Minutes: Eager Library Board of Trustees: September 2010

EAGER FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES FOR 28 SEPT 2010

1. Call to Order.
Board President Eloise Eager called the meeting to order at 5:35pm. Trustees present: Eloise Eager, Walter Shannon, Vicki Lecy-Luebke, Kim Miller, Susan Kruser and Gwen Clendenning (6:12pm). Also present: Library Director Kathi Kemp and City Council Member Tony Wyse. Absent Trustees: Johanna Lema.

2. Approval of August and September Minutes.
W. Shannon moved to accept the August 24, 2010 minutes. S. Kruser seconded. All in favor, none opposed. E. Eager moved to accept the August 31, 2010 minutes. V. Lecy-Luebke seconded. All in favor, none opposed. W. Shannon made a motion to accept the Sept 8, 2010 minutes. E. Eager seconded. All in favor, none opposed. All motions carried.

3. September Bills
Director Kemp is trying to keep the bills at or below $3300/month. This month was higher due to a couple of annual fee payments. An appraisal of non-collection items in the library was conducted for insurance purposