WAUCONDA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

 

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING

 

April 10, 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, Mr. Stevig, and Mrs. Whitman.  Trustees absent: Mrs. Carr.   Staff present: Tom Kern (Library Director), Kathy Nielsen (Circulation Manager) and Jan Staudemeyer (Head of Children’s Services).  No visitors were present.

 

Mrs. Miller made a motion seconded by Mrs. Whitman to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2006 board meeting.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

 

The financial and budget reports were discussed.  Topics included: cash flow through the end of the fiscal year; staff vending machine and staff expense accounts; new canvas book bags; new printer for Tech Services Dept.; photocopier expenditures; pest control.  Mr. Jonak commended the staff for meeting the spending goals for materials and programming this year, as had been discussed at the beginning of the fiscal year.

 

Dr. Johnson 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, Whitman
NO:                                                        none
ABSTAIN:                                            none
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING:        Carr

 

Library usage statistics were discussed.  Mr. Kern commented on the new statistics for computer usage, generated by the new PC Reservation system, noting that usage is higher than had been expected and how these numbers demonstrate the success of the new system in establishing an effective means of managing patron computer use throughout the library.

 

Library director and departmental reports were discussed.

 

Mr. Kern discussed the increases in equalized assessed valuation and estimated tax extension figures for the 2006 tax season., noting that tax revenue for the library district would be up 8.87% for Lake County.  McHenry figures had not yet been reported.

 

The remodeling of the Children’s staff work area was discussed briefly.  Mr. Kern noted that the designer would be working on a proposal in the coming weeks.  The need to set money aside for this project was discussed.  Mr. Kern noted that this would be accomplished primarily as developer impact fees accumulate and as real estate is developed in the next few years.

 

Mr. Kern reported on his discussion with Ken Buckhardt, Volo’s village administrator, regarding possibilities for providing library service to the many new residents of Volo, once those many new homes are built in the coming years.

 

There was some discussion of a suggestion that the library enforce age restrictions with respect to the checking out of R-rated videos from the library.  Mr. Kern noted that the library’s R-rated videos are housed in the Adult Services area, far away from the Children’s Services area, minimizing children’s exposure to these videos.   He noted that the MPAA ratings voluntary, and libraries make them available to assist parents and others in making decisions for their families and themselves. The library strongly encourages parents to take an active role in monitoring what their children see and view, but stops short of making those decisions for them.   Mr. Kern also noted that he had polled the directors of other libraries in the area and that only about one library in seven restricts access to R-rated videos.  He noted some of the technical difficulties in automatically limiting checkouts for minors, as well as some other issues related to restricting library collections by age.  It was determined that Mr. Kern would keep the board informed of any further developments with respect to this issue.

 

The need to improve on the ability to darken the Lincoln Room more effectively was discussed.

 

Suggestions from the Suggestion Box were discussed.  Topics included: patron vending machines and allowing covered beverages in the library; R-rated videos as noted above.

 

The incidents report was discussed.

 

Mr. Kern presented the Trustee Training session on a new family literacy program, an important joint project involving the Wauconda Area Library, College of Lake County, Wauconda Park District, and Wauconda High School planned for the coming year.  This 12-week series of ESL classes for parents of preschoolers will be presented Tuesday and Thursday evenings, September 19 through December 14.  While parents attend ESL classes at the high school, their children will be cared for at the park district.  Every other Thursday evening, class will be held at the library for both parents and children.  Mr. Kern noted that the ultimate goal is to give ESL parents of young children the opportunity to learn English and to give their children a head start learning English and reading before or as they enter the public school system.

 

Dr. Johnson reported for the Personnel and Salary Committee on that committee’s March 23 meeting. 

 

Mrs. Miller made a motion seconded by Mrs. Whitman to approve the revised Organizational Chart as presented.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

 

Dr. Johnson made motion seconded by Mrs. Miller to approve the revision to the Personnel Policy regarding the library’s holiday policy as presented. 

 

Roll call vote

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

 

The minutes to the Personnel and Salary Committee meeting of March 23 were approved.

 

Mr. Kern reported on a patron’s request that the library post a flyer, and that the request had been denied on the basis that the library does not post flyers promoting religious or political agenda.

 

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson that the meeting go into executive session to discuss the library director’s annual review.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

 

Executive Session

 

Mrs. Whitman made a motion seconded by Mrs. Miller to come out of executive session.  Voice vote.  All in favor.  Motion carried.

 

On behalf of the board, Dr. Johnson commended Mr. Kern for his achievements of the prior year.

 

Dr. Johnson made a motion seconded by Mrs. Whitman that the Library Director’s annual salary be increased by a specified amount. 

 

Roll call vote

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

 

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

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

 

Approved ____________________

 

 

________________________________                    ________________________________

President                                                                     Secretary