HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board Minutes 11.15.2011 Minutes of the
Laurel Public Library Board of Trustees
November 15, 2011
Attending:
Bruce McCullough (presiding) Dixie Feller
Clair Killebrew Alan Klebe
Nancy Schmidt
Others present:
Bob Engel Darlene Enriquez
Minutes:
Minutes from October 2011 board meeting were read. Dixie motioned that the minutes be approved as read,
Clair seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Correspondence:
None
Circulation Report:
Traffic: up 11 %; circulation: all items circulated totaled 3,413, book circulation was 85.5%
(down8.5 %), media circulation represented 14.5% (down 31 %); computers: internet use up 35.5 %,
children's use up 63 %, wi -fi use up 37.1 %; patron cards: City patrons make up 76.4% of the total
library patrons registered, County patrons totaled 12.3% & Non - County patrons accounted for 11.3%
of our patron totals.
Old Business:
The Friends of the Library Book Sale was held November 8 -12, 2011 in the old Western Drug Building. Karin
Lance stated that we had over $1500 in sales by Thursday but the final amount had not been tallied by the date
of the Library Board meeting. Nancy reported that the scheduling of this sale upset a "few people" mostly
because they were not the ones to make the decision about when and where it was to be held. Bruce stated that
he received a call from Karin stating that "she was not aware we were moving the sale to the old Western Drug
building ". Nancy replied that this was not true because she had talked everything over with Karin the day Karin
came in to water plants. She went on to comment that Karin not only was aware that the sale was being moved
but when it was being held AND that Dixie had been asked to make arrangements for the use of the building
since Nancy was going to be out of town at a meeting in Helena October 23 -26 and would be taking the next
week off after she returned. Dixie confirmed this information and stated that she would not have taken any
action concerning the book sale if she had not been asked to do so. Nancy went on to state that she is very aware
that this sale "upset some people" but that she made the decision to schedule and hold the sale because the shed
was full of books, the back room was filling us with donated books, and more books were coming in almost
every day. The library was receiving phone calls and emails from patrons asking them when the book sale was
going to be held but did not have an answer for anyone. She also stated that since no one was making a decision
regarding the book sale, she felt obligated to make the decision and follow through with it regardless of who is
upset. Nancy also stated that she moved the sale off -site because she realized that we did not have room at the
library for all of the books in storage. She felt that the book sale was a huge success mostly because they were
able to bring out ALL books that had been in storage for over two years. Karin had also stated that she felt the
books were not owned by Friends group but Nancy made sure she understood that all books that come into the
library are first reviewed by library staff as potential additions to our library, second changed out with any books
the library already owns that may need replacement, and third passed on to the Friends only AFTER they have
been deemed not needed by the library. Nancy stated that she felt the book sale was a huge success even with all
the issues surrounding it and said that she would schedule another sale the same way if she finds it necessary.
Nathan was unable to attend the meeting but he did pass along some information concerning his efforts to start a
library foundation. A club called SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) will take on the Library Foundation as their
project in their collegiate competition. These students will forgo finals in exchange for their participation, which
will include about 15 students. There should be an action plan in place by mid- December. Nathan will report on
their progress at the next meeting.
Nancy attended training for JAWS and MAGic software provided by the BTOP program. She reported on the
training and the software that has been provided for our patrons. This software allows low vision and no- vision
patrons to use the computers without assistance. A feature of the software is voice - integrated speech to help a
patron access computer programs and the intemet independently. Nancy reported that we only have a few
patrons that need this type of assistance but it will be invaluable for those that need it.
Nancy passed out copies of the new Patron Conduct Rules and Computer Usage Guidelines to all Board
members. A copy of these policies will be available for staff to review at the circulation desk and a copy will be
placed on the bulletin board for patrons to review. Staff can make a copy of the policies for any patrons that
request them.
New Business:
Nancy will work on the Collection Management Policy this month and provide updated copies to Board
members at the next meeting.
The annual Holiday Program will be presented by Bernice Mason from Yellowstone Couanty Extension Agency
on December 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Display ads will be placed in the Laurel Outlook.
Other:
Addressing the Board:
Next regular meeting:
December 13, 2011
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy L Schmidt
Secretary
Future Considerations:
Overdue Collections Policy Personnel Evaluation
Technology Plan Update Library Personnel Policy
Library Partnerships