HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-14 PLB MINUTESCall To Order/Roll Call
3400 South Elati Street, Englew ood , CO 80110
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Minutes
Englewood Public Library Board
July 14, 1998
The meeting of the Englewood Public Library Board was called to order by Chairperson,
Bervette Williams, at 7: 10 p.m.
PRESENT: M. Giffin, S. O'Leary, S. Smithers, B. Williams, C. Belt , J . Courtwright, R. Ottoson,
and Youth Member, Mike Heberling
REGRETS: M. Dounay, L. Parkinson, and Council Member L. Clapp
ALSO PRESENT: Hank Long , Library Director, and Joan Clayton, Recording Secretary.
Before Roll Call Ms. Williams welcomed the new Board Members, Carol Belt, Judy Courtwright end Robin Ottoson. All those present introduced themselves to the new members.
98-10 Motion: That the minutes of the Library Board meeting of June 9, 1998 be accepted
as written.
Moved by: Sonie Smithers
Seconded by: Margaret Giffin
The motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Clayton gave a brief report for the Friends of the Library. The meeting held at the end of
June at All For The Better Ice Cream store was poorly attended. The next meeting will be
Wed., September 241
h in the George Perrin Room.
There was no report from the Save the Bookmobile Committee.
Ms. O 'Leary and Mr. Heberling reported for the Cultura l Arts Commission. The commission is
seeking new artwork for the Plaza at Little Dry Creek . There are currently 64 proposals for art
at the RTD stop, which will be considered. Ms . Smithers asked about the Cultural Arts
Comm iss ion survey . It was stated that the survey was as a result of Council Member
Haben icht 's concern that art in the C ity Hall could poss ibly become misplaced during the move
to the Foley's building . She suggested that an inventory of all art objects in the city be done .
• onthly Reports
A quest ion arose concerning a graph of items checked out of the library that Mr. Long had
done last year. Could this graph be done again showing which items go out the most? Mr.
Long said he would try and have the graph for next month 's meeting. It was suggested that
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this graph be done on a quarterly basis.
In looking at the Library Board expenditure Report for June , Mr. Long reminded the Board that
in October, the CLA convention will be in Colorado Springs, and that there is money in the
Board 's budget for Board Members to attend conventions. Money is avai lable for registration,
meals and hotel accommodations , if those attending choose to stay overnight. Please let Mr.
Long know by the August meeting if you think you will be attending , as the cut off for early
registrat ion is August 31 , and the hotel reservations should be made by September 15.
Clarification of the term Donor's Fund was asked . Mr. Long stated that these funds are not line
items in the budget but are moneys that are donated to the City. The Library has 4 funds
under the Donor's Fund designation; Bookmobile Donations , Friends of the Library, Lost &
Damaged materials and Donor Fund, (freewill donations to the Library, Memorial gifts and
sales from the Ongoing Book Sale fall into the last category). Ms. Smithers asked if in fact
people promptly pay for their lost and damaged materials . Mr. Long said that for the most part
patrons do pay promptly.
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Mr. Long referred to the information in each Board Member's packet concerning the Request
for Information about Smart cards. To date, 28 companies have been sent packets of
information. Only one company, Diebold, has responded with any hard factual information.
Currently Diebold is working with Hickory Library in North Carolina for cards that control
access to the Internet. The choice is either (a) access or (b) no access. The company is •
working on installing a third cha .ice: (c) filtered access. No one has the ability , as of now to
provide the mult i levels Mr. Long had hoped for when first envisioned in December of 1997.
Mr. Long will continue to talk to Diebold about their cards. A company called , Amazing Control
contacted Mr. Long and is hoping to provide prices for customizing levels of access by August
10 . It was asked that the new Board Members be provided with packets of information that
had been used in the Library Board 's presentation to the City Council on June 15, 1998. Ms .
