Meeting Minutes
Board Members Present: Mary Burchill, Jill Fincher, Ron Hurst, Terry Leibold, John Nalbandian, Craig Penzler and Jeff Shmalberg
Board Members Not Present: none
Youth in Local Government Representative Present: Laura Parkinson
Staff Present: Carole Dibben, Bruce Flanders, Louise Hanson, Tricia Karlin, Joyce Steiner, Sherri Turner
Guests Present: Mary Michener (League of Women Voters), Beth Schultz, Hans Fischer, and Barbara Watkins (Langston Hughes Center Committee), Amy Devitt (Friends of the Lawrence Public Library Board of Directors)
Craig brought the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
There were no public comments.
The minutes of the December 20, 2004 Library Board meeting were reviewed. Terry moved to approve the minutes. Mary seconded the motion, which carried by voice vote.
Financial and Statistical Report: Bruce reviewed the financial report, as well as library usage statistics. He noted that it appears that $14,000 can be transferred to the Capital Improvement Fund. Record library circulation and user visit statistics were highlighted. The library had record circulation in excess of 850,000 items, and over half a million user visits in 2004.
Library Programs, Events, Exhibits and Displays: Bruce noted that Maria has been working hard on a series of Black History Month programs in cooperation with the Lawrence chapter of the NAACP. Read Across Lawrence events will be held in March.
Speaking Engagements – New Directions: Bruce has arranged to speak to the Noon Kiwanis Club and a group at Presbyterian Manor next month. The library’s plans for expansion will be presented.
LSTA Special Population Grant Application: Bruce said the library plans to develop a special populations grant application this Spring. A focus for the grant has not yet been determined.
Library Legislative Day: Bruce noted that the annual Library Legislative Day will be on February 17, and invited Library Board members to accompany him and Sherri to Topeka to speak with our local legislators. He will send out more information on this event.
Library Legislative Champion: Bruce has been asked by the Kansas Library Association Legislative Committee to approach Rep. Paul Davis to see if he would be willing to take on the designation as “Library Legislative Champion,” in recognition of his fine history of supporting pro-library legislation.
Capital Improvement Projects: Bruce described a number of current and planned capital improvement projects designed to improve the library’s functionality.
New Direction Task Force: Craig described the Request for Qualifications document that will be used as the basis for the Library Board’s meeting with the Lawrence City Commission at their Study Session this Thursday. John advised that we be very clear about the desired outcome of the meeting. Library Board members were encouraged to attend the Study Session.
John noted that Douglas County Commission Charles Jones appears to have a keen interest in the library’s expansion plans. Craig and Bruce will meet individually with the three County Commissioners to update them on our plans.
NEKLS Grant Criteria: Bruce described the 2005 Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) grant criteria, which are comprised of 52 questions relating to the library’s performance. There is one question which required a qualified answer: that of one or more Library Board members attending a state or national library conference each year. In 2004, a number of continuing education presentations were instead made at Library Board meetings. Bruce would like to see the Library Board adopt the practice this year of sending one or more members to a state or national library conference annually. He will mail a list of upcoming conferences to Library Board members.
Langston Hughes Center Presentation: Beth Schultz, Hans Fischer and Barbara Watkins of the Langston Hughes Center Committee were present to provide information about their hopes for a partnership with the library. The group presented their thoughts about partnering, and asked for an endorsement of the partnership. Library Board members asked a number of questions in an attempt to seek clarification regarding kinds of programs and services that would be offered by the Center, and the expectations and obligations for the library and the Center that would result from such a partnership. Craig recommended that the Library Board form a committee to study the possibilities for partnership.
Mary moved that the library acknowledge that the Hughes Literacy Center and the library have compatible missions and goals, and that the library commit to an exploration of a partnership. John seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
Jeff moved to approve the bills in the amount of $51,762.24. Mary seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote.
The meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Flanders
Approved _________________________________________________
Date
Secretary _________________________________________________
Jill Fincher
Chair _____________________________________________________
Craig Penzler
Director ___________________________________________________
Bruce Flanders