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Bozeman Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Library Board/Staff Conference Room
Bozeman Public Library
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
4:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Ron Farmer, Chair; Jacki McGuire; Judy Mathre; Jeff Rupp, City Commission; Terri Dood, Staff; and Alice Meister, Director. Guests: City Manager Chris Kukulski; City Director of Parks and Recreation Ron Dingman; and City Superintendent of Facilities James Goehrung.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m. by Chair Farmer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mathre moved to approve the September 17, 2008 Library Board minutes; McGuire seconded, and the motion passed 3-0.
CORRESPONDENCE
Meister received public comments which included one about a person who thanked the Library for providing “service to provide knowledge,” but said s/he was disappointed to see personal items in the bathroom. This person probably visited the staff restrooms rather than the public ones. Another suggested a pornographic site to visit. An individual suggested a video archive of the City Commission meetings, and the Library is checking into that concept. Another suggested a particular book to buy and said s/he loved the Library. An individual suggested white boards in all of the study rooms. A patron suggested putting up 30 minute parking signs near the front entrance at all parking spaces to show that it is not all senior parking. Another loves the Library but feels the
hours are not good for the average working family. A student loves the Library but finds the hours inconvenient for students and suggested staying open later in the evening several days a week. She also suggested possibly extending the hours during finals week. An e-mail from a patron complimented the Library on its friendly, helpful staff and children’s programs but suggested that library hours be extended to 6 p.m. on Friday. The Library is considering adopting this suggestion after new staff is hired. A visitor from Australia was very impressed by the new Library and helpful staff. Another commented on how nice and helpful staff member Kari Grimm is. An individual loves this Library and feels that it is even better than the Austin (Texas) public library. An individual commented on the distracting lights going on and off and the automatic blinds going up and down and noted how non-energy efficient this is. A patron wrote
to thank reference librarian Camille Jackson for her wonderful help in getting this individual a passport. There was an indecipherable letter from an individual about archives. The Chamber of Commerce thanked the Library for allowing the Leadership Bozeman class to have lunch in the Community Room. In a U.S. Department of Justice court case, James Brubaker was found guilty of stealing library materials and ordered to pay this Library $5.00. The letter indicated that the defendant might not make restitution payments however. Written notification of Jack Pollari’s resignation effective September 30 was received and read. The Library was notified that it was the recent recipient of a Merit Award in the 2008 Montana American Institute of Architect (AIA) Awards Program. The project will go on to compete at the next level in the regional awards program next year.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT
Meister reported that the Friends’ annual meeting will be Thursday, October 30 at 7 p.m. The speaker will be Landon (Lanny) Jones, former editor of People and Money magazines, who has written a book on Lewis and Clark. His topic will be a trip F. Scott Fitzgerald made to Montana in 1915. The Friends plan to change their by-laws to allow up to eleven people on the Board due to the many responsibilities they currently have. Plans are underway for the November 14-16 used book sale. The Friends provided funds for an Agati dictionary stand and atlas case, which completes the original furniture package. Several staff members were the recipients of $1,300 in continuing education grants from the Friends.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Meister said that Beswick is attending Leadership Bozeman and thus is missing today’s Trustee meeting along with some future ones. A list of forthcoming Foundation events was distributed. Included in the list are the final One Book - One Bozeman events and the Jerolyn Dirks artist-in-residency program dates, along with the Exploring the Arts programs. Two upcoming author talks were mentioned; Katie Goodman will give a rousing talk and demo on October 10 about her new book Improvisation for the Spirit: Live a More Creative, Spontaneous, and Courageous Life Using the Tools of Improv Comedy. Billings’ author Karen Stevens will discuss her new book Haunted Montana on October 18 in time for Halloween. Two free workshops–a SAT preparation class and a college
application essay writing class--for high school students will also be offered. The response has been tremendous, and the Foundation will repeat the classes in late winter/early spring, hoping to also include the other SAT test components. Planning for the second annual Children’s Festival of the Book is already underway. Laura Prindiville will again be coordinating this Foundation event with possible dates of September 12 or 19. The Art Reception for Karina Yager on October 3 was well-attended with 50 people; six pieces have already sold. Planning is underway for Christmas Stroll activities on December 6 with a display of Jerolyn Dirks’ class projects. Her residency is partially funded by a Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts grant. On October 23, staff will have training on brain development ages 0-3 as part of the Baby Brains: Partnering with Parents program funded by the G.C. Waite Foundation grant. A board retreat for the
three boards (Trustees, Friends, and Foundation) to discuss long-range planning in now being planned for January once new board members have been seated. Beswick is still working with the Downtown Bozeman Association to get the remaining benches ordered, delivered, and placed with the City for the winter. The next Foundation Board meeting is Thursday, October 30 at 8:30 a.m.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Meister noted that the September statistical report showed a 3% increase in circulation as well as nearly a 65% increase in attendance at children’s and teen programs. There was an 80% increase in adult programs and a 114% increase in attendance at these programs. Door traffic is up over 9%. At 29% of the fiscal year completed, the Library has 75.48% left in its budget. There was a farewell party for Jack Pollari on September 30, his last day of work; Pollari had been with the Library for fourteen years and helped greatly with the gift donations and working with the Friends. This Library Aide II job will be advertised after the Library Assistant position is filled. That job closed yesterday; the interview process should start soon. The Friends have helped the Library staff with
