HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board Minutes 12.13.2011 Minutes of the
Laurel Public Library Board of Trustees
(Revised)
December 13, 2011
Attending:
Bruce McCullough (presiding) Dixie Feller
Clair Killebrew Nathan Baillet
Nancy Schmidt
Minutes:
Minutes from November 2011 board meeting were read. Minutes were corrected then approved as corrected.
Correspondence:
None
Circulation Report:
Traffic: up 15.6 %; circulation: all items circulated totaled 3,054, book circulation was down 14.2% ,
media circulation fell 30.1% ; computers: internet use up 55.1 %, children's use up 82 %, wi -fi use up
6 %; patron cards: City patrons make up 74.9% of the total library patrons registered, County patrons
totaled 11.9% & Non - County patrons accounted for 13.2% of our patron totals.
Old Business:
Nancy reported that the Friends of the Library book sale gross amount totaled $2,049.53. The amount
deducted for insurance, electricity, gas, water, and helpers. The final amount of profit should be
available by the next board meeting.
Nathan reported that he would be attending a meeting at Montana State University - Billings concerning
the development of the Foundation. This would be a big meeting in the sense that there would be
election of officers for the Foundation and a plan of action would be discussed at length on how to
proceed with the creation and development of the Laurel Library Foundation. Nathan will report to the
Board next month on the progress of the meeting.
The BTOP team from Helena has proposed that the Laurel Library participate in a more encompassing
e -rate plan by using the e-rate coordinator that BTOP has hired for the Montana State Library. By
participating in this program, Nancy stated that the library would be able to include the cost of our fax
line, library cell phone expense, website hosting for the library, internet costs, and our regular phone
line. Currently the e-rate only includes the regular phone line. The savings would amount to about 50%
of our costs, if approved.
There was a holiday program presented by Bernice Mason from the Yellowstone County Extension
Agency. We had 3 attendees for the presentation. There was an article in the Outlook the week before
the program and an ad the day before the program. Nancy will see about scheduling next year's
program before Thanksgiving to see if attendance will improve.
The Collection Management Policy is not scheduled for updating until late 2012. Nancy stated that she
would work on the updates and present the Policy at a later meeting for review and adoption.
Nancy reported that the MontanaLibrary2Go application has been submitted but there is no word back
on the Reese - Steele Grant from Great Falls Public Library. The "go- live" date for Laurel will be in
March 2012. Montana State Library employees will schedule training for Laurel before that date.
New Business:
Nancy reported that she was called to a meeting with Heidi Jenson, City of Laurel CAO, concerning
future funding for the library. Heidi stated that the City Council members suggested the library be fully
supported by a mill levy. The amount suggested was 29.08 mills which would cost a homeowner of a
$150,000 home an extra $63.31 per year on their taxes. Board members had plenty of questions
concerning a mill levy for the library. After a lengthy discussion, Clair called for a vote on this item.
Bruce motioned that the Board decline the Council's suggestion that we run a mill levy for 29.08 mills
at this time. Nathan seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Nancy suggested that Board members be thinking about the upcoming 2012 -2013 budget for the
library. The budget process for the city has not begun yet but should be forth coming sometime in
February.
Other:
Addressing the Board:
Next regular meeting:
January 10, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy L Sc idt
Secretary
Future Considerations:
Overdue Collections Policy Personnel Evaluation
Technology Plan Update Library Personnel Policy
Library Partnerships