Bettendorf Public Library Board of Trustees
The Bettendorf Public Library Board of Trustees met in the Elizabeth Malmros Conference Room at 4:30 p.m. Those members present were Harrison, Brandtner, Cruise, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas, Voigt. Staff members present were Clow, Chumbley, Madesian, Martin, Rosauer, Barrett.
Scott Voigt, chair of the Community/City Relations introduced city planner Steve, VanDyke to the Board. VanDyke, presented to the Board a brief overview of the Riverfront-Downtown Conceptual Plan for Bettendorf, followed by a question and answer period. A copy of the outline is attached to these minutes.
Emily Navarre, Director of the Southeast Regional Library provided the Board with information on the services that regional libraries provide throughout Iowa and, specifically some of the services that Southeast provides for the Bettendorf Public Library. There are 53 public libraries in the Southeast Region, many of these libraries are very small and have staff that is not trained in library science. Regional libraries can provide training and support for such libraries.
Susan Henricks, a consultant for the past three months for Southeast Regional, provided the Board with facts about services the regions provide. The regions assist libraries in a variety of ways. Forty-two percent of the libraries serviced have a population of less than 1000, 68% with a population under 2500. Some of the very small libraries have only one employee; many employees are part time. Regional libraries can assist such libraries in many ways, including CE classes.
Some examples of the types of classes available include Best Books for Young Adults and Juveniles (broadcast over the ICN), Summer Reading Program (Treasure Your Library), Library 101, and First Search instruction. The regions are also available to work with trustees of libraries. Training is often done on a one to one basis.
Regional libraries can provide help on setting up Collection Development, cataloging, weeding, budget management, grant writing. For the larger, better-equipped libraries, the regional libraries serve as a sounding board. The region also serves as a backup reference service, but the with Internet and search services available, it is used less often, which frees up staff time to provide other services.
Southeast Region has only four employees that provide services in 15 counties and 53 libraries. Region representatives travel often, visiting the area libraries and work closely with the State Library.
Board Member Voigt questioned whether the regions work with the schools. Navarre responded that unfortunately, the schools had never included the regional libraries into their support basis, so the regions have not had the opportunity to work with the schools.
Board Member Laas asked whether other states have regional libraries. The response was that many other states have similar systems, but there are usually some small differences in how they are set up.
President Harrison stated that he enjoys the region publication, the Regional Rag, particularly the trustee corner. He thanked the regional representatives for their attendance and the information.
Director Navarre stated that she feels that Bettendorf has a premiere library.
President Harrison stated that if there were no additions or corrections to the Agenda it would stand approved.
President Harrison stated that if there were no additions or corrections to the Minutes of the February 11, 1999 meeting, the Minutes would stand approved.
Board members initialed justification sheets and checks were signed for this month’s Board bills.
President Harrison asked if anyone wished to speak during the Public Forum portion of the meeting. There were no respondents.
The Director shared correspondence received with the Board.
With three-fourths of the year completed, 65.1% of the budget has been expended.
No report from the Bylaws Committee.
Board Member Hartsock reported that the Director had contacted former Board President Kelinson to work out a possible date for a recognition. The family is currently attending to some business and no date can be established until that is completed.
Board Member Brandtner suggested that besides the reception recognition that is being planned, that perhaps the Board could pursue the possibility of another avenue of recognition; perhaps a piece of art, a particular collection added to the library, etc. that would honor the many years of service provided by Kelinson. It was mentioned that he had a love of the theatre and had been very involved with local theatrics and a collection along this subject might be considered.
No report from the Intellectual Freedom Committee.
No report from the Learning Campus Committee.
No report from the Planning Committee.
Board Member Brandtner reported that the Library Fund met last week. Contributions to the direct campaign are still very slow and Library Fund Coordinator Laurie Schultz has sent a second letter encouraging people to contribute. There has been some response to the letter. Also, Laurie Schultz will be leaving her position in June. Her husband has been transferred out of state, so the position will be open. It is hoped that someone can be hired a month before Laurie leaves so she can assist in training her replacement.
Staff person Gina Barrett reported that the Friends met March 2 and are preparing for their upcoming Book Fair on May 1 and 2. The Friends approved a Wish List totaling over $3,000. Over $2,000 of this is for electronic equipment including a replacement VHS camera and tripod, 2 lavaliere mics, a sound mixer and lighting kit to be used for taping programs and to help in the channel 13 production. In addition the wish list included puppets and juvenile classics for the youth department.
President Harrison stated that he had at last month’s meeting, asked Board Member Laas to chair an ad/hoc committee to determine guidelines for board attendance at conferences. Other members of the committee include Korndorf, Brandtner and Harrison.
