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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 091009 LAB1 Library Advisory Board September 10, 2009 Members Present: Kemp Burdett, Bettie Harrison, Mary Hatcher (Chair), Carroll Jones, Conrad Luhmann (Secretary), Marilyn McConnell, Jacqueline O’Grady (Vice Chair), Ellen O’Malley, Evelyn Smith Staff Members: Harry Tuchmayer Friends of the Lib: Anne Langan Absent Members: Rick Andrews, Gwen Rohler, Paul Walker Meeting began at 2:00 PM The meeting was called to order by the presiding officer, Mary Hatcher. Public Comment & Agenda review: No public comments this month. The September Agenda was approved. CORRESPONDENCE Mr. Tuchmayer reported that the Library did receive several cards, emails and letters that he presented to the board for review. One email was from someone who had just heard Harry speak on the Big Talker FM radio broadcast. He discussed the new software and what’s happening at the Library.. He received notification from the State Library that this year’s State Aid allocation was maintained at last year’s level. This was due in part to the Boards visit ?visit to Raleigh for Library Legislation Day. Mary Hatcher explained to the Board the process of applying for State Aid and how it works. FRIENDS REPORT Anne Langan, President of the Friends of the Library, submitted the following report: On September 25th, the Fall Booksale will begin. Anne passed out flyers for Board members to distribute to area businesses. Rita Lewis, Booksale Chair, had reported at the last FOL meeting that the sale will contain fewer paperback books due to the mass market paperback sales held earlier this year. The Booksale committee has been very busy with set up for the upcoming sale. The Annual FOL Membership Meeting will be held on November 6th at 7:00 PM at the Northeast Branch. Celia Rivenbark will be the guest speaker at this event. 2 Conrad Luhman suggested that the FOL have the Star News do a story on the preparations done by the FOL to hold the Booksale. This could run in the Neighbors section of the newspaper. This would be a great opportunity to increase awareness before the sale. Anne also announced that FOL are always looking for new ways to increase membership and all suggestions are welcome and can be forwarded to her. One suggestion from the board was to have stickers that read “I Bought Books Today” or “I’m a Friend of the Library”. These stickers would be similar to the “I Voted” stickers that are distributed at voting polls. NEW BUSINESS Welcome New Board Members Mary Hatcher thanked Betty Harrison on her continuation of the board for another term. She also introduced new members; Evelyn Smith, Ellen O’Malley and Carroll Jones. All new members and the board were given the opportunity to introduce themselves. Elections Marilyn McConnell presented the board with the following Officer Nominations for 2009/2010: President – Mary Hatcher Vice President – Jackie O’Grady Secretary – Conrad Luhmann The presentation was accepted and seconded by Betty Harrison. The nominations were passed as written. Exploration of a Garden Club to Beautify Park at Main Library Mary Hatcher suggested that the board look at finding a group(s) who would be interested in beautifying the park outside of the Main Library. Although this area is already maintained by the County, she would like to see more done in this area by bringing in more seasonal flowering plants. Suggestions by the board as possible groups were as follows: Community College Students CF Academy Kiwanis Club Arboretum Volunteers /Master Gardeners Downtown Church Group Residents of Old Wilmington CF Audubon Society CF Green Landscaping Mary recommended that the board create an Ad-Hoc Committee for this project and will add this topic to the next agenda. OLD BUSINESS Quiet Zone Harry Tuchmayer presented the board with an example of the “Quiet Zone” tent cards that were created. These signs have already been placed on tables in the back of the Main Library and so far we have seen success with this project. 3 The Northeast branch already has signs that ask patrons to use the lobby for cell phone usage. Discussion on Planning Commissioners Journal Article “Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities” The theme of the Planning Commissioners Journal article is that Libraries can be one of the best economic engines for downtown. The board agreed that this document contained some vital information that can be used often. In respect to Book Budgets, the library’s 2007 budget was higher than the current year’s budget. The Foundation has expressed their concern about this because the cost of purchasing and processing books continues to increase. If we, as a community, stand by and do nothing then we will really be suffering further down the road. The board agreed that we need to share our passion for libraries with the community and elected officials. As board members, we are their voice. Mary asked the board, “What ideas do we have and what can we do to get our name/face out there?” The following ideas will be executed: Send the County Commissioners as copy of the Planning Commissioners Journal article. Create a Communications Committee of members from all three boards (LAB, FOL and Foundation). By merging all boards into one Committee we can bring together many ideas and form a stronger committee for the public. Committees Mary Hatcher requested that all board members sign up to join at least one of the following committees. Please contact her within the next 2-3 weeks as to your selection(s). 1. Strategic Issues Committee 2. Policy Committee 3. Intellectual Freedom Committee 4. Advocacy (Ad-Hoc) Committee 5. Grounds Enhancement (Ad-Hoc) Committee DIRECTORS REPORT Harry Tuchmayer reported on the following items: The Myrtle Grove project is not a dead issue and is still the priority of the Library and County Commissioners to improve services. We are looking at solutions to expand the branch and we are still meeting with land developers. Options available are to (1) improve the current locations, (2) build a new branch on land the County owns further down the street or (3) work with a developer in the area.. Since Myrtle Grove was originally built with State Aid money, we would have to build another branch if we sold this site. Harry had a meeting with Max Maxwell, County Engineering Project Manager, regarding the Law Library. The space the Law Library currently occupies at the Court House has been requested by the clerk of Courts for expanded office space. Harry has contacted the Bar 4 Association, local judges and the District Attorney’s office to see if they care where the Law Library is located at. The library has received numerous emails from local attorneys opposed to the move. One possible solution is to move the Law branch to the Main Library. This would require a major renovation of the existing floor plan at Main. However, this could also benefit the Main branch by allowing us to improve/renovate areas such as the computer labs and Teen area. Library staff has done a great job on getting ready for the new ILS system. Harry passed out TLC bookmarks for the boards review. These are currently being handed out to all patrons to capture information from them like their email address and which library they normally visit. This information will allow us to notify them of when books are due and help with book reserve pickups. Harry polled the board to find out who would be interested in being Ambassadors for the new ILS system. He will have Phyllis Smith, Reference Librarian, send them them an email regarding future training dates. Harry passed out a draft of the October 12th Staff Development Day agenda. All Library staff are required to attend this meeting and all Libraries will be closed to the public on this day. Any board members interested in attending the breakfast portion of the meeting are welcome. If interested, please contact Harry Tuchmayer in advance. MARK YOUR CALENDER September 17th -Spelling Bee at Scottish Rite Temple at 7PM. Margaret Miles, Children’s Librarian, and 2 Friends of the Library members, Suzanne Ruffin and Bruce Schuelmann, will be on the Library’s Team. Please come out and show your support! September 25 – October 1st – Friends of the Library Booksale October 24th – Margaret Marrion will be speaking at the Northeast Branch at 2PM November 6th -Friends of the Library’s Annual Membership Meeting. Celia Rivenbark will be the guest speaker. Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15th at 2:00 PM at the Main Branch.