May 1999
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, Hartsock, Korndorf, Laas. The Board attempted to contact Board member Cruise via conference call, but was unable to reach him. Also absent was Voigt. Staff members present were Clow, Madesian, Martin, Rosauer, Barrett.
President Harrison stated that if there were no additions or corrections to the Agenda, it would stand approved. It was accepted that the order of the Agenda would change, allowing the Director to demonstrate to the Board the electronic book that the library now owns; this presentation allowed the members of the Board to individually view the book throughout the meeting.
President Harrison stated that if there were no additions or corrections to the Minutes of the April 8, 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 various notes and correspondence with the Board. She brought to their attention two complaints. The first was a criticism for displaying the Mary Baker Eddy traveling display taking exception to the fact that Ms. Eddy represented a religion. The Director stated that Ms. Eddy received the a journalism award for women and that most of the area public libraries had housed the display. The second complaint was from a patron who thought you could not get to the public catalog from our web page. Rita Rosauer contacted the person and explained how this could be done.
With 92% of the current fiscal year past, 86.5% of the budget has been expended.
No report from the Bylaws Committee.
Board member Hartsock reported that the reception for Library Fund Coordinator Laurie Schultz went very well. It was held on Wednesday, April 21 and was attended by quite a few Board members as well as Library Fund and Learning Campus Board members. Staff was also invited. Laurie seemed to enjoy the event and thanked everyone for her gifts. Carolyn Keck, who will be the new Library Fund Coordinator, was also able to attend the event.
Board member Laas reported for the Intellectual Freedom Committee. Recently Dr. Laura Schlessinger has been trying, through both her radio program and website, to create public concern over the ALA policy on the use of the Internet.
The library has taken a couple of calls concerning this subject and each has spoken with someone who could explain Bettendorf’s policy on the use of the Internet. Our policy is not the same as ALA’s as we require any child under the age of nine to be accompanied on the computer by an adult. All juveniles under the age of 18 must have a parental permission card on file in order to sign up and use the Internet. Board members should be aware of what Dr. Schlessinger is proposing and if contacted by citizens they can direct inquiries to the library Director.
No report from the Learning Campus Committee.
No report from the Personnel Committee
No report from the Planning Committee.
Board Member Brandtner reported that as previously mentioned at the April meeting, the Library Fund is again supporting the Birdies for Charity program. Information is now available at both the reception desk of the library and in the Table of Contents CafÈ.
Staff person Gina Barrett reported that the Friends held their Spring Book Fair on May 7, 8 and 9 and it was the second largest Book Fair. After having supported a Wish List in April of over $5,000, the success of the Book Fair will allow the library to once again present a Wish List to the Friends in June before they adjourn for the summer months.
The Director reviewed with the Board the Revised Circulation Policy, with the proposed changes. The changes include the removal of items from 7 day loan periods (CD players and Video cassettes) and adding to the list of items loaned DVD-Roms, Digital video discs, electronic books and Learning-to-go Kits. The video cassettes will begin checking out for three weeks in June as a Quad Linc policy and we no longer have CD players for check out.
On motion by Hartsock, seconded by Laas that the Board accept the Circulation Policy as revised. Vote: Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Hartsock, Korndorf. Nays: None. Absent: Cruise, Voigt. The motion carried.
The Director reviewed with the Board the revised Renewal Policy. The change for the policy would be the addition of e-books under item (1) stating that they are not eligible for renewal.
On motion by Korndorf, seconded by Hartsock that the Board approve the Renewal Policy as revised. Vote: Ayes; Harrison, Brandtner, Hartsock, Korndorf. Nays: None. Absent; Cruise, Voigt. The motion carried.
The Director reviewed the updated Personnel Manual with the Board. The proposed changes include additions and corrections to the manual that staff need to have available to refer. These changes and updates have already been implemented but need to be in writing.
On motion by Brandtner, seconded by Korndorf that the Personnel Manual be accepted by the Board with the changes reviewed. Vote: Ayes: Harrison, Brandtner, Hartsock, Korndorf. Nays: None. Absent: Cruise, Voigt. The motion carried.
