Scottsbluff Public Library

Board

Special Meeting

April 6, 2005

Minutes

 

  1. Roll Call

    2. President Clark Nichols called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. Present were Clark Nichols, Marj Mandujano, Steve Viessman, Rita Brown, Bev Russell, and guest Nancy Escamilla. Karon Harvey was absent.

  2. 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.)

    3. There were none.

  3. 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.)

    4. There were none.

  4. Approve regular board meeting minutes of January 12, 2005. Marj moved the approval of the January 12, 2005, minutes. Steve seconded. The minutes were approved.
  5. Petitions, communications, public input: There were none.
  6. Reports and recommendations from the Library Director and/or library staff:
    1. Review of meeting with architects on Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Bev shared a request to the "Architectural Committee" from Jeanne Knudsen, regarding space and equipment in the Heritage Room. Board members thought that consideration should be given to the overall usage of this area, compared to the rest of the library, and this should be kept in perspective. Questions were raised by several board members about who would pay for the specific equipment requested as well as the continuing upkeep of that equipment. Rita shared genealogy comments from the public meeting on March 29th. Board members stressed that this design is very preliminary, and it is too early to respond to specific requests from a group. Bev was instructed to relay this to the architects.

Clark reported on his meeting with Supt. of Schools Gary Reynolds and the school’s situation, regarding the Middle School. He stated that the chief objections he has heard to a combined Middle School/Public Library were the following:
    1. People don’t want to come to the library with teens.
    2. People love this location.

Clark said that we should not write off this option until we find out how much money they are willing to contribute. Marj said that the school system is unstable at this point and has lost the confidence of the community. A school bond issue would not pass so her response to a partnership with the school is no. Steve commented that the end of May as a goal for having an answer to the Middle School situation is not etched in stone. He is leery of joining hands with a rocky partner. At this point a bond issue has no chance of passing. Clark & Steve felt that the City Council should let the school know if they don’t want to partner with them.
    1. Fundraising: Discussion with professional fundraising firms of Jorgensen Consulting and Hodge Crammer Associates

Clark thought that RFPs should be sent to fundraisers as we did for architects. Marj wondered if there was a board consensus to hire a fundraising firm. Steve said that we should be aware of other groups in the city who were doing fundraising. Clark said that in his experience a feasibility study of the community would be done to find possible donors before any actual funds were requested. He thought we could wait until after the May meeting to discuss this further.
  1. Action items: There were none.

8. Adjournment The next regularly scheduled meeting is April 13, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.