1. Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Karon Harvey 5:05 p.m. Present: Karon Harvey, Steve Viessman, Marj Mandujano, Rita Brown, Teresa Clark, Library Director Bev Russell, and Judy Oltmanns, representing the library staff. City Manager Rick Kuckkahn arrived later.

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.)

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.) There were none.
4. Approve board meeting minutes of July 13, 2005. Marj moved the approval of the July 13^th minutes. Rita seconded. The minutes were approved.
5. Petitions, communications, public input: A letter was received from Nancy Escamilla and Deb Carlson thanking the board for their support during summer reading program.
6. Reports and recommendations from the Library Director and/or library staff:

1. City Manager’s report on decision, regarding the city’s financial commitment to the library building project.

City Manager Rick Kuckkahn reported that the City Council has decided to make $1.5 million from the Debt Service fund available to the library expansion project in 2007. This will not be official until October 1, 2005. The City Council may be willing to add to that amount, if necessary, when the capital campaign is nearly complete.

Teresa stated that it is important not to alienate the City Council at this point, and Fiona Libsack had summarized the Council’s feelings much the same way as Rick.

Karon asked if the plan was to refurbish City Hall now.

Rick replied that it (City Halll) is not yet set, and they may not need all of the $1.5 million for city hall.

Marj wondered why the City Council had refused to grant the Library Foundation’s Keno request for the feasibility study on fundraising.

Rick said that they preferred one time building projects or start up moneys.

Karon said she had several concerns:

The bond issue for the jail was approved with overwhelming support. When the board visited with Rick last year, he said the library project came before City Hall, and now City Hall is going to be addressed first. What will taxpayers say?

Bev mentioned in a phone conversation with Fiona (Fiona asked her to call.) that the Council had been discussing City Hall since 2000 and the library since 2003. The library is more expensive, and the Council wants something done about City Hall soon.

Karon’s second concern:

City Hall doesn’t sound like a major project. If we can’t raise $6 million, what other solutions to we have? A half cent sales tax?

Rick said that a increase in that sales tax was not an option. The city is at the limit in what it can request for sales taxes. He mentioned that City Hall had been scaled back from a $6 or $8 million project to just a remodel. The Fire Dept. has MFO (Mutual Fire Organization) moneys available to pay for part of the City Hall/Fire Dept. project (about $650,00) along with $1.5 million in Debt Service.

Steve was concerned that the Library Foundation was carrying the weight of the load. getting the library project moving. We (the Foundation) will be broke if we have to keep using only Foundation funds with no support from the city i.e. Keno grant or other moneys. He feels we need a good faith commitment from the City Council. Granting our Keno request would be that good faith commitment.

Karon said a third concern she had is that she felt misled when Rick mentioned to the architectural team that the city would put $2 million toward the library project.

Rick said that the point to tell citizens as we raise funds is that the Council has made a firm commitment of $1.5 million with possibly more at a later time. The key is to have only one contact person with the mayor and with Rick to keep continuity. He suggested that someone contact the mayor and visit with him about the Keno request. He said it is important to open the lines of communication right away.

Bev suggested that someone from the Board be that contact person. She did not think it was appropriate for her to do it as a Dept. Head.

Steve suggested that the Board President should be that person.

Karon said she would contact Dave and visit with him about the issues, discussed at this meeting.

The board thanked Rick for his participation in the meeting.

2. Library statistical reports: July 2005 (see board packets)
3. Library activities for July 2005 (See attached)

• Book club picnic and book discussion – July 5 – 19 attended
• Teen movie night – July 6 – 26 attended
• Migrant Workers tour and library intro. – 35 attended
• YMCA Teen Party – 35 attended
• Films, Fanfare & Fun – July 7, 14, 21 – 302 attended
• Coloring Contest Participants – 252
• July 9 – Royal Slash Pool Bash – 283 attended
• Jolly Jesters Costume Contest- July 12 – 303 participated
• Excalibur Club Meeting – July 20 – 27 attended
• Five Rocks Movie Night – July 21 – 267 attended
• Bob Aiken Puppet Show @ Midwest – July 22 - 373 attended
• YMCA Lockin – July 30 – 34 attended
• July 14 – State Advisory Council on Libraries toured the library – 24 people
• Panhandle Library System Annual Meeting – Bev, Deb, and Nancy attended

1. Report on Teen and Juvenile Summer Reading Programs.

Bev provided the final registration figures on the Teen and Juvenile reading programs. (juvenile–1361 and teen–196) Steve suggested the Midwest Theatre for the Battle of the Bands next year. Bev said that they are talking with Gering about a combined Twin City’s Libraries Battle of the Bands at Five Rocks. The Gering Library can use Five Rocks for free.

2. Report on the Philanthropic Giving Study to be conducted for the Library Foundation in August and September.

Kristin Wiebe, Teresa Clark, Deb Carlson, and Bev have been working as a small committee to organize the Feasibility Study for August and September. They are developing a "Case for Support" for the Scottsbluff Public Library. The committee has been meeting with Mike Schmidt via telephone. He was helpful in organizing the case statement. The week of September 19, 2005, has been selected for conducting the interviews. Mike will be in Scottsbluff all that week. The committee thought a small introductory get-together at Teresa’s might be a good idea. We are going to check with Mike to get his thoughts and go from there.

3. Review of Library Board Policy Manual.

1. Actions items: There were none.

8. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.