Board Member Laas explained that the items that the committee were to consider included travel, lodging, registration, and food. The Board is covered under the city’s travel policy which allows up to $30 per day for food. The conferences to consider include two ALA conferences in the spring and fall, and ILA conference in the fall and a PLA conference every other year.
The committee determined that the president of the board should have the option to attend the conferences. A board member would be given preference to attend if a session in a conference pertains to a committee of which he/she is a member. Attendance to ILA conferences by members would be determined as the budget allowed. If the topics for the PLA conferences are appropriate, the board could determine to send a board member to the conference. The food allowance would follow the city’s $30/day allotment. Other costs would be determined on a case by case basis.
On motion by Hartsock, seconded by Cruise that the Board accept the guidelines for conference attendance as amended. Vote: Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Cruise, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas, Voigt. Nays: None. The motion carried.
The Director informed the Board that she had received the projected costs from the Collection Development Consultant. The consultant proposes a cost of $2,500 plus expenses for four trips from Iowa City. If approved, the budget has $4,000 set aside for this project in the Kakert Fund.
The consultant’s report of her initial visit included her impression of the collection. She is amazed at how little money we have to spend on materials. She felt that the young adult and juvenile sections were fine. The most in need is nonfiction.
What we have is always in use; much of what is on the shelf is older and should be weeded and replaced. To date there has not been enough time or enough staff to weed items and then replace them.
The consultant is suggesting that this project would be a two to five year endeavor to upgrade the collection. The consultant suggests that the nonfiction selection be split up among more staff who would then gain expertise in a small nonfiction area for selection and weeding. A grant has been written to the Scott County Regional Authority for $30,000 to begin this project as Phase I.
We can substantiate a request like this because so much of our patronage is from customers other than people in Bettendorf. If we were supporting only Bettendorf patrons, we could probably get by on our current materials budget. However, since we service a much broader community, our usage is much heavier.
Other possible grant requests might be the Davenport Community Foundation and the Bechtel Trust.
On motion by Brandtner, seconded by Cruise that the Board approve $2,500 plus travel expenses for the cost of the collection development consultant to analyze the library’s collection. This cost will be taken from the Kakert Fund. Vote: Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Cruise, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas, Voigt. Nays: None. The motion carried.
The Director reviewed with the Board the Overdue Library Materials Policy, with the proposed additions.
On motion by Cruise, seconded by Voigt that the Overdue Library Materials Policy be approved as revised. Vote: Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Cruise, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas, Voigt. Nays: None. The motion carried.
The Director reviewed with the Board the Fees and Fines Policy. The Director stated that a patron had questioned the cost of the library’s faxing services. The patron felt that the costs were excessive compared to local businesses. The person felt that if the library could not lower its costs, why offer the service at all. After a brief discussion it was determined that the costs would remain the same. The board does not wish to remove the service from the library, but it does not want to become competitive with local businesses.
The Director explained the library staff plans to apply for the Library of the Year Award sponsored by the Gale Corporation, which offers a $10,000 prize. It is a national award, so it is very competitive. We have received wonderful letters of support from agencies such as the Superintendent of the Bettendorf Schools, The Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of the Quad Cities. The award is based on service to the community.
Board member Brandtner stated that after hearing the City Planner discuss the proposal for the downtown renovation, she wondered if there is anything that the Board can do to show collective support of the project, and the support of the possibility of turning the Eagles into a city hall to have a municipal campus in this area?
Board Member Voigt stated that he felt a letter should be sent to the Mayor and City Council stating that the Board is in favor of such a renovation project.
On motion by Brandtner, seconded by Cruise that a letter be sent to the Mayor and City Council stating the Board’s support of the downtown renovation project as well as the utilization of the Eagles building for a future city hall. Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Cruise, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas, Voigt. Nays: None. The motion carried.
Rita stated that reference staff attended a First Search Internet training session today at the library. Some of the library staff felt they needed this training, so Rita arranged the session through the Southeast Library, who then set up the site on the web for the ICN.
Rita also shared some of the READ posters that are being done with pictures of the staff, patrons, trustees, etc. She encouraged the Board to pose with their favorite book, to create their own posters for display in the library during National Library Week.
Tami stated that in the Long Range Planning sessions, one of the goals was to begin a cable program on channel 13 called We Recommend. The first of these programs will begin televising next week.
Karen Madesian informed the Board that the library will be participating in the “Check It Out Yourself Day” again this year. It is sponsored by 3M and prizes are awarded. We have to get at least 100 people to use the self-check that day to become eligible. It is a national contest, so there are many self-check units entered into the contest.
We now have two new receptionists starting, Audrey Reynolds and Shar Hedin-Campbell.
As there was no further business before the Board at this time, the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Brandtner
Secretary
