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Home My WebLink About1995-09-12 PLB MINUTESEnglewood Public Library 3400 S . Elati St ., Englewood, CO 80110 (303)762-2560 Minutes Englewood Public Library Board September 12, 1995 Call To Order/Roll Call The regular meeting of the Englewood Public Library Board was called to order by Chair Marilyn Brenengen at 7:05p.m. PRESENT: M. Brenengen , F. Clayton , Council Member A. Habenicht: (arrived late}, S. Ostema, D. Stirn, A. Leonard, Mary Dounay , M. Giffin ( arrived late }, S. Smithers , and S. Aigbe. REGRETS : S. Williams ALSO PRESENT: Hank Long , Library Director , and Joan Clayton, Recording Secretary . Roll call was taken and a quorum was declared present. Scheduled/Unscheduled Visitors There were no scheduled or unscheduled visitors . Old Business 95 -25 Motion: Thatthe minutes of the August 8, 1995 Library Board Meeting be approved as written . Moved by: Mary Dounay Seconded by : Ame Leonard The Motion passed . Ms. Smithers reported on the upcoming EPL 2000 user survey to be done in the Library the week of September 24. Ms. Smithers did a test survey for 2 hours on Thursday, August 31. This was done to test the survey for ease in filling out for the public. Ms . Smithers felt only one person per time slot would be needed to do the ( survey. She said that she had enjoyed doing the survey and felt that the results would e ' be most interesting. Time was taken for signing up volunteers for the scheduled survey times. Discussion ensued regarding how to do the survey on the Bookmobile, supplies needed, etc . Discussion of the Mission Statement was asked to be deferred by Margaret Giffin . Ms . Giffin had a conflict with the time of the Board meeting and asked that this discussion be put off until she could arrive. 95 -26 Motion: That discussion of the Mission Statement be tabled until Margaret Giffin arrives. Moved by : Ame Leonard Seconded by: Sandi Ostema The Motion passed 6 to 2. The statistical report for the month of August was discussed . Ms . Brenengen stated that the figures for the teen hours for the summer Reading Program was very impressive . Ms. Leonard asked if the volunteer hours included the hours volunteers work on the Bookmobile . They do not at this time. It was decided that beginning the next day volunteers would sign in on sheets on the Bookmobile indicating their volunteer time to be included in the total volunteer hours for the monthly figures. Ms. Dounay brought up the point that with an increase in the business of the Library it is appalling that there would be a staff cut again this year in the budget. A lengthy discussion followed amongst the Board members regarding ways to indicate increased Library usage other than traditional statistics. Conments from all members of the Board addressed registration statistics , checkout of materials, usage of CD ROMs in the Library , database use that is not tracked by statistics , programs in the Library and many other ways that the Library is used by the community. Ms. Dounay stated that the Board owes it to the Library to fight for the needs of the staff and corrmunity to have a full service library. Ways to compile pertinent data for a more accurate count of Library usage were discussed . All present agreed that it is a challenge to raise circulation figures and many different ideas were discussed. Ms. Ostema suggested that the Board write a letter to City Council stating the Board's objection to a staff cut for the Library in the 1996 Budget. The feeling of the Board was that City Council needs to be more aware of what the Library does . This would include not just checking out of · materials . Ms. Dounay mentioned that other Boards and Commissions make recommendations to City Council and she feels that the Library Board needs to make it's presence felt . Much discussion was held about what the letter to City Council should include , as well as the format for the letter. Ms. Fielding Clayton offered to draft the letter for the Board's approval. A timetable was approved with a final draft to be signed by the Board to be given to City Council prior to the Public Hearing of the Budget on Mon., October 9. ( later changed to Mon., October 2) Mr . Long is to present the Library budget to Council at the study session on Monday , September 25 . It was decided that the Board would go to the Public Hearing on the 9th of October. (again this date was changed to October 2 after the Sept. 12 meeting). It was considered by those present that the Chair of the Library Board go before City Council to present the Board's position as reflected in the letter to Council. Motions were made, and amended, which defeated motions not voted upon. The final decision being that Ms. Brenengen would represent the Board at the City Council Public Hearing on the 1996 Budget. 95 -27 Motion: That the discussion of the Mission Statement be tabled until the October Library Board Meeting. Moved by: Sonie Smithers Seconded by: Sunday Aigbe Discussion was allowed in deference to Ms. Giffin who had arrived late due to a previous commitment. Concerns were addressed that the EPL 2000 Corrmittees hard work was being disregarded.Ms. Stirn wanted it on record that she not be included as disregarding their hard work. Mission statements are hard to write with consensus. A total rewriting of the statement prepared by the Team Ms. Stirn considersinappropriate. Input was asked for and then approval. Closure needs to be looked at now. Many ideas were expressed with much emotion on all sides. Mr. Aigbe urged the Board to give all input back to EPL 2000 to revise not override them. Ms. F. Clayton stated that the EPL 2000 Team had been charged to write this Mission Statement so the Board did not have to do it. • A vote was taken on the Motion. 1 Aye, 8 No. / e 95 -28 Motion: That the Mission Statement be discussed atthe November Meeting of the Library Board. Moved by: Sonie Smithers Seconded by: Ame Leonard The Motion passed. It was decided to omit any discussion of the coffee bar. Ms. Ostema gave an update on the Wonder Walk scheduled for Sat., Oct. 14. Pledge envelopes are available on the Bookmobile, and in the schools as well as at the Circulation desk in the Library. Ms. Leonard gave the update on the Holiday Parade scheduled for Sat., November 4. More information will be forthcoming as plans are finalized. Mary Lou Tatl.ITl and Ms. Leonard are working on a concept for the Bookmobile's part in the Parade. Mr. Long reminded the Board of the Library Tour scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19 to University Hills Branch Library . He also mentioned 2 upcoming Teacher Open Houses scheduled for Mon., Sept 25 for elementary school teachers and Monday, October 2 for the middle and high schools. All the Englewood schools, St. Louis School, All Souls School, Alice Terry School and Sheridan Middle School have been invited. Ms. Dounay encouraged all to attend forums for School Board Candidates as well as ( ( the City Council Candidate Forum to be held at the Library Tues., October 24. The school board candidate forums are to be held at various schools on different dates. e . Ms. Leonard handed out copies of the most recent Bookmobile Committee Newsletter. Ms . Giffin wanted all present to know the reason for her late arrival this evening. Ms. Giffin had been asked to present a report to the Sheridan School Board about the Sheridan Summer School which she was in charge of this past SllTVTler. Ms. Stirn mentioned the upcoming programs at the Library regarding the Mail -In ballot , scheduled for Thurs ., October 5 and Wed ., Oct. 11 as well as the City Council Candidate Forum on Tues., Oct. 24. All three programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library, with Ms. Stirn in charge of the arrangements . Ms. F. Clayton asked if there was a question on the survey addressing the desire for coffee in the Library. Mr. Long said that yes there was such a question. Mr. Long thanked the Board for their input and discussion regarding Library usage . Ms. J. Clayton mentioned that she had raffle tickets for sale benfitting the Englewood Education Foundation . Ms. Brenengen mentioned that the next meeting of the Friends of the Library is Wed ., Sept 20 in the Perrin Room of the Library . There being no more business the meeting was adjourned at 9 : 10 p.m. 10/95 jc