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Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Library Board/Staff Conference Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
4:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Holly Brown; Al Kesselheim; Marilyn King; Jacki McGuire; Jeff Rupp, City Commission; Paula Beswick, Foundation; Lois Dissly and Terri Dood, Staff; and Alice Meister, Director. Guests: Jan Zauha, MSU Associate Professor & Library Instruction Coordinator, and Greer McGee, MSU Library Intern.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m. by Chair Farmer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The March 19, 2008 Library Board minutes were approved as submitted.
ITEM FOR DISCUSSION
Chair Farmer changed the agenda in order to allow a presentation on the Library’s Emergency Response Plan. McGee introduced herself as this semester’s MSU library intern who is working under Zauha and Meister on a plan for the Library. She then did a PowerPoint on aspects of the plan, indicating there was still more information to be included. She plans to meet with Administrative Assistant Nancy Stiner, who coordinates the Safety Committee, to include a building map showing the fire extinguishers, areas of refuge, public/staff areas, meeting places, and other relevant items. Several suggestions were made including one about what to do in case of a lockdown, which she plans to incorporate into the plan. Chair Farmer thanked her and Zauha for their work, at which time they left the
meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
Meister received public comments which included one from a patron who wondered why the shades are generally down. Someone requested getting “some new movies and cd’s like in this century.” A person requested a place for people to dispose of cigarette butts (trash cans will be placed outside this spring). He also commented on the “very nice facility and helpful staff.” Another patron requested more Terry Prachit books. Another requested more Spanish books for toddlers, which the Library is in the process of purchasing. A person who lives in Emigrant and buys a library card for $45 suggested that Friends of the Library membership be part of that fee. A person who was unhappy with the lights not coming on in the upstairs restroom added a disparaging comment to the
sign on the door (this has since been fixed). A patron complained about people using other library card numbers in order to get more than one hour on the computer (staff will try and monitor this situation). Someone wrote a note saying, “I love your library!! The librarians are always kind, generous, and informative. It is a pleasure to come here!” The Library received a thank you from a patron/friend who has been very ill to whom a get well card was sent. A thank you was received from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for the $50 donation the Library made for its Annual Recognition Dinner as the Library uses many volunteers through this program. A patron left an article from the March 18 “Hints from Heloise” in defense of loud libraries explaining that modern pubic libraries “see themselves as community centers that offer gathering places and programs of all types.” The
writer goes on to say that, “Librarians do wish to serve those patrons hoping for a quiet place to study and read, but in this day and age, it seems unlikely that serving only those patrons will garner the community support necessary for libraries to continue to exist. That would be a loss for everyone.” Another regular patron left a copy of a page from A Vineyard Killing by Philip R. Craig that said, “Libraries are some of the glories of the world. They are full of information, they have comfortable places to sit and read, and they are managed by people who know what they’re doing and are actually pleased to help you. Almost every town has one, and I’ve yet to enter one that wasn’t worth a visit.” She then inserted Bozeman Public Library into a sentence saying that “it’s a gem,” and said that she couldn’t agree more. The Library received a thank you for the use
of its large meeting room from Bozeman Business and Professional Women (BBPW), who had their “Woman of Achievement” event here on March 4. The Library received a thank you from the Gallatin County Finance Office, which plans to hold three days of budget hearings at the Library June 11-13.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Beswick distributed a list of upcoming Foundation-sponsored events. She noted that there is a new Foundation brochure as well as a new Library welcome brochure, which is currently being circulated. She is still working with the Technology Committee on the Library’s web site redesign. She recently attended a Hopa Mountain-sponsored workshop on vital communities. She noted that the turnout for the Health Fair was not great, but there were many good comments from attendees. The Foundation is planning a donor luncheon for upper level donors on April 30th. The program will feature Yellowstone photographer Tom Murphy, who will show slides on Yellowstone and sell his books. There will be an April 18 reception for artist/author Daryl Paulson, whose sculptures are currently