Clayton will send each new Board Member such a packet. In discussing the Internet problems
and giving new Board Members an overview of the Internet, it was brought up that the issue of
"spamming ", (unsolicited e-mail), is a growing problem. A discussion followed about what is on
the Internet , guidelines for what is on the Internet and the amount of incorrect information on
the Internet.
Ms. Williams noted the flyer in the Board packets for the Rocky Mountain Book Fair to be held
August 7 & 8 at the Merchandise Mart. Members of the Friends of the Library get in to the
Book Fair on Saturday for free. Ms. Williams also noted that the Friends are gathering recipes
for a cookbook and need recipes from the Board Members , staff , volunteers and Friend 's
members. All types of recipes are needed , especially tried and true recipes. A brief discussion
about publishing of cook books followed.
Mr. Long thanked the Board for their sympathy card and donation honoring his father-in-law,
Jacob Houser.
The Library , in conjunct ion with the Colorado Center for the Blind , has submitted a grant for
the training of public and staff on the Sophie equipment. The grant would also provide for
transcribing of some library handouts and instructions into Braille for use by the non-sighted
public . The goal would be to train 200 community members in a year's time. Mr. Long
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.ndicated that the Library should hear about the grant in the fall, possibly September.
A potential Local History grant is also being pursued. Carol Wilbur, of the Reference staff is
working on a grant to digitize the over 2,000 photographs in the local history collection so they
may be more easily accessed by the public.
Work is being done to write a compensation plan for the library staff. Other departments within
the city have implemented compensation plans over the last few years. The Library is now
1/3'd of the way through writing its plan.
Mr. Long mentioned that there are two new staff members; Eric Green, Library page and Linda
DeFord, Library Assistant in Technical Services.
Members' Choice
Mr. Heberling complimented the Board on their donation to the Memorial gift for Mr. Long's
father-in-law. Mr. Heberling has been working with the reading program through the
Englewood Schools at Clayton Elementary. He has worked with the younger students coming
to use the Library and he has enjoyed it.
Ms. Belt said she was just listening and learning .
,s. Clayton mentioned that over 680 children have signed up for this years Summer Reading
Program. Ms. Tatum had set a goal of 700 readers signed up for the program this summer.
The program ends Friday , July 31.
Ms. Giffin said she had a new installment in the continuing saga of her retirement. Recently
the Superintendent of the Sheridan Schools had called and asked her help with the Literacy
Coalition through the schools. This coalition uses a literacy program from New Zealand that
encompasses reading with children, by the children and for the children. The project has
evolved into a full time job for the present time. "Ah, so much for retirement!", said Ms. Giffin.
Ms. Giffin, her husband and 9 year old grandson recently went to Portland, Oregon to visit Ms.
Giffin's daughter and had a wonderful time.
Ms. Ottoson said she was glad to be here. She has returned to work after a month's vacation.
Ms. O'Leary said her high school 20-year reunion is at the end of July. She said she is looking
forward to the reunion but that it has been a big job to chair the event.
Ms. Williams said that things are quiet at her house with her husband gone to Alaska for the
month.
Ms. Courtwright said she had fun with friends at the recent pancake breakfast I garage sale at
.e Malley Center. After the sale she and her friends went shopping and she ended up with a
new dog!
Ms. Smithers said she is now working 3 days a week at Merritt House. It is fun but also lots of
work. Her husband has a new job selling cars. She added that she would like to see all
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present with new GM cars with the Emich logo by the end of the year!
Mr. Heberling asked for the Board 's permission to contact the art teacher at Englewood High
School about display artwork in the Library. Mr. Long suggested that he work with Ms . Tatum
on this project.
Mr. Long said that the Library now has two more chairs from Mary Lynn Baird, art teacher from
Maddox & Clayton schools. As part of a project learning about famous artists the students
used chairs donated by the Library and decorated them in the artist's style. The two most
recent additions are in Picasso's style. Previously the students had done 4 chairs in Van
Gogh's style.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
7/98jc
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