LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT

WAUCONDA AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING

April 9, 2007

The meeting was held at the library at 7:30 p.m. with the following Library Trustees present: Dr. Johnson, Mr. Jonak, Mr. Kosty, Mr. Stevig, and Mrs. Whitman. Trustees absent: Mrs. Miller Staff present: Tom Kern (Library Director), Kathy Nielsen (Circulation Manager), Jan Staudemeyer (Head of Children’s Services), Sue Strauch (Head of Adult Services). No visitors were present.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2007. Voice vote. All in favor. Motion carried.

The financial and budget reports were discussed. Topics included: children’s book budget; quarterly LAN management bill; invoice for printing of the newsletter; Jewel invoice for staff meeting; invoice for book security magnetizing machine; partially vs. completely recovering the cost of fee-based programs such as crafts programs; reporting of attendance of fee-based programs; problems with some of the departmental totals in the Payroll Summary Report.

Mrs. Whitman made a motion seconded by Mr. Jonak 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, Stevig, Whitman
NO:                                        none
ABSTAIN:                            none
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING:    Miller

Library usage statistics were discussed. There was some discussion of the 2% decrease in total circulation for the months of February and March, 2007, versus the same months a year ago. It was suggested that under-spending resulting from staff turnover could be causing the lower circulation in Children’s Services, but that the trend should be monitored. Mr. Kern noted the progress being made in making better spatial use of the Children’s staff work area.

Mr. Kern noted that the requirement that patrons use their own library cards in order to sign onto the computer system has resulted in lower usage but substantially less abuse of computer privileges and use by non-cardholders. That trend, in turn, has also led to fewer behavior problems.

Library director and departmental reports were discussed. Mr. Kern discussed his possible application for an LSTA grant which would offset the cost of a delivery van, drive-by book returns, and an entire promotional campaign titled “Books on Wheels”. Mr. Kern had received positive feedback when he had proposed that the Friends of the Library donate $10,000 towards the purchase of the vehicle. Some discussion of the concept of a library delivery system followed. It was determined that Mr. Kern should proceed with the grant application and see where it leads.

Mr. Kern further discussed the progress being made in making better spatial use of the Children’s staff work area.

There was some discussion of whether Adult or Children’s Services should be the primary service point for 6^th graders.

Dr. Johnson made a motion seconded by Mr. Jonak that the Children’s Services department should be the library’s primary service point for 6^th graders.

Mr. Kern discussed the progress being made in getting the front stairs repaired, noting that it was likely that a permanent repair would be necessary.

There was some discussion of the progress being made in having the carpeting of the interior stairway replaced.

There was some discussion of the new sidewalk planned for connecting the library’s front plaza to the village sidewalk that runs along Main Street.

An addition to the library trustee bylaws with respect to the staggering of trustee terms was discussed briefly.

Dr. Johnson made a motion seconded by Mrs. Whitman that the following statement be added to the trustee bylaws in the appropriate paragraph:

Terms of trustees shall be staggered so that no more than three or four trustees are elected per election.

There was a brief discussion of the NSLS Fast Facts Surveys available at the North Suburban Library System’s website (nsls.info).

Suggestions from the Suggestion Box were discussed. Topics included: computer lab usage; the library’s CD collection and the ANSCR system for cataloging it.

Proposed revisions to the Patron Behavior Policy were discussed. It was determined that the suggestions from the discussion should be incorporated into the revised policy for approval at a later date.

Mr. Jonak made a motion seconded by Dr. Johnson to approve the Lost and Found Policy as presented.

Mr. Kern noted that a representative of the North Suburban Library SystemThe Personnel and Salary Committee and Committee of the Whole meetings scheduled for April 16 were discussed briefly.

Mr. Kosty, (Vice Chair of the Plan Commission / Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Wauconda), noted that draft of a new Comprehensive Plan for the village had been presented to various community leaders, and that the draft would soon be presented to the village board for final approval.

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Approved ____________________

________________________________ ________________________________

President Secretary