Scottsbluff Public Library

Board Meeting

May 12, 2004

Minutes
  1. Roll Call

    2. Present: Clark Nichols, Karon Harvey, Steve Viessman and Library Director Bev Russell. Absent: Rita Brown and Marj Mandujano

  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 April 14, 2004.

    5. Karon Harvey moved that the minutes of the April 14, 2004 meeting be approved. Steve Viessman seconded. The minutes were approved.

  5. Petitions, communications, public input:

    6. There were none.

  6. Reports and recommendations from the Library Director and/or library staff:
    1. Statistical reports: April 2004. (board packets)

      2. Bev reported that there were some formatting problems with the statistical report and the report was not ready for this meeting. She will have it for the June meeting.

    2. Library activities for April 2004.

      3. Bev reported on the following library activities in the month of May. She noted that the teen program "Rock Round the World" attracted 67 teenagers, which is an outstanding number of teens to have attend a program at the library.

      Bev and Nancy are on the committee, which is planning the pre-conference this fall before the NLA Fall Conference. The Scottsbluff Public Library is one of the sponsoring libraries along with the Omaha Public Library. The theme of the pre-conference is "Services to the Hispanic Population". Since Bev became director, she has tried to increase our offerings to the Hispanic population of Scottsbluff, and this program fits in nicely with that effort.

      Morning and Evening Story Times

      Teachers from Afghanistan on April 22

      Five SHS Speech classes

      Kiwanis/Headstart program

      Banner County 1st graders

      Literary Book Club

      TAC "Rock Round the World

      National Library Week Reception

      Family First Conference

      Marketing Workshop (Pat Wagner)

      NLA Pre-conference Committee – (Bev & Nancy)

    3. Report on library budget reduction for FY03-04, including discussion of Summer Library Hours.

      4. Bev reported that she is proceeding with the budget reduction plan as instructed by the City Manager. The budget for books, magazines, and audio books will be reduced for the adult library and juvenile library. Money budgeted for the Adult Reading Program will also be reduced.

      The board discussed the issue of summer hours for the library. City Manager Rick Kuckkahn approved the idea of reducing the hours the library is open this summer in as a budget cutting measure.

    4. Library property insurance coverage change.

      5. The city’s insurance carrier recently did an appraisal of all city facilities. The library’s assessed value was reduced and there will be a reduction of the premium the library pays as a result.

    5. Library Closed May 17, 2004, for Spring Meetings

      6. Notice as gone out to the media that the library will be closed on May 17 for Spring Meetings in Alliance.

    6. Discussion regarding market research and strategic planning:

Bev explained that a committee of staff members has been organized to discuss the building project campaign. She handed out a list of names that staff hadbrainstormed for the Blue Ribbon or Focus Group committees.

Board members brainstormed more names for the Blue Ribbon committee of 25. Bev will look at the complete list and discuss it with staff. The Board will select their choices for the Blue Ribbon names at the June meeting.
  1. Actions items:
    1. Library Budget Reduction – Summer Library Hours

Karon Harvey moved that the library maintain the following hours from June 1 through August 24 this summer:

Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Closed Sunday

Seconded by Steve Viessman.

Motion Carried.

The Board asked that library staff note any complaints and from who. At the end of the summer this experiment will be evaluated for the coming year.
  1. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.