on display in the building. The Foundation is conducting a staff survey of staff perceptions of the Foundation and what patrons need. The Foundation Board has chosen Merrill Lynch with Todd Williamson and A.J. Matosich as the new financial advisor. Laura Prindiville, formerly director of the Children’s Museum, will coordinate the Children’s Book Festival in August; plans are to bring in a well-known author for that event. Logan Schlevan will help identify signage for the artwork. Beswick is also working on how to identify and recognize new donors as well as producing a new memorial board. She met with Museum of the Rockies staff about coordinating programming and hopes to work with them on a possible Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant. As a member of the Bozeman Cultural Group, she presented suggestions for the 2020 Community Plan to the Planning Department last night. From April 21-24 she will be able to
attend free of charge a four day workshop on grant writing here in Bozeman given by Barbara Bader and Steven Carr, Community Systems. The Foundation is sponsoring a breakfast on Earth Day from 8:00-10:00 a.m. here at the Library, and Beswick will be introducing Mayor Kaaren Jacobson and MSU President Geoff Gamble at the Gallatin Earth Celebration kick-off ceremony at 10 a.m. There are plans for teens to help with Library clean-up on April 26. There will be two Exploring the Arts programs in April. The next Foundation Board meeting is May 29 at 8:30 a.m. in the Board/Staff Room.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
Meister reported that the Friends made $12,305 at their book sale March 28-30. They are also planning to buy four bistro tables and chairs for the hallway. Their next meeting is planned for May 5.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Meister noted that the March statistical report showed a 12.48% increase in the circulation of materials as well as a 81% increase in the number of public meetings and a 66% increase in attendance at those meetings. All statistics have increased, including a 11.43% increase in door traffic and a 18.64% increase in reference and information questions asked. Children’s/YA programs have increased by nearly 31%, and attendance at these programs is up 24.5%. She reported that at 79% of the fiscal year completed, the Library has 24.84% left to spend. Meister said this week of April 13-19 is National Library Week with programs planned for every night of the week. Monday was “Get a Grip on TV” for parents on smart screen time; Tuesday night was a program on the experiences of a Peace Corps
volunteer in Ghana; Wednesday night is the Found Animals presentation by the Museum of the Rockies; Thursday night is author Jim Robbins speaking about The Open Focus Brain; and Friday night is the reception for Dr. Daryl Paulson. Also Friday afternoon is a kids party for fans of the popular Redwall series. The Library is collecting food for fines during this week in order to encourage the return of materials as well as enhance the Food Bank’s shelves. Also the Library is conducting a patron survey; to date 200 surveys have been returned. The Volunteer/Staff Brunch will be held on April 30 at 8:30 a.m. at Riverside Country Club, as that week is National Volunteer Week. The Library would still like to post Trustee pictures and biographies on the web site. There was an all-staff meeting on April 4, where the employee orientation checklist and how to work with difficult people were among the topics discussed. Meister recently
returned from the Public Library Association conference in Minneapolis, which was March 26-29. Held every other year, this conference attracted nearly 10,000 public librarians. Ten staff members attended the Montana Library Association conference in Great Falls April 9-12. Lois Dissly and Pam Henley attended the Computers in Libraries conference in Washington, DC April 6-8. Dissly noted that she is very interested in Web 2.0 social networking software, such as Ouii, and would like for Library staff to take some courses to familiarize themselves with the possibilities. There will be a Montana Shared Catalog meeting in Billings May 1-2. Meister plans to take vacation time April 21-29. The Library acquired a small televison for the listening/viewing station in the southeast corner. The large screen television hookup and sound hookup for computers have been done. The Library is in the process of purchasing boulevard trees for Main
Street. Children’s Library Supervisor Cindy Christin is the State Library consultant for Montana’s summer reading program and will be attending the annual meeting for the national collaborative summer reading library program in Little Rock, Arkansas April 22-26. Incidents involved a child who tripped and hit his head on the corner of a bookshelf and was bleeding. His mother hurriedly took him away. Also an unknown female was upset about the computer lab closing at 8 p.m. and asked a circulation staff member to shake her hand; when the staff member extended her hand, the woman forcibly twisted the staff member’s arm. On the way out she kicked the door and muttered curse words. Meister also mentioned the new Needs List. Dood explained about playaways (preloaded, self-playing digital audiobooks), which are on the list.
BOARD MEMBER’S AND CITY REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
King questioned whether the small committee comprised of Chris Mehl, David Cook, and Kesselheim should discuss the Library’s stance on the adjacent property, and it was decided that the committee should do so.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
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