Library Board Meeting

Scottsbluff Public Library

Board

Regular Meeting

January 11, 2006

Minutes

Roll Call

President Karon Harvey called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Present were Karon Harvey, Teresa Clark, Sue Waite, Steve Viessman, Library Director Bev Russell and Judy Oltmanns, representing the library staff. Rita Brown arrived later.

Notice of changes in the agenda. (Additions may not be made to this agenda less than 24 hours before the beginning of the meeting unless added under item 3 of this agenda.)

There were none.

Citizens with business not scheduled on the agenda. (As required by state law, no matter may be considered under this item unless the board determines that the matter requires emergency action.) There were none.
Approve board-meeting minutes of November 9, 2005.

Karon suggested that the names of absentee board members be included in the minutes. The minutes will be corrected to show that Sue Waite was absent for the November meeting. Teresa moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Sue seconded. The minutes were approved.

Petitions, communications, public input: There were none.
Reports and recommendations from the Library Director and/or library staff:

Bev mentioned that the Sunday column in the Star-Herald this Sunday will be on the process of the library building program at this point.

Bev reported that former library employee Carolyn Steffensmeier had died. A card from the library is at the circulation desk if board member’s would like to sign it. Staff members are also making a donation to the Foundation in her name.

Shirley Flack will be having surgery next week.

Library statistical reports: November & December 2005 (see board packets)
Library activities for November & December 2005 – Listed below

November activities

Book Club – November 11 – 16 attended
TAC meeting – November 8- 19 attended
Friends/Volunteers Soup Supper- November 12 – 42 attended
Morning and evening story time – November 3, 10, 17 – 494 attended
Tours – Home-based Headstart – November 3 – 10 attended

Roosevelt Kindergarteners – November 15 – 65 attended

Lake Minatare Kindergarten – November 17 – 15 attended

Kinder-carding visits to schools (Deb) – November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20 – 249 children
Program for Monument Valley BPW (Deb) – "Children’s Books for Christmas" – November 15 - 15 attended
Roosevelt School – Coffee Break – November 16
Guest Reader @ Roosevelt School – Jane Schlager – November 17 – 60 children
Children’s Book Week activities – November 20 - 184 participated
Roosevelt School Thanksgiving Dinner – November 18 – Jane & Bev

December activities:

Morning and Evening story time – Dec. 1, 8, 15 – 263 attended
Tours – Haig Kindergarten – 11 attended
Teen Christmas Party – December 5 – 43 attended
Book club – December 6 – 18 attended
Library Christmas Coffee – December 16 – 19 attended
Kiwanis Aktion Club Movie – December 26 – 12 attended

Library Board Accreditation – Board, Director, & Library all to be renewed in 2006

State accreditation is coming up for the Board, the Library Director and the library in 2006. The Board only needs 2 CE credits to be accredited. It was suggested that members watch the video on the Patriot Act. One hour of CE credit will be given for each member who watches. Bev will ask the Panhandle Library System office for a copy of the video.

Bev reported that she has enough hours to be accredited.

Accreditation for libraries has been changed. There are three levels of accreditation (essential, enhanced, and excellent). The library is at the essential level already. A number of additional competencies would have to be achieved to move to the enhanced and/or excellent levels. Bev will look these over more carefully and continue the discussion at the February meeting. In order to achieve these higher levels, the city would also have to maintain the library’s funding at higher levels. The library would be eligible for additional state aid at higher levels of accreditation, but Bev said she doesn’t know how much money it would mean for the library. Bev will look into this further to determine if the money would make the extra work cost effective.

Bev reported that she had received a letter from the library commission that due to budget reductions the library was in danger of losing state aid for this year. The requirement for state aid is that the city must maintain the library’s budget and not reduce to a lower percentage than the city in general. Finance Director Renae Griffiths is required to certify that this has not happened. This whole issue is still in process. Renae reported that because of insurance adjustments the library’s budget was reduced for the year in question while other city departments had their insurance increased. This was the major reason for the reduction along with a couple of other items. She sent a letter to the commission explaining this. (The year in question is FY’03-’04.) The library currently receives about $2,600 per year in state aid. Bev couldn’t remember the exact amount

Library Policies: Review Confidentiality of Library Records and Gifts, Bequests and Memorials policies for possible revisions.

Bev read through the policies on confidentiality and gifts. Discussion followed. The Board consensus was that no changes were needed in the confidentiality policy.

The gifts’ policy really applies more to the Foundation. Karon suggested the library adopt a permission form for handling gifts that the person donating the gift could read and sign. She will bring a copy of the museum’s form to the next meeting.

Action items: There were none.

8. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.