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Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Library Board/Staff Conference Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
4:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Al Kesselheim; Jacki McGuire; Paula Beswick, Foundation; John Gallagher, Friends of the Library; Lois Dissly and Terri Dood, Staff; and Alice Meister, Director. Guest: David Cook, Recreation and Park Advisory Board.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. by Chair Farmer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The April 16, 2008 Library Board minutes were approved as submitted.
CORRESPONDENCE
Meister received public comments which included one from a patron who was concerned about the handicapped parking configuration at the Library since his elderly mother has difficulty walking. He suggested that the Trustees consider designating all the spaces in the north lot as handicapped, while retaining some or all of the handicapped spaces in the south lot. Meister said she will need to refer this to City Facilities Superintendent James Goehrung as making all the spaces handicapped would mean the Library would need to find additional spaces to make up for these ones, since the Library has the minimum parking spaces required by the City. Meister mentioned a wallet lost at the Library by a patron who went to Yellowstone without it; the Library staff returned the wallet to the Blue Sky Motel staff
who then drove it down to Yellowstone for the benefit of the young woman who had lost it. A patron complained about noise in the building, and Dood responded that there were designated quiet areas in the Library as well as study rooms. Another patron suggested an instruction sheet on the self-check machines, which has been done. Someone noted that the touch screen on the self-check machine was the worst one he had ever used. A visiting individual recommended a locker system where materials could be stored, which had been discussed during the building phase but no space was found for them. A bicyclist suggested covering the bike area as his bike seat was wet. A retired educator wrote to say that she was very concerned about a video in the Library which portrayed teachers and educators in a negative way. Reference librarian Jane Basile responded to her concerns noting that it is a satiric comedy which received excellent reviews. A patron
complimented the service and staff in the computer services area. A patron suggested that it would be nice to have either a current Kelly blue book or NADA book in the consumer automobile section, and Dood said that the NADA book was kept at the reference desk with signage noting that. Someone requested a specific title for the collection. Another person suggested more suggestion forms, which were provided, as well as more self-check stations, one of which is in next year’s budget. A patron sent a thank you note to the “reference desk babes” for proctoring exams for him. The librarian who won the Library’s gift basket at MLA wrote a note of thanks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury thanked the Library for its support of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) tax return preparation programs. Meister received a survey about the number of individuals with serious psychiatric
disorders in public libraries, as the psychiatrist who sent it is trying to document the magnitude of the problem. The State Librarian wrote to thank the Library for participating in the Gates Foundation’s Spanish Language Outreach Program (SLO), which promotes library services to Spanish speakers in Montana. A patron wrote to compliment reference librarian Camille Jackson on being so helpful and dedicated. This patron says, “She goes above and beyond–and is so patient, cheerful and re-assuring. She has a very caring attitude. You’re fortunate to have her on your staff.” Meister passed around student thank you cards sent to the children’s library staff. She also mentioned that an individual had requested the City Commission increase the Library’s budget during the April 14 City Commission meeting when the mayoral proclamation for National Library Week was read.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT
Gallagher reported that the May 5 Friends meeting had been postponed. The Friends will be purchasing four bistro tables and twelve chairs for the Atrium Gallery. Vicky York, the newest Friends Board member, is working on determining the value of potentially collectible books amongst the donations. There will be a book sale in July in conjunction with downtown Crazy Days. Currently there is a membership renewal drive underway. The next meeting will be in June.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Beswick distributed a list of upcoming Foundation-sponsored events. She recently submitted a grant to Humanities Montana for the Children’s Festival of the Book planned for Saturday, August 23. She has also been working with Sarah Glover on the “One Book-One Bozeman” project planned for this fall; the Foundation will be listed as a co-sponsor. An accompanying exhibit is planned for September in the Atrium Gallery. There will be an artist opening reception for the Montana Institute of Artists on June 6. The last two “Exploring the Arts” series brought in 108 people for the DupliKates and 48 people for the Juilliard School graduates, thus averaging 99 people per performance over the entire series of seven programs. At the April 30 donor lunch, speaker Tom
Murphy was well received and appealed to the donors. The children’s library chose to use part of its Foundation funds to purchase butterfly costumes in order to advertise the summer reading program. The staff filled out a survey about the Foundation, and the results will be discussed at the next Foundation Board meeting. The Foundation will be purchasing six flower baskets for the Library’s light poles on Main Street. Beswick attended the Downtown Bozeman Association’s subarea 2020 Community Plan meeting on the cultural and economic aspects in order to be sure that the Library is included in the plan. The Foundation will be purchasing public performance rights in order that the Library may legally show movies in-house. She also plans to nominate the Library for the National Geographic GeoTourism Map project as a landmark of importance. She discussed the flagpole project in the Atkins Memorial area and asked the Trustees for
their input. Chair Farmer thought that a flagpole would be excessive due to light pollution and the need for a locking one. Kesselheim and McGuire were all right with some trepidation. Farmer preferred to wait until the next Board meeting in order to bring it up when more Trustees were present. The next Foundation Board meeting will be May 29 at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Room.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Meister noted that the April statistical report showed a 11.88% increase in the circulation of materials as well as a 68% increase in the number of public meetings and a 50% increase in attendance at those meetings. All statistics have increased, including a 11.65% increase in door traffic and a 16% increase in reference and information questions asked. Children’s/YA programs have increased by 26.41%, and attendance at these programs is up 20.75%. She reported that at 87.5% of the fiscal year completed, the Library has 16.5% left to spend. The Saturday “Learning @ the Library” computer classes have been quite successful. The Weeding Committee has met and will begin the weeding process in June. All departments have now met to go over the New Employee checklist.
