CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The regular meeting of the Rochester Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order by President Deborah Westerland.
Members Present: Chris Colby, Farhan Hussein, Lisa Lundquist, Judy Ohly, Mary Tigner-Rasanen, Tom Sherman, Judith Taylor and Deborah Westerland.
Staff Present: Audrey Betcher, Library Director; Kim Edson, Head of Readers Services; John Hunziker, Communications Manager; Jean Jahn, Automation Services Manager; James Rentz, Head of Technical Services; Andy Stehr, Circulation Services Manager; Beth Warfield, Head of Children's Services; Laura Randolph, Children's Services; Thuan Nguyen, Automation Services Coordinator and Purna K Gurung, Administrative Services Coordinator.
Others Present: Shirley Edmonson, Friends of the Rochester Public Library (RPL).
AGENDA
Audrey Betcher requested that the following items be added to the agenda: Tutor.com, presentation of checks by the Library Foundation and introduction of the new Automation staff member.
Motion by Farhan Hussein, seconded by Mary Tigner-Rasanen to approve the revised agenda. Motion carried.
PRESENTATION BY THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION
Mike McNeil, President of the Library Foundation Board, presented the Library with two checks in the amounts of $22,991 and $78,000, representing the 2007 Fund Drive and Endowment proceeds respectively. Deborah Westerland thanked the Foundation Board for their work.
INTRODUCTION ON NEW AUTOMATION SERVICES COORDINTOR
Jean Jahn introduced Thuan Nguyen, the new Automation Services Coordinator, to the Library Board.
CONSENSUS AGENDA
Motion by Lisa Lundquist, seconded by Judy Ohly to approve the minutes from March 19, 2008, the monthly bills, and the monthly report. Motion carried.
PRESIDENT'S BUSINESS
Foundation Report
Planning for the Amuzing Race continues. FKI, the Library's automated materials handling system vendor, will be a co-sponsor at the $2,500 level. We are continuing to look for leg sponsors at the $500 level.
The Development Committee has met and discussed how to keep the library in the forefront. Library tours are a wonderful way to reach people and show them what the library has to offer. Audrey Betcher asked the Board to continue mentioning the tours as they talk to people.
Friends Report
Shirley Edmonson reported that the Friends Board did not meet in March and will be meeting on April 21st. The Friends are also hosting a coffee get-together for library staff on the same day. The April book sale brought in around $1,000. 3 art prints were also sold. The Friends will be selling more art prints during the Art Walk on May 1st. John Hunziker will e-mail photos and prices of these art prints to the Board. He added that prints of value have been set aside. The Board briefly discussed the possibility of selling the more valuable prints on eBay.
SELCO
SELCO has a new draft of a Strategic Plan. SELCO/SELS Board members and library directors were asked for feedback and Audrey sent some comments back.
A SELCO ad hoc committee has brought forward its recommendation for a new SELCO/SELS structure. There is opportunity for public comments for 6 months before the recommendation is brought to the SELCO Board for a vote.
There were questions from the Library Board on what SELCO is looking to address with the new structure.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance: No report.
Policy: The Policy Committee has updated the chart of library policies based on last month's Board action. Lisa Lundquist noted that the review date for the Wireless Policy will be changed to July 2011 vs. July 2010.
The board discussed the proposed policy that pre-approves expenditures in certain conditions rather than waiting for Board action each month. The proposal eliminates the need for Board approval for bills under $15,000.
The Library Board unanimously voted to approve the expenditure policy.
Personnel: The Personnel Committee is in discussions about the process for the 2008 director's review. Judith Taylor hopes to schedule a meeting in May.
Planning: No report
Young Adult: No report.
NEW BUSINESS
2007 Metrics
We are waiting for the 2007 Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Report to be available so we can compare the library's metrics with peer libraries. A trend evident in the metrics is the number of transactions conducted online. More patrons are visiting the website and reserving, checking out and placing holds online. Total patrons registered are lower because we are actively purging patron records. When we pulled our data from SELCO, we pulled all the records over. It took several years to purge these records as a custom report was needed to purge fines first before purging registrations. There was a suggestion about having welcome packets with library information for new residents. John Hunziker noted that it was not cost effective at the History Center. The metrics statistics is not broken down by City/County. County support is linked to county activity and is keeping pace with growth.
Tutor.com
The City Attorney has reviewed the Tutor.com contract. The online homework service runs from September 2008 to August 2009, from 4PM-10PM, 7 days a week. The price tag is $20,400 for one year. The program is being underwritten by a $5,000 grant from the Rotary and the balance from the RPL Foundation. The Foundation has also set some funds aside for marketing Tutor.com. There is currently no other agency within Olmsted County that provides this service.
Motion by Chris Colby, seconded by Farhan Hussein to approve the signing of the Tutor.com contract. Motion carried.
DIRECTOR'S INFORMATION ITEMS
Customer Service Training
All staff in the library are going through a customer service training developed specifically to meet the newly written customer service standards.
Library Logo
We are in the process of developing a new library logo. As we do more marketing, we are learning that our current logo does not always translate well.
Public Library Association (PLA) Conference
The PLA conference was very good. Mary Tigner-Rasanen noted that there were many forward thinking ideas about library and library services at the different sessions. Staff shared highlights about the sessions they attended. Audrey Betcher noted that two staff members were able to attend PLA because of memorials received on behalf of Jerry Balm.
SHARING STRENTHGS
Kim Edson gave a demo that highlighted the library's digital media collection (downloadable books, music and video). She added that our vendor will be able to offer iPod compatible items in the very near future. RPL was the first library in Minnesota to offer a digital media collection. The Library also has a download station for patrons who do not have high speed Internet access at home. We recently started circulating MP3 devices. Beth Warfield spoke briefly about Tumblebooks, an online collection of picture book readers, puzzles and games for kids.
OTHER NEWS
Judith Taylor inquired about the automated book drops. Audrey Betcher replied that the external book drop is currently down but the internal one is working. An FKI technician is flying in tomorrow morning to work on the outside unit. We are also working with FKI to modify some procedures.
Audrey Betcher noted that the Volunteer Appreciation party is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 and invited Board members to attend. She added that the library will be in the news today as the Sesquicentennial banner was flown in this morning to Rochester and currently resides in the building.
Judy Ohly asked if the public library carries law publications typical of law libraries. Audrey Betcher replied that the library does not carry these publications as they are very specialized. She added that the County does provides access to WestLaw for RPL patrons.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:09 PM.
Mary Tigner-Rasanen
Secretary
The next regular meeting of the Library Board will be Wednesday, May 21, 4:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B.