Meeting Minutes
April 19, 2004
Board Members Present: Mary Burchill, Jill Fincher, Terry Leibold, John Nalbandian, and Craig Penzler
Board Members Not Present: Jeff Shmalberg
Staff Present: Carole Dibben, Bruce Flanders, Louise Hanson, and Tricia Karlin
Guests Present: Ron Schorr (Friends of the Library Board of Directors)
Craig called the meeting to order at 4:30pm.
There were no public comments.
The minutes of the March 15, 2004 Library Board meeting were reviewed. Jill moved to approve the minutes. Terry seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
There were no questions or comments relating to the March staff meeting minutes.
Financial and Statistical Report: Bruce reviewed the financial and statistical report. There was a question about state grants-in-aid to local libraries, and how those funds contribute to the Library’s revenue. Bruce reviewed upcoming National Library Week events, and invited Library Board members to attend.
New Direction Task Force Activities: The April 12 public meeting was well attended, and was an excellent opportunity to discuss the study project with members of the community, and the media.
Bruce and Craig reviewed the agenda for the upcoming Design Summit. A letter will be sent to property owners and/or tenants at sites that the Task Force is considering for a possible library relocation or expansion. The Library will create a display, perhaps incorporating a PowerPoint display, in the Library lobby to show examples of outstanding public libraries in other communities.
Library Board Composition: Bruce has recommended Ron Hurst as the new Library Board member. An email making this recommendation has been sent to the Mayor and City Manager.
Session/Print Management System: Bruce noted that this technology is still under consideration, and that additional information is being gathered for presentation to the Library Board.
Foundation Board Appointments: Bruce noted that Jill Fincher and John Nalbandian would be reappointed to the Foundation Board of Directors. This was agreeable to the Library Board.
Library Board Officers: Craig is willing and eager to stay on as Library Board Chair for a third year in order to help shepherd the facility expansion/relocation study. The Library Board By-Laws specify term limits for this officer position, but the Library Board may choose to temporarily suspend this aspect of the By-Laws to make this third term possible. John moved that the By-Laws be temporarily suspended to allow for the following slate of officers to be approved: Craig Penzler, Chair, Terry Leibold, Vice-Chair, and Jill Fincher, Secretary/Treasurer. Jill seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
Draft 2005 Library Budget: Bruce was encouraged to be forthright in the budget request in seeking funding to better meet current needs, and to include funding in the budget for a planning process to study site feasibility for a new or expanded library, wages and employee classifications, and operating expenses and staffing for an expanded library. It was suggested that these funds could be derived from the special reserve fund created for the library.
John moved to approve the bills in the amount of $60,246.28. Terry seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
Jill moved that the Library Board go into executive session at 5:49pm for a period of up to 10 minutes, for the purpose of discussing personnel issues. John seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote. The Executive Session ended at 5:59pm.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Flanders
Approved _______________________________________________
Date
Secretary _______________________________________________
Jill Fincher
Chair __________________________________________________
Craig Penzler
Director ________________________________________________
Bruce Flanders
Board of Trustees Meeting
Monday, May 17, 2004
at 4:30 p.m.
in the Library Board Room
A - Call to order
B - Public comments
C - Minutes of the April board meeting
D - Minutes of the April staff meeting
E - Librarian’s report
1 – financial/statistical report
2 - library programs, events, exhibits and displays
3 – National Library Week events
4 – Library Foundation 2003 Annual Report
5 – Computer Room Renovations
6 -
F - Ongoing business
1 – New Direction activities
2 – Patriot Act Resolution
3 – Fiction relocation
4 -
G - New business
1 –
H - Discussion of bills
I – Adjournment
“The mission of the Lawrence Public Library is to provide and promote
informational, intellectual, and cultural resources for our community.”