WAUCONDA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING

January 9, 2006

The meeting was held at the library at 7:30 p.m. with the following Library Trustees present: 

Dr. Johnson, Mr. Jonak, Mr. Kosty, Mrs. Miller, and Mr. Stevig.  Trustees absent: Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Whitman.   Staff present: Tom Kern (Library Director), Kathy Nielsen (Circulation Manager) and Jan Staudemeyer (Head of Children’s Services).  No visitors were present.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Mr. Stevig to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2005.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

The financial and budget reports were discussed.  Topics included: laptop computers, terminology for postal “reserve” expenditures, literacy account, possibility of purchasing recycled print cartridges, the library’s credit union, and uncategorized expenditures.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Mrs. Miller to pay the bills as presented and to transfer sufficient funds from the Investment Pool into the checking account.

Roll call vote

YES:                                                      Johnson, Jonak, Kosty, Miller, Stevig
NO:                                        none
ABSTAIN:                            none
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING:    Carr, Whitman

Library usage statistics were discussed.  Mr. Kern noted that although total circulation was only up 2% for the month, program attendance and reference service usage were up substantially for the month.

Library director and departmental reports were discussed.  Topics included: final transactions (December 30, 2005) regarding the refunding of the 1996 building bond issue; the impact of FY0506 bond payments on the cash flow as budgeted; and the library’s line of credit and the possible need to renew it.

Mr. Jonak complemented the staff and the graphic designer for producing such a well organized newsletter, loaded with information promoting the library’s many programs scheduled for January through May.  Mr. Kern noted the need to increase the number of newsletter editions from three to four annually.  It was determined that Mr. Kern would present cost estimates for the coming year with respect to designing, publishing, and mailing the newsletter four times per year.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson to approve the schedule of regular monthly board meetings as presented. Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson to approve the schedule of holiday closings as corrected. Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

Mr. Kern discussed the need to review the Personnel Policy with respect to holidays and library closings in order to clarify that the library will never close three days in a row in celebration of holidays.

There was some discussion of the procedures for determining holiday “bonuses” for staff, and the need for board review of this procedure each year in advance of the pay period affected.

Suggestions from the Suggestion Box were reviewed, along with the library’s published responses.

Incidents listed in the library’s Incident Log were reviewed.

Mr. Kern presented Trustee Training, demonstrating the proposed PC Reservation system for controlling patron access to computer workstations. 

The need for better signage for directing people to the online catalog stations was discussed.

There was some discussion of the need to eliminate from the Personnel Policy the existing policies regarding donation of sick time.  It was determined that Mr. Kern will present the revised Personnel Policy for board approval, eliminating this policy as it now exists, and would research alternative ways of providing for such an option for staff which would guarantee fairness for all eligible staff, if such an option exists.  Mr. Kern will also research alternatives for rewarding staff for not using their sick time. 

Mr. Kern suggested that the Personnel and Salary Committee review the revised Guidelines for Successful Staff Relations.

Mr. Kosty noted a correction in his address for the Policy Manual.

There was some discussion of a developer impact fee agreement proposed by the Village of Port Barrington for the library.  Mr. Kern noted that the library’s attorney had reviewed the agreement and that the school district had signed a similar agreement.  It was determined that the library would also sign and return the agreement to the Village of Port Barrington as presented. 

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Mrs. Miller that the meeting be adjourned.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Approved  February 13, 2006

Ernest W. Kosty  (signed)                  

President                                                                    

Kathie J. Carr (signed)

Secretary