WAUCONDA AREA
PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF LIBRARY
TRUSTEES MEETING
October 8,
2007
The
meeting was held at the
Dr.
Johnson, Mr. Jonak, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Stevig, Mrs. Whitman. Trustees absent: Mr. Kosty. Staff present:
Dr. Johnson presided.
Mr. Jonak made a motion
seconded by Mrs. Whitman to accept the minutes of the September 10, 2007
meeting. Voice vote. All in favor.
Motion carried.
The
financial and budget reports were discussed.
Topics included: discussion and display of a new children’s authors
quilt comprised of quilt squares illustrated and signed especially for the
Wauconda Area Library by various well known authors or illustrators of
children’s books; the library’s licensing service permitting the public showing
of movies; payment for a children’s program from library director’s account;
HVAC repairs.
Mr. Jonak made a motion
seconded by Mr. Stevig 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, Miller, Stevig, Whitman
NO:
none
ABSTAIN: none
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Kosty
Library
usage statistics were discussed. Topics
included: decrease of 9% in total circulation compared to September of last year,
measures being taken which are intended to better promote the collection by
making its appearance more dynamic, including attractive new oak bookshelves
for displaying new books cover out rather spine out, shifting the entire
collection in create more space for the existing books, improving the library
website, and even the possibilities of making fresh coffee, tea, and soft
drinks available within the library and promoting library programs and services
using at least one large flat TV showing promotional videos and powerpoint
presentations. As for the decrease in
circulation this month, Mr. Kern suggested that this could be due to
improvements in library security – especially the requirement that people use
their own library cards to check out materials and to use library computers to
access the Internet.
Reciprocal borrowing was discussed. Mr.
Stevig suggested and it was determined that in the future the general library
usage statistics report include the number of programs along with the number of
program attendances. Mr. Kern noted a high increase in the use of
Tutor.com’s Live Homework Help.
Library
director and departmental reports were discussed. Topics included: the library’s new disaster
plan, the personal property replacement tax, the ALA’s Free Pass grant awarded
to Sara Grimm, the library’s new Hispanic Community Outreach Librarian, to
attend the Guadalajara International Book Fair, the likely resumption of the
family literacy program in January, 2008, and the rejection of the library’s
LSTA grant application for its proposed “Books On Wheels” project.
Mr.
Kern noted that the Friends of the Library had earned nearly $5,000 at their
annual book sale, commending those who helped for another very successful sale.
Mr.
Kern reported that the auditors had met with Mrs. Whitman, Julie Cerqua, and
him to discuss their annual financial report for FY0607, and that the library
has “passed with flying colors.” He
noted that the final report and management letter would be distributed to
trustees for review at the November board meeting.
Mr.
Kern noted that several maintenance projects would occur in the coming weeks,
including a dusting/vacuuming of the library’s upper out-of-reach areas and
comprehensive carpet cleaning throughout the building.
Incident
reports were discussed. There was some
discussion of spillover parking during occasional large events at the high
school and during the Homecoming Parade.
Mr.
Kern reported that, at the school’s request, there is now no exiting from the
library parking lot onto the high school’s entrance drive, and that cars parked
at the library must exit directly onto
Mr.
Kern presented a Trustee Training session about the library’s new disaster
plan, noting that board approval of the plan was a requirement of the FY0708
Per Capita Grant for Public Libraries.
Mrs. Miller made a motion seconded by Mr. Jonak that the
Disaster Plan be approved as presented. Roll call vote
YES: Johnson,
Jonak, Miller, Stevig, Whitman
NO:
none
ABSTAIN: none
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Kosty
Mr.
Kern noted that a checklist of new procedures for training new library trustees
had been completed and is currently in effect, along with the library’s
in-house website, which comprises a large portion of the training process.
Mr.
Stevig proposed that an ad hoc committee be appointed to review library usage
and report back to the board with respect to recent library usage trends.
After
some discussion, Dr. Johnson, as acting President, appointed Mr. Stevig and Mr.
Jonak to an ad hoc Library Usage Committee.
Mr.
Stevig suggested that procedures be reviewed with respect to ensuring that
sufficient information and price alternatives are heard before approving
substantial expenditures. After some
discussion, it was determined that approval of such expenditures can already generally
be postponed until a later board meeting in order to allow time for further
consideration and gathering of information, but also that the library director
will make every effort to provide adequate notice when such proposal will be on
the agenda – especially if the cost is substantial and the need for board
approval is urgent.
Mr.
Stevig suggested that parliamentary procedures be considered with respect to
how board meetings are conducted. After
some discussion, it was determined that this issue would be discussed in the
future, but that the review of the trustee bylaws, already in process, may
resolve issues related to parliamentary procedures.
Mr. Jonak made a motion,
seconded by Mrs. Miller, that the meeting adjourn. Voice vote.
All in favor Motion carried.
The
meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Approved
____________________
________________________________ ________________________________
President Secretary