Wauconda Area Library Board Meeting Minutes

WAUCONDA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING

March 13, 2006

The meeting was held at the library at 7:30 p.m. with the following Library Trustees present: Mrs. Carr, Mr. Jonak, Mr. Kosty, Mrs. Miller, and Mr. Stevig. Trustees absent: Dr. Johnson 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. Kosty introduced guest speaker Patricia Oaks, the new Wauconda Township Assessor, who spoke briefly and answer questions regarding recent trends in tax assessment of Wauconda Township.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Mrs. Carr to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2006 board meeting. Voice vote. All in favor. Motion carried.

The financial and budget reports were discussed. Topics included: deficit in the Debit Card account due to up-front cost of debit cards and equipment; zero balance in the Personal Orders account; a Public Relations budget variance

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

Library usage statistics were discussed. Mr. Kern pointed out that the self-checkout workstation usage has more than doubled, relative to a year ago, noting that its new high-visibility location (near the New Books and the Circulation/Information Desk) seems to make the whole difference.

There was some discussion of donated sick time and the procedures for calling in sick.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Mrs. Carr that the option of donating sick time be eliminated from the Personnel Policy. Voice vote. All in favor. Motion carried.

Mr. Kern reported on the Management Team’s recommendation for proposed restrictions on non-resident borrowing of new DVD’s and high-demand books.

There was some discussion of plans for and progress in adding signage in order to improve the overall user-friendliness of the library.

The loan period for reciprocal borrowers was discussed.

Library director and departmental reports were discussed. Topics included: the successful installation of the PC Reservation system; expansion of the Fiction shelving in the Adult Services department and several other changes coming in the layout of that department; the addition of some health newsletter subscriptions.

Mrs. Carr made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson that the restrictions on reciprocal borrowing of DVD’s and high-demand items be approved as presented.

Suggestions from the Suggestion Box were discussed. Topics included the need for a policy specifically regarding the use of cell phones in the library; air quality and the possible need for a thorough removal of dust from the upper nooks and crannies throughout the library, better and/or more frequently changed furnace filters, and the possibility of having the air quality analyzed.

The successful installation of PC Reservation was discussed, along with some of the issues being encountered now that the system is in place.

Incidents reported during the month of February were discussed briefly.

There was some discussion of the need for brighter lighting in the library parking lot.

Mr. Kern presented a Trustee Training session on a new web page for library trustees, designed to improve access to library information, policies and documents.

Mr. Kern suggested the need for the Personnel and Salary Committee to meet in the coming weeks.

The need for the Finance Committee and the Nominating Committee to meet in May was also discussed briefly.

There was some discussion of the Meeting Room Policy. Mr. Kern suggested that because of recent legal trends in public library meeting room policies and issues, he would like to propose revisions to the policy in the coming weeks for board review at the regular April or May board meeting, based on research and attorney recommendations.

There was some discussion of the progress being made on improving the workspaces of the library staff work areas. Mr. Kern noted that since the price tag of the architect’s proposed plan is cost-prohibitive, he is asking several interiors firms to look at the problems and to suggest viable solutions which might cost less.

There was some discussion of the possibility of constructing an outdoor courtyard, perhaps off the Children’s Services department. Mr. Stevig noted that he had recently seen how nicely this was done at the Ela Area Public Library.

Mr. Stevig provided an example of a printed annual report from another library. Mr. Kern noted that this is something the Wauconda Area Library certainly could and would do. The library’s annual report has been available on its website for several years.

Mr. Stevig made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson that the meeting be adjourned. Voice vote. All in favor. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Approved ____________________

________________________________ ________________________________

President Secretary