Scottsbluff Public Library
Board
Regular Meeting
October 11, 2006
Minutes
Acting Chair Teresa Clark called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. The following members were present: Teresa Clark, Kristin Wiebe, and Sue Waite. Also present were Library Director Bev Russell, staff member Jana Kehn, who took notes, and Library Foundation Board President John Massey. Steve Viessman arrived at 5:30 and Rita Brown arrived at 5:40.
Teresa announced that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted in the back of the meeting room.
Sue Waite moved the approval of the September 13, 2006 minutes. Kristin seconded. The minutes were approved.
Bev noted that the number of visits to the library was up in FY ‘05-’06 over the previous year. She mentioned growth in circulation for fiction, paperbacks, audio books, videos, magazines and Inter-library loan materials. Nonfiction statistics continue to dip as people use computer databases and the Internet for many of their research needs.
Bev mentioned the promotional and fundraising events during September. The Runza promotion raised $625.00 for the purchase of children’s books. The Birthday Bash was a big success with over 500 in attendance. $2,500 was raised for the library building project. Bev has also been doing a number of presentations outside the library to educate the public about the library building project. People have been interested in the project and appreciate being informed about how it is progressing.
Bev reported that Alan Nash contacted her about the possibility of creating t-shirts, using his cartoon work, to promote the library and raise funds for the building project. She wanted the Board to be aware of the fact that people were wanting to help and was wondering how to keep people enthused and encourage them while also asking them to wait until the capital campaign begins.
John Massey suggested it would be important to centralize control of fundraising efforts under the auspices of the Campaign Board with perhaps a committee devoted to fundraising projects. He agreed that we don’t want to lose the enthusiasm but need to have these ideas coordinated and planned in conjunction with the overall campaign. We need to keep in contact with these people and let them know we value their ideas.
A couple of suggestions were made as to how to do this.
Bev will discuss this with staff and devise a plan.
Bev reported that the City Manager has asked the Library Board to ensure that the Library’s holiday policies be in compliance with city personnel policies. During discussion John Massey pointed out that the City Personnel Manual referred to paid leave for holidays while the Library Board policy referred to library operations and has nothing to do with paid leave time. Library employees are not paid for any Sunday when the library is closed. Since the City Personnel Manual deals with employee compensation and the Library Board Policy deals with the operation of the library i.e. the hours it is open, these are really two different issues. Discussion followed.
The Library Board directed Bev to discuss this further with the City Manager. Since the Library Board is directed by law to, "…advise the City Manager in regard to the operation, maintenance and development of the Public Library," they recommend that the library close the Sunday before a legal Monday holiday. They also recommend the library closes on Sunday when Christmas or New Years Day fall on a Saturday or Monday. The library will remain open on Saturday and Sunday for Veteran’s Day. The library will also remain open on the Saturday and Sunday, following the Thanksgiving holiday.
John thanked the Library Board for allowing him to address the Board. He said he would like to attend all Library Board meetings for the next few months as the Capital Campaign progresses to keep information flowing. He discussed the upcoming receptions, which Foundation Board members will be hosting in their homes. These will be informational only and not to ask for volunteers or donations. He hopes they will be completed by Thanksgiving. He asked Board members to do the presentations for them. He said the presentations would be more compelling, coming from the Library Board who are citizens serving their community as volunteers. Library staff will be available for more detail oriented questions. The Library Board will need to develop a program that will convey a consistent message. The message should be positive, enthusiastic and upbeat. It should celebrate the City’s contribution to the library building project—no negativity. The focus will be on the Phase One plan and not Phase Two. Phase Two is for another time and a different campaign. The emphasis of Phase One is on expanding the children and teen areas of the library. This will be the big selling point. He restated the need to keep consistency in fundraising and not have all sorts of activities happening out of our control.
The Board then discussed the power point presentation and the promotional video for the Library Project. Bev said that both would need to be reworked. It will be easy to edit the power point—just a matter of deleting and inserting slides and information. The DVD is problematic. It focuses to a large degree on the floor plan for the building. Rita said she would visit with Larry Cooper about how complicated it would be to edit the DVD. Rita also mentioned that the informational binder needed to be changed. An updated binder could be available at the receptions for people to study. Board members decided they should meet for a work session about the presentation and binder. Bev said she has five copies of the DVD and probably Board members should look at it before they meet. Then it would be easier to discuss what needs to be done with it. Board members decided they would meet for a work session on Thursday, October 19, 2006, at 5:00 p.m. Bev will see that the meeting is properly advertised. John will try to attend the next meeting as well.
The Board thanked John for his input and for attending the meeting.
Election of officer was held.
Sue Waite nominated Teresa Clark for President. Steve seconded. Nominations ceased. Teresa Clark will serve as President of the Library Board for the coming year.
Rita Brown nominated Steve Viessman to serve as Vice President. Kristin Wiebe seconded. Nominations ceased. Steve Viessman will serve as Vice President of the Library Board for the coming year.