A discussion was held concerning whom might be attending the ALA Conference in June. Staff who will be attending will the Director, Faye Clow, Youth Services Manager, Tami Chumbley and Technical Services Manager, Marj Martin. The two Board members interested in attending were President Dick Harrison and member Pat Laas.
The Director reported that through the State Library an Electric Library is now available. Anyone in Iowa may access this system either through the library or their own personal computer if they have Internet access.
The Director mailed a grant application to the Carver Trust, applying for a grant of $55,000 for one year to access full text journals on-line.
The library has received a $16,000 grant from the Bechtel Trust. This will be used to hire a half-time librarian to weed the nonfiction collection. As this is an ongoing three-year project, an additional $36,500 for each of the two following years has also been requested. The Bechtel Trust will consider these requests in the future.
The Director wished to make the Board aware of other area library happenings.
She met with a gentleman from LeClaire City Council named Doug Peterson. The City of LeClaire received a $400,000 bequest from Merle Barkhoff to establish a library. This must be accomplished by 2001 or the bequest is forfeit to another recipient.
In order to build a library, the city of LeClaire would have to withdraw from the Scott County Library System. This would have to be done by an affirmative vote referendum.
Eldridge has hired an architect to draw up plans for a new Scott County Library headquarters in Eldridge to be completed sometime in the next ten years. Davenport Library branch has a still uncertain future until the 53rd Street problems have been solved.
The Enrich Iowa program has been funded for the first time in three years. The project requested a three million dollar funding but for this first year it was funded at a level of $700,000.
The Director shared with the Board a survey of Bettendorf citizens done by the students of the Agriculture Department at Iowa State. The survey asked citizens to rate the various services provided in Bettendorf. The library rated in the 98 percentile, which was higher than any other city service.
The Director reminded the Board of an upcoming Trustee workshop entitled, “What Makes a Public Library a Public Library?” This will be an ICN workshop, broadcast through Bettendorf on Monday, June 7 from 7 - 9 p.m.
The Director reviewed the history of the funding of the Quad Linc system for the Board. The system was started in 1983 with the help of the River Bend Director, George Curtis.
He felt that the cooperative system should include Iowa libraries as well. Each library had to fund its own hardware costs and for Bettendorf that was $24,000. To become automated the staff and volunteers entered over 100,000 bar codes into the computer. The annual costs are determined by specific formulas. 17% of the cost is based on the volumes held by a library, 30% from circulation statistics, 18% from a flat fee assessed equally among all member libraries, and 35% from a month terminal charge for each online terminal. In addition each library pays for its own telecommunications costs and maintenance on local equipment (modems, terminals, peripheral devices).
The President stated that according to the Bylaws, June is the month in which officers are chosen. He appointed a nominating committee of Sara Hartsock, chair and Scott Voigt. They will present a slate of officers at the June meeting.
At this point, Board member Korndorf left the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
During the Trustee Forum Board member Brandtner questioned whether, in the light of all the recent violence, the library has a way to protect itself from violent intruders?
The Director explained that we do have a disaster plan for evacuation of the building; it is geared more toward weather or fire occurrences. After a brief discussion as to what might be done, the Director agreed to look into some model programs for building protection.
Rita Rosauer reported that the library has received a recognition plaque from the Quad City Speech and Hearing Association for ongoing work with deaf services and recent activities with the Genesis Stroke Support Group.
Karen Madesian reviewed the Circulation Report with the Board.
Marj Martin compared numbers of items processed last year with this year’s totals and this year’s numbers are much higher. You also have to take into consideration the number of withdrawals, too. With the removal of all the T-bar codes, a lot of the older items are being withdrawn.
Faye showed the Board the plaque in honor of staff during the construction that was redone. She will present it to the staff at the staff meeting on Tuesday.
As there was no further business before the Board at this time, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Brandtner
Secretary
