Scottsbluff Public Library

Board

Regular Meeting – 8:30 p.m.

August 13, 2008

Minutes

 

  1. Roll Call

    2. In Teresa Clark’s absence Board Member Krisitn Wiebe called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present were Eric Vath, Kristin Wiebe, Carol Holyoke, Library Director Bev Russell, and Jana Kehn who took notes. Absent were Teresa Clark and Sue Waite.

    A notice of the meeting had been published on August 8, 2008, in the Star Herald, a newspaper published and of general circulation in the city. The notice stated the date, hour and place of the meeting, that the meeting would be open to the public. Anyone with a disability desiring reasonable accommodation to attend the council meeting should contact the Library Director’s office. An agenda of the meeting, kept continuously current, was available for public inspection at the office of the Library Director. The Library Board could modify the agenda at the meeting if it is determined that an emergency so required. A similar notice, together with a copy of the agenda, also had been delivered to each Library Board member.

  2. For public information, a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted by the doors on the north side of the library meeting room.

    3. Kristin noted that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted by the meeting room doors.

  3. 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.)

    4. There were no changes to the agenda.

  4. 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.)

    5. There were no citizens not scheduled on the agenda.

  5. Approve Regular Library Board meeting minutes of July 2, 2008.

    6. Carol Holyoke moved the approval of the July 2, 2008 minutes. Eric Vath seconded.

    Yes – Holyoke, Vath, and Wiebe

    No - None

    The minutes were approved.

  6. Correspondence:

    7. A thank you was received from Deb Carlson for the Board’s help with the Summer Reading Program.

  7. Reports and recommendations from the Library Director and/or Library Staff:
    1. Library activities for June and July 2008 (See Board Packet)

      2. Bev presented the activity reports for June and July. Kristin suggested including some of this information in the presentation to City Council.

    2. New Employees at the library.

      3. Two new pages have been hired at the library and will be starting soon. They will replace two pages who are going away to college.

      Katie Hansen will also be starting in August. She will fill a part time Library Technician position.

    3. Report on City Council Budget work session.

Bev reported that the budget work session with Council went well. They approved the library recommendation for cutting 4% from its budget in Fiscal Year 2008-2009. They were pleased that we had not reduced our hours more that was recommended.
  1. Building Fund Capital Campaign
    1. Discussion regarding report and presentation to Scottsbluff City Council at the August 18, 2008 meeting about fundraising and recommendation regarding the Library Building Project.

Kristin discussed the Hodge Cramer Chart of Standards and how well the capital campaign faired, based upon that chart. We did not receive the lead and major gifts that we needed to reach the $2 million plateau, but the campaign did amazingly well in the broad base of support it received.

Bev presented a summary of the amount of money raised and pledged. We have received more in grant money than was expected, according to the Hodge Cramer projections.

It is important to hire an architect now and design the building in order to apply for the "green building" grants. We don’t want to delay any further. It is the city’s project now and we are asking for their ownership and approval to move forward.

Kristin mentioned that it is important to look at the Foundation’s structure and makeup soon. We should visit with John Massey about this. The number of Board members and the makeup of the Board is an important consideration. The Foundation really needs to become the source for an annual fundraising effort. We may want to discuss this at the next Board meeting. If possible, we may want to pay a visit to John to discuss this in more detail.
  1. Action Items:
    1. Approval of recommendation to Scottsbluff City Council about the Library Building Project.

Eric V. moved that the Library Board recommend the hiring of an architect for the Library Project and to continue to move forward with the expansion and remodel of the Scottsbluff Public Library.

Carol seconded.

Discussion: It is necessary to approach those who have yet to be asked. We should discuss at the September meeting the next step for the final fundraising push.

Eric suggested putting flyers in NPPD and Source Gas bills.

Kristin suggested ads highlighting the library in the newspaper. Sue had a clipping of such and ad from the Fargo, ND paper.

Bev suggested that we put Sue in charge of this idea.

There was not further discussion.

Those in favor of the motion: Yes – Vath, Wiebe and Holyoke

Those opposed: None

The motion carried.

 

  1. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m. Next meeting – September 10, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.