Performance appraisals will be completed and sent to the City Human Resources Office by the required date. Meister attended the City’s High Performing Organization (HPO) retreat for management and mid-management May 1-2. On May 13 she went to the MSU Libraries Spring Open House and Post Celebration at Renne Library hosted by the Friends of MSU Libraries Board. On May 20 she viewed a webinar about Jim Collins’ “Good to Great” management strategies and how to incorporate them into City/Library management. The children’s department held a Celebration Sleepover at the Library on May 16 for 35 kids and their parents who had a successful Screen Free week in April. On May 17 Ginny Cowan held a Scribblings cultural evening for teens, which attracted 35+ kids. Christin and Ginger Norton will be wearing butterfly costumes in order to attract kids to come to the Library for the “Catch the Reading Bug!”
summer reading program, which begins Saturday, June 7. Four Marmo Maple boulevard trees were planted earlier this month. Funds for the trees came from the Gallatin Gardener’s Club. Work continues on the bench project to purchase benches for the Library grounds. The Friends have already committed to the purchase of two outdoor benches for the plaza area. Heeb’s East Main Grocery will hold a barbeque on Friday, June 27 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. as a fundraiser for Benches for Booklovers in conjunction with the Foundation. Volunteer Susan Woods as a representative for the Gallatin Empire Garden Club has planted tulips and daffodils on the east and west sides of the building and plans to plant fifty hostas and bleeding hearts out front. The Technology Committee has developed a survey to determine staff ease and expertise with computer use and applications. The plan is to acquaint staff with self-directed on-line course
work to better develop computer skills and knowledge of Web 2.0 social networking software. Recently a patron reported people camping overnight in the Library parking lot. After consultation with City staff, it was determined to put up library signs forbidding overnight parking or camping, which gives police the automatic right to either warn people or issue citations. On April 30 the Friends paid for breakfast for staff and 28 hard-working volunteers at Riverside Country Club in celebration of National Volunteer Week. The Library plans a reception on Tuesday, June 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in honor of Loriene Roy, who is the current president of the American Library Association. She is also a participant in the Tribal College Library Institute, which takes place at MSU that week. A new Needs List was also distributed, which is now on the Library web site. Incidents included an intoxicated patron pulling a blue suitcase who wanted to turn
himself into the police for breaking probation. The police arrived while the Library was closing and interrogated him. Another incident involved three police officers who entered the computer lab in search of a runaway from a treatment center. He was found but another one is still missing. The third incident involved inline skaters on a ramp outside the children’s room, who were asked to leave and complied.
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION: PATRON SURVEY RESULTS; FY2009 BUDGET
Dissly, who had compiled the results of the patron survey conducted in April, gave a presentation on the results. Approximately 425 people filled out the survey, but many did not realize to turn the sheet over to answer the questions on the other side. The first question was whether people are able to find what they are looking for when they visit the Library; 27.4% said Always; 61.1% said Frequently; 11.1% said Sometimes; and .5% said Seldom. No one said Never. The next question mentioned their satisfaction with the overall services of the Library; 57.8% said Extremely; 37.4% said Very; 3.6% said Somewhat; .9% said Not Very; and .2% said Not at All. The third question was regarding the helpfulness of the staff; 69.4% said Extremely; 28.2% said Very; 1.6% said Somewhat; .7% said Not Very; and
no one said Not at All. People were generally satisfied with the following services: collection; reference service; library hours; interlibrary loan; public computers; children’s programs; adult programs; electronic databases; and meeting rooms. However, library hours and collection rated lower than the other services. Most people hear about Library programs and services in the following order: newspaper, Library website; Library newsletter; Library staff; Library flyers and friends or neighbors (tied); and televison and radio last. Comments included a request for more library materials (31); increase in hours (23); additional computers (9); more programming (7); improve the parking lot (6); and a request for a drive up book return (5). Other improvements requested were better lighting; mitigate the noise/cell phone usage; and more benches and patio. People answered the question about specific programs or topics with many responses,
including some that are already offered. There was discussion about the need to react to some of these suggestions, such as adding an additional Friday and/or Saturday night hour. There will be an article in the July newsletter about the survey results, which have also been sent to the State Library and the City. Meister mentioned that the FY2009 preliminary budget was good. The materials budget is projected to increase by $2,000 for next year (from $123,000 to $125,000), and Travel & Training is projected to increase by 121% (from $5,575 to $12,332). Also the City approved the request for a new copier plus the Capital Improvements Program allows for a new self-check machine and a LCD projector in the computer lab. Also the City is approving the request for a full-time Library Assistant II, who will help with the public desks. The final budget will be approved in August.
BOARD MEMBER’S AND CITY REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
Kessleheim said he had met with Chris Mehl and David Cook regarding the Library land and wanted to get a sense from the Trustees on how specific the Committee recommendations should be. Farmer felt that the idea of guiding principles, such as the ones which guided the Library building project, was the way to proceed, and McGuire agreed. Cook recommended that the Library land be made a dedicated park, which would require a vote of the people to change that designation. However, the Library could build any time in the future, but it would stop the City from selling the land. He suggested that he meet with the City’s legal staff on how to protect the Library land, as he is concerned about threats to sell it. Cook mentioned that a master plan for a park could be developed if the Library land
became a park, which allows for some flexibility. Kesselheim wanted to be certain that there was flexibility for the Library in case there is development on North Wallace. The consensus was that Kesselheim work on guiding principles for the Library land, which would be presented at the next Board meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m. The next meeting was changed to Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
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