continuing education opportunities, and several staff members recently attended the ASLD/PLD retreat at Chico Hot Springs on October 12-13. Reference librarian Liz Babbitt is currently the Public Library Division (PLD) president and gave a presentation as did staff member Pam Henley. Beth Boyson helped organize the retreat, and Kari Grimm also attended. The Library will begin accepting credit and debit cards similar to the City. Training was given to circulation staff by a First Security Bank employee. Library staff recently received an informative presentation by two 3M employees regarding RFID on October 8. New Capital Improvement Program (CIP) items are due into the City by November 6. CIP items to be purchased this year include a staff copier, LCD projectors, and a self-check station, which is currently underway. Meister and senior management staff–Dissly and Dood–will attend the City’s Fall HPO Retreat on October
23-24. The Library’s FY2008 annual report is ready to be printed. Meister will present it to the County Commission on October 28 along with the other Gallatin County library directors. There will be a Gallatin County Long-Range Planning Committee meeting at Belgrade Library after the presentations. Meister recently attended the Montana Shared Catalog (MSC) meeting in Missoula on October 3. MSC will be upgrading to Symphony software later this year, which will allow more patron-initiated features. The spring MSC meeting will be at this Library on May 7-8, 2009. This week is Teen Read Week with the theme of “Books with Bite.@your library.” There were 90 people in attendance at the October 12 program about a four-month hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail given by 2008 Bozeman High graduate Kevin Clayton. Young Adult librarian Ginny Cowan is starting a program to emphasize positive teen experiences.
“Learning @the Library” computer classes have started on Saturdays, attracting interested attendees. There will be a Pippi Longstocking Party on October 21 from 4-5 p.m. Incidents included one where a patron complained about someone smoking in the men’s restroom. A female staff member (as currently there are no males on staff) opened the door to ask if anyone was smoking and was told no, but it did smell like smoke. She wondered if the Library needed a sign in there, but there is already a no-smoking sign on the front door. Another incident involved a young patron who has routinely been using the computers for more than his allotted time, especially as his father complained about his use of the computers as well. The young man was told to limit his time, and the father was asked to talk to his children about this concern. A patron became agitated using the courtesy phone and started to swear loudly. Before staff
could approach her, she left the building.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: CASH-IN-LIEU DISCUSSION
Goehrung stated that it would be almost impossible to break out the individual improvement costs for the Peets Hill parking lot, which was the property the Trustees considered offering the City for the $272,000 the Library received in cash-in-lieu from the Parks Department in 2005. Dingman wanted some clarification as he felt it should all be public land. However, the Trustees did not want to be limited depending on opportunities that might arise with Wallace Avenue and expansion needs. Dingman had a map of the surveying that was done by Rocky Mountain Engineers for potential parkland dedication. There is still a possibility that a developer would have to buy land from the Library for parkland dedication. Dingman suggested that the whole parcel of land where Peets Hill is located be considered
for the cash-in-lieu received. It appears to be approximately 2.34 acres; at the 2005 cost of $157,000 per acre, that property would be worth approximately $367,380. Rupp questioned who owned the property–the City or the Library–and suggested that the Trustees’ principles regarding Library land be ratified by the City Commission. Kukulski said that it was a mistake when the City did not request property in exchange for the $272,000 received by the Library but it needs correcting, and some decision needs to be made.
Dingman said that the Library grounds maintenance funds are in the Facilities budget, but currently his department plows the parking lot and trail in the winter. The City is migrating toward Parks and Recreation doing all the outdoor maintenance, leaving the Facilities Department to concentrate on the indoor maintenance. Kukulski noted that it all comes from the General Fund, so communication is critical. Dingman asked if there were plans to finish the dell property (east side of the Library where the Travis Atkins Memorial Park is located), and Meister said there were no funds allocated to do so. It was decided to table the cash-in-lieu discussion until the next meeting in order to gather more information so that the Trustees can work on a proposal to forward to the City Commission. Goehrung
also commented that more benches have been ordered and there is a need for a master plan for the grounds.
BOARD MEMBER’S AND CITY REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORTS
Rupp asked about extended library hours. Meister said that one additional staff member would not allow for many extended hours, but she is hoping to keep the Library open an extra hour on Friday nights until 6 p.m. Kukulski said that the MSU Local Government Center will be offering ethics training both internally and externally. Currently there are 259 people on City boards, which would mean evening training sessions for board members. This would be an annual event. Rupp said there might be some required personal financial information. Mathre noted that this City ethics requirement goes beyond state statute, and the Ethics Board needs to create an Ethics Manual. There will definitely be some rigid ethics information required by January 1st. Rupp noted there might be
board resignations once these requirements are in place. Kukulski did say that the training would be mandatory. He also said he left a farewell message for retiring staff member Jack Pollari. He noted that the legislative agenda has been readied in pursuit of a local option sales tax.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in the Library Board/Staff Conference Room.
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