CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Rochester Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order by President Dick Hall. Also attending were Ed Haskell, Ann Larson, Naomi Lipsky, Steve McMaster, Elizabeth Miller, and Dave Nelson.

Members absent: Paul Barton, Betty Hutchins and Jeanne Parker.

Staff present: Audrey Betcher, Director; Kim Edson, Head of Extension Services; Carrie Farrow, Circulation Services Manager; Jean Jahn, Head of Automation Systems; Kathy Olson, Office Services Coordinator; Rebecca Splittstoesser, Head of Technical Services; Beth Warfield, Head of Children's Services.

Others present: Al Dollerschell, Friends

CONSENSUS AGENDA

The meeting minutes from July 18, 2001, monthly bills, and monthly report were approved as submitted.

FOUNDATION REPORT

The next meeting of the Foundation Board is September 26.

SELCO REPORT

Audrey distributed a summary from the July quarterly meeting.

SELCO is working on a new timeline for replacement of the automation system and should have it available by the end of the month.

SELCO did not receive e-rate funding for this fiscal year, therefore CIPA may be a moot point since it's tied to federal money. SELCO is appealing the denial of e-rate funding.

SELCO delivery expenses are going to be higher than they had anticipated, which will have budget implications.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Staff and representatives from the Library Board and Foundation Board have started the process to interview for the Communications Manager position. 75 applications were received, of which 45 met minimum qualifications.

BOOKMOBILE AT FAIR

This was a positive experience. Overall fair attendance was down due to the heat wave. We need to do a better job of advertising that the bookmobile is at fair. Approximately 2,000 people entered the bookmobile, 22 new library card applications were received, and approximately 1,500 bags were distributed. We plan on participating again next year and doing storytimes on the grassy area outside the bookmobile.

STEERING COMMITTEE

The Committee is in the process of forming the Facilities and Technology action teams. The Steering Committee recommends that the Policy and Planning Committee be split and charge the Planning Committee with updating the long-range plan and keeping it current. The Policy Committee would continue to review policy matters.

Audrey will send an e-mail asking Board members which committees they want to serve on.

BY-LAWS

Reviewed the proposed change to the by-laws.

Naomi questioned whether there would be a way to ensure some continuity of membership on committees. The past practice has been for the Board President to exercise judgement on continuity when assigning committee members.

The Board also discussed whether the by-laws should formalize the relationship of staff involvement on committees. The consensus was that staff have always provided support for the committees and there was no need to formalize this relationship.

The Board discussed the language regarding calculation of Board terms.

The proposed two changes to the by-laws will be voted on at the September meeting.

DIRECTORS INFORMATION ITEMS

Audrey updated the Board on the organizational staffing changes. The Communications Manager will be hired shortly and once that position is filled, we will advertise for the volunteer/training coordinator. That will conclude filling the positions created in the organizational study.

A date has not yet been set for the futures presentation to the City Council and County Board.

Starting in September SELS will no longer be contributing to the regional reference back-up and therefore reference staff will not need to respond to their requests for reference service.

Audrey distributed copies showing the new front end for the homepage.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

The next regular meeting of the Library Board will be Wednesday, September 19, 2001, at 4:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B on the second floor of the library.