HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Board Minutes 06.10.2014 Minutes of the
Laurel Public Library Board of Trustees
June 10, 2014
Attendin�
Alan Klebe Dixie Feller
Bruce McCullough Nancy Schmidt
Minutes
Minutes for April&May 2014 were read and approved.
Correspondence
None
Circulation Report
Traffic: up 9%; circulation: all items circulated totaled 2,511 (including 212 eBooks),book circulation
was down 4%, media circulation was down 27%, eBook checkouts for this month was 9%of total book
circulation; com�uters: internet use was up 12%, children's use was down 38%, wi-fi use down 48%;
patron cards: city residents make up%of registered users, county patrons total % and nonresident
patrons account for%. There were 44 recorded technology assists for May.
Old Business
Clair Killebrew has stated that she is willing to become a member of the Laurel Public Library Board of
Trustees. Since no one else has stepped forward to fill the vacancy it was unanimously approved that she
be brought back to the Board since she left over a year ago. Nancy will contact her about a letter of
interest.
The book sale totals came to $1,157.20. The Foundation will add those funds to its account for future
expenditures at the library. There are plans to start another Friends of the Library group in October. The
next book sale is tentatively set for mid-October.
Mike Furman, Patti McGahan, and Nancy attended workshops at the annual Montana Library
Association conference in Billings in April. They each submitted a report on the workshops they
attended and the benefit they received from their attendance. It was very informational for a11 of them
and gave them each something to bring back to the patrons. The only complaint was that the Wi-Fi
couldn't handle the amount of bandwidth needed for full trainings.
New Business
Nancy presented the idea that the Laurel Library join the Partners Group and the Courier System. There
was some discussion about the benefits to our patrons versus the possibility that our patrons could lose
out on some benefits of our new purchases.Nancy stated that she would talk to other librarians that are
part of the Partners Group& Courier System at the fall workshops in Helena in September. She would
reschedule the discussion for October.
Some libraries across the state are getting rid of their card fees and book fines.Nancy wanted the
opinion of the Board members concerning doing the same thing. After some discussion it was decided
that book fines were important enough to continue so that there would be some incentive to return items
on time. The card fees would continue but library staff could decide on a case-by-case basis if it is
necessary for a patron to pay the fees. (i.e.The issue is when a family comes to Laurel for books instead
of wanting to go to Joliet or Columbus when they spend more time in Laurel.)
A curiosity question arose concerning the occupancy load for the library on days that we have well
attended activities.Nancy requested a report from Keith Kohlsta.dt. His findings were that the main part
of the library could hold 67 people and the community room 69. These figures are good to know if asked
at a later date but very seldom does the library exceed 50 people at one time.
It is time for the submission of the Public Library Standards. These Standards are required as part of the
funding the library receives from the State of Montana.Nancy went over each requirement with the ,
Board and will submit the final version online. ',
Since the 4th of July holiday fa11s on a regular day off the library staff requested that they have the �
Saturday following the 4�'off as their holiday.Nancy stated that this would be easiest solution for her
concerning scheduling since she and Patti are both planning on bemg away on vacation that week. It was �
decided that the library probably wouldn't be as busy as usual with so many people away for the i
weekend so the staff could have a three day weekend. �
Nancy stated that she would be on vacation June 26�`—July 6�'for a family wedding in Minnesota. She
would be available over the weekend of July 4�'if the library needed attention.
Other
Patrons have complained that other patrons are leaving their emails open on the public computers. It was
suggested that a notice be put on the computers stating that everyone MUST sign out of their email
before leaving the computer.Nancy will have Patti work on this issue.
Nancy has been receiving complaints about the lack of cleanliness in the bathrooms. One patron stated
that she would rather go home than use the restrooms at the library. Staff members have also complained
that the only time anything looks like it's been cleaned is when Thomas Russell comes in to voluntarily
clean our restrooms. The question was asked whether the library could hire its own cleaning person.
Nancy stated that she would ask Heidi or Shirley about that suggestion.
Addressin�the Board
None
Nezt re�ular meeting
July 8, 2014
Dixie motioned the meeting be adjourned, Alan seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
I � �
Nancy L. Schmidt