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Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Library/Staff Conference Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
4:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Holly Brown; Marilyn King; Jacki McGuire; Terri Dood, Staff; and Alice Meister, Director.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:17 p.m. by Chair Farmer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Brown moved to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2006 meeting, McGuire seconded, and the motion passed 3-0 (King had not yet joined the meeting).
CORRESPONDENCE
Meister received many suggestions from the patrons regarding the new Library. Many of the disparaging comments were directed at the parking lot design, the allocated parking for hybrid and car pooling vehicles, and lack of convenient handicapped spaces. Also people were concerned about the low lighting levels throughout the building, shelving of materials and magazines on low shelves which were difficult to access, need for a drive-up book return, lack of labels on shelves, and shelving too close together. Other people suggested hand sanitizers by the computers, toilet seat covers, fax capabilities, a U.S.P.S. mail box, and rest room coat racks. Many were complimentary about the building, and others requested longer library hours. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda
McCulloch sent a letter of congratulations. One patron said, “You guys at the Library are the best,” and another sent congratulations on the “irreplaceable wealth” that has been brought to Bozeman.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT
Some of the newer Friends used books are now on sale at Wild Joe’s Coffee Shop, which opened when the Library did. The Friends also printed 400 copies of Phyllis Smith’s history of the Library book, which are also on sale at the coffee shop. They are working on recruiting new Board members. At their annual meeting on November 16, the Friends selected John Gallagher as their president, Amy McNamara as the vice-president, and Melissa Jacoby remains as the treasurer. They have compiled a 2007 budget. Work also continues on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Friends and the Library Board of Trustees. The Friends will meet on December 11at 6:30 p.m. to discuss their budget, their legacy mobile project, new Board members, and recruitment of volunteers to help with the storage area and
stocking the coffee shop.
FOUNDATION REPORT
McGuire, who has been the Foundation’s treasurer, reported that $600,000 has been paid to the City with another $600,000 due. There has been no final decision regarding the Foundation goals, as the Foundation Board is wondering how to fit into the new Library now that its capital campaign goal has been met. Development Director Wendy Lewis still hopes to return next year to resume her job. A Foundation Board meeting is planned for November 28 at 8:30 a.m.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Meister reported that the October statistical report was not available at this time. To date the new Library Project Activity shows $13,166,059.91 received in revenues with expenses of $16,104,645.23, leaving a deficit of $2,938,585.32. At 62.5% of the fiscal year completed, the Library has spent 33.01% of its budget, leaving 66.99% yet to spend. During Grand Opening Week of November 12-19, the Library checked out 15,631 items, registered 494 new patrons, and counted 16,202 people coming through the doors. The programs were busy all week: 25 people Monday night for Dolley Madison; 40 people Tuesday night for Gary Bates; 150+ people Wednesday night for Eric Funk and Jeni Fleming; 140+ people Thursday night for the MCIV/Friends Islam program; and 6 people Friday noon for Phyllis Smith’s program. There have been many suggestions given in regards to the building. The interior signage is completed, which should help our patrons. The lighting in the building is not up to an
acceptable level, and James Goehrung will work with the sub-contractor on increasing the lighting to a more acceptable level. Also Laura Fedro has ordered more floor and table lamps for the darker areas on the extreme edges, where the lighting does not extend. The new shelving is nearly completed but more canopy tops and audio/video shelving units will be coming in January (Meister will withhold the payment until that is completed). Martel Construction brought in the remaining refurbished shelving, and labeling is currently being done on the magazine shelving. Kath Williams will be doing a “green” Library brochure to adequately explain all of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) aspects. The handicapped spaces at the front of the building are on the north side as that is where the sidewalk slopes for wheelchair access. Signs will be changed to indicate that hybrid and car pooling vehicles are given preference in
certain parking spaces, but those spaces are not only for those types of vehicles. The hot water in the children’s spaces has been adjusted. Videos are on the bottom shelves because there are so many, but DVDs will be replacing them and they require less shelving space so eventually the video shelving should not be a problem. There is no drive up book return, as it would need to be in the middle of the drive which could endanger staff and could be difficult to pull across the road. But the new Library is still in a trial period, so sufficient demand could conceivably change the way it functions. The building flushing ceased this past Sunday, so hopefully the noise and cold air will be eliminated. Several locking situations still need to be remedied through Bozeman Safe and Lock. Mayor Krauss has expressed concerns about illegal turns that are being made into the Library from people traveling west on Main Street and those who are
ignoring the sign to only turn right on Main Street when leaving the Library. A recent television segment brought this to the public’s attention. He is working with the City on more signage to correct this problem, and the Library will put up some signs as well. The Art Committee will choose the artists for the Gallery Space but need to meet to set up a process for doing so. Cindy Christin has developed a suggestion form for other building comments from the staff (or ones that they hear from the public), which will be directed to the appropriate person. James Goehrung is trying to wrap up most of the outstanding work by the end of November, and the goal remains to make the building as great as it can possibly be. Shannon Helgeson has been hired as a full-time Library Aide II, who will start work on December 1. She will be picking up Catherine McMullen’s 20 hours (she is now a Library Assistant II substitute in reference) and Judy
Corcoran’s 20 hours as she resigned in October. Carmen Clark has been hired as a Library Assistant II substitute, and shelver Kelley Smith has been hired as a Library Aide II substitute. Meister will be on vacation November 24-December 3. The Library’s Christmas Stroll activities on December 2 will consist of a Microsoft Publishing greeting card class from 2-3 p.m. taught by Katie Biehl; children’s craft activities from 2-5 p.m.; and piano music by Mary Biehl from 3-5 p.m. A volunteer is being recruited to give out the cookies and cider that day in the large community meeting room. Meister noted that she had submitted some 2007 Library goals to City Manager Chris Kukulski. The Gallatin County Libraries Long Range Planning Committee will meet December 11 in Three Forks. The State Library Commission plans to meet on December 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the large community room.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: PROJECT COSTS; MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING; DINOSAUR PARK
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. Goehrung e-mailed that there was a bid opening November 20 on the Milwaukee Road Rail Trail project (which Meister attended). Both bids came in high, and the recommendation is to reject the bids at this time and re-bid the project later. Meister mentioned the CALA Orphan Share amount of money available through the Department of Environmental Quality, which was discussed at last month’s meeting. Brown will discuss this possibility with Staff Attorney Tim Cooper and possibly City Manager Kukulski. Farmer mentioned
the Dinosaur Park possibility, which will probably not happen due to the debt incurred by the Library and the possibility of the City taking control of the remainder of the Library property. King mentioned the Wellness Advisory Committee, which is partnering with the Health Department and the School District, on a fitness program. It might possibly impact the Library as a meeting place in the future.
BOARD MEMBER’S AND CITY REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
McGuire suggested using Wallace Avenue to enter the Library but said that the Babcock-Wallace intersection should become a three way stop.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m. The next regular Library Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 20 at 4:00 p.m. in the Library Board/Staff Conference Room.
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