues to head that up. The next Friends meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board/Staff Room with a tour planned at 5:30 p.m. The Friends will also meet on Sunday, October 29 to sort books in the basement; they still plan to have occasional large sales.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Meister reported that Foundation President Chris Mehl is working on the sixteen-page insert that will come out in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle shortly before the Grand Opening on November 12. There is a new Foundation Board member named Theresa Dotts, who will be the new Treasurer. The Chef Event fund raiser featuring Chef Susan Feniger is planned for October 16.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Meister reported that the September circulation increased 12.16% over last year’s circulation, considerably up due to the impending closure of the Library for a month. Website visits increased 28.88%, but other figures were down due to the closure of the meeting room and cancelled programming. To date the new Library Project Activity shows $12,991,227.91 received in revenues with expenses of $15,592,663.44, leaving a deficit of $2,601,435.53 (the Foundation still owes $1,200,000 for its commitment to the City). At 71% of the fiscal year completed, the Library has spent 25.75% of its budget, leaving 74.25% yet to spend. The Book Brigade on October 8 went extremely well with approximately 2,200 people helping to move 3,000 materials. The Library has been closed since that date with much moving
of office and library equipment and furniture. The books and other materials will be moved this week. Events are gearing up for the Grand Opening on Sunday, November 12 ; Meister still hopes to have a “soft opening” before the Grand Opening. The staff is also planning a party to thank the contractor and sub-contractors on Friday, October 27 from 5-7 p.m.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: PROJECT COSTS AND APPROVAL OF BIDS; MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING
There was no update regarding project costs. Also there was nothing new regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between the City Commission and the Trustees regarding the remainder of land around the Library in exchange for retirement of the Library Project’s debt.
BOARD MEMBER’S AND CITY REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORTS
Mayor Krauss mentioned the Dinosaur Park possibility in relation to the new Library land and thought it was better for it to remain part of the County park. City Manager Kukulski mentioned the upcoming City HPO meeting next Tuesday and the possible use of the Library for such meetings as the Montana League of Cities and Towns, which will be in Bozeman next October 3,4, and 5.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:38 p.m. The next regular Library Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 22 (moved a week due to the Grand Opening events) at 4:00 p.m. in the Library Board/Staff Conference Room.
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