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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-14 PLB MINUTESjl!j!: Pli~ :!1;11 i;:i1! i:li,: 1111; llil·i jl,1 :1 '''" Eng 1 e wood Pub 1 i c Li bra r y llil!! 3400 S . Elati St., Englewood, CO 80110 (303)762-2560 iii!;: __,.-------~!;•I:· Minutes Englewood Public Library Board November 14 , 1995 Call To Order/Roll Call The regular meeting of the Englewood Public Library Board was called to order by Vice -Chair Mary Dounay at 7:02 p .m. PRESENT : M. Dounay , Council Member A. Habenicht , A. Leonard , S. Ostema , M. Giffin , S. Smithers , S. Williams ,(left early) and F. Clayton. REGRETS : M. Brenengen and S. Aigbe ALSO PRESENT: Hank Long, Library Director, and Joan Clayton, Recording Secretary. Roll call was taken and a quorum was declared present. It was noted that Board Member Debby Stirn had resigned since the last Board Meeting , effective immediately . Scheduled/Unscheduled Visitors Council Member, Al Vormitag arrived at 8:30 as an unscheduled visitor. Old Business 95 -30 Motion: That the Minutes of the Library Board Meeting of October 10 , 1995 be approved as written. Moved by: Ame Leonard Seconded by: Sonie Smithers The Motion passed. Ms. Dounay and Ms. Smithers both gave reports for the EPL 2000 Planning Team. Ms. Smithers handed out invitations to those present inviting them to a meeting on e · Tuesday, November 28 in conjunction with staff and the EPL 2000 Planning Team. The purpose of the meeting is to work on and write a Mission Statement for Englewood Public Library. Pizza will be served at 5:30 with the meeting beginning at 6 p.m. and finishing at 8 p.m. Please let Joan Clayton know by Monday noon, November 27 if you will be attending. The Board discussed the upcoming meeting and the desire for input from those Board Members who are unable to attend Planning sessions during the workday. The EPL 2000 Committee plans to finalize the 1996 -2000 Mission Statement at this meeting. The next meeting of the EPL 2000 Committee is Monday, November 27 from 1 - 4 p.m. At that time reports on focus groups which have been conducted in the schools and others will be given. Ms. Smithers indicated she would be willing to do a focus group for adults in someone's home. Ms. Giffin indicated some interest in this. Ms. Williams said she would be willing to participate in a focus group at Englewood High School. Ms. Leonard and Ms. Dounay reported on the Save the Bookmobile Committee. A profit was realized from the Wonder Walk held on Saturday, October 14. As a gesture of goodwill the Save the Bookmobile Committee will pay the Bookmobile driver at 25 hours per week until December 31. The City will be paying the drivers salary at 25 hours /week beginning January 1, 1996. Ms. Dounay indicated that the Englewood Holiday Parade was a success. Ms. Ostema and her dog walked the parade route with the Bookmobile. Ms. Ostema had knitted a sweater for her dog saying "I love the Bookmobile". Ms. Leonard and Mary Lou Tatum, from the Library staff, will be working on a plan to involve more staff and Board Members in next year's Holiday Parade. Ms. Smithers reported on the Friends of the Library Committee. The last meeting for 1995 was held at All For The Better Ice Cream store October 25th. The next meeting will be in January 1996, at the Library, date and time to be announced. Ms. Smithers is putting together a newsletter for the Friends. She is hoping to have it out in the community by January 1, 1996. Information from the Save the Bookmobile Committee, staff and Library news needs to be to Ms. Smithers by December 15. It is hoped to distribute the newsletter to all City Boards and Commissions, City Council, Englewood School Board, all Friends Members as well as the general public. Ms. Leonard and Ms. Smithers will be attending a workshop in late November about how to produce eye -catching newsletters. Money for the workshop will come from Library Board funds that were not used to send members to CLA this year. Ms. Giffin said in the future she would be interested in any workshops dealing with the Internet if they are available. Ms . Dounay thanked Council Member Habenicht for her comments about the Friends of the Library that appeared in an article in the Chamber of Commerce newsletter. Publicity in this vein is beneficial for the Library. Ms. Dounay went on to say that the Save the Bookmobile Committee wished to contact the Friends of the Library so together the two groups could join forces for the good of the Library. Discussion followed revolving around the benefits of combining the energies of the two groups. Ms. Fielding Clayton mentioned that she and former Board Member, Debby Stirn had planned a Bake Sale in December for the Friends of the Library to raise money for the Friends Group. The conference rooms in the Library have been booked for Sat. & Sun., December 2 & 3. Ms. F. Clayton said more bakers are needed and asked for Board Members who could do so to sign up to bake. Ms. Smithers offered to do publicity for the Bake Sale. Others mentioned that the following weekend, December 9 & 10 might be better, giving all more time. Mr. Long said he would take care of asking staff if they would like to participate. Discussion of the statistics for the month of October for the Library followed. Ms. Leonard asked what 4 programs were done in the month of October away from the Library. Mr. Long said he would find out, not having the information available atthe meeting . A question was asked about the large number of materials withdrawn from the collection. Mr. Long said this was part of a regular weeding process that takes place as part of collection development. Ms. F. Clayton asked where does the status of coffee in the Library go from here? The User survey results showed positive interest in having coffee available in the Library. The coffee company, Espresso Oh from the Boulder Library had been contacted but they are not able to expand right now . The feeling of those present was that a special area for beverages would need to be created prior to installing a coffee program. Self - serve does not seem to be a good option. Ms. Habenicht suggested mentioning that the Library is considering having a coffee cart concessionaire in the next Chamber of Commerce newsletter. This could possibly generate some interest in the business community . New Business Ms. F. Clayton brought up the possible idea of having book discussion groups meet in the Library . Various formats of book discussion groups were related. A quick survey of those present was taken to find out who would have an interest in such a group. All indicated interest in some form of discussion group, either books or issues relating to books , ie. banned books, violence in the media , etc. It was suggested that the sponsoring of these discussion groups be shared by both the Friends Group and the Save the Bookmobile Committee. The consensus was this would be a "natural " project for these groups . Ms. Fielding Clayton said that she would take on the responsibility for setting up a book discussion group , with January as a target date for the first meeting. Ms. Smithers said she would do the publicity. Mr Long offered to do any flyers needed. Mr. Long indicated that at a recent APAL meeting of Library Directors the idea of a joint meeting of the 4 Library Boards was brought up. It was suggested that part of the meeting be social and the rest be a program of interest. Mr. Long will contact the other directors from the Arapahoe Library Disbict, Bemis Library, and the Douglas County Library Disbict for dates in January or February. Mr . Long asked for feedback from the information included in the Board's packet pertaining to Family Friendly Libraries. This is a very touchy subject area. Appreciation was expressed for Council Member Habenicht asking potential Board e . Members how they feel about censorship. It is felt that Englewood Library like all public libraries practices "selection" , based on available budget money, rather than censorship. Choices are made as to what is put in to balance the Library's collection NOT what can or cannot be published. Discussion abounded. Ms. Ostema brought up an idea she had from the success of the City Council Canidate Forum. Her feeling is that they Library should provide forums for ideas for the community. This would include information from the city for citizens to make informed choices . The format could be similar to a Town Meeting. The idea would be to have non-political sponsorship. Mr. Long indicated before forming a sub committee of the Library Board he would see if the City Manager's office had any interest in sponsoring these forums. Council Member Al Vormitag arrived and was welcomed. He had nothing specific to bring up to the Board. Ms. Dounay had asked Mr. Long for the 1996 dates of Children's Book Week and National Library Week with the idea in mind of having a recognition dinner for the staff during one of those two weeks. All present indicated support for the idea of having a staff recognition dinner. 95 -31 Motion: That the Library Board sponsor a recognition dinner for the staff of the Englewood Public Library during National Library Week, April 14 -20, 1996. Moved by: Ame Leonard Seconded by: Margaret Giffin The Motion passed. Ms. Giffin indicated that she would be willing to chair the staff recognition dinner. A committee will be formed in February, after new Board Members are seated on the Board. It was further suggested that the Library Board and staff put together a recognition event for the volunteers who have worked in the Library and on the Bookmobile. More will be discussed about this idea. Members Choice Ms. Habenicht said that the City Manager had approached the City Council about the value of having City Council Members on the city's various Boards and Commissions. There has been discussion that theses entities are made up of citizens, appointed by City Council and that they should consist of only citizens. City Council Members could then "visit". Discussion followed with Council Member Vormitag participating. Ms. Habenicht indicated that Council Members are asking for input at this time. Mr. Vormitag said there is consideration of a possible rotation of Council Members on each Board and Commission. Both Ms. Habenicht and Mr. V~~.~ were ~~ed h9f many Boards or Corrvnissions they each sit on. Mr. Vormitag said he is on 4 or 5. Ms. Habenicht is on 4 presently . The Library Board Members present indicated that they felt it was valuable to have a Council person present at their meetings. Ms. F. Clayton related that she had spent vacation time in London the previous month . She shared pictures she had taken of story book characters parading during Library Week. Ms. Clayton asked about the possibility of Englewood Library joining the Arapahoe Library District. Her question arose from the recent mil levy vote in the Arapahoe District to raise funds for the Libraries in the district . Ms. Giffin had some suggestions for Council Members Habenicht and Vormitag regarding the rotating of City Council Members to the various Boards and Commissions . She strongly felt that a Council person needs to be present at the Library Board meetings. Ms . Dounay offered her congratulations and those of the Board to Ms. Habenicht on her recent re election to City Council. Summary of Decisions That Fielding Clayton will pursue setting up a book discussion group in January. Ms.Smithers and Mr.Long will help with flyers and publicity . That the Board will have a joint meeting with APAL Library Boards in January or February , to be determined by Mr.Long and other APAL directors. That Ms. Giffin will be in charge of a staff recognition dinner to be held during National Library Week , April 14-10 , 1996 . There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9 p.m. 11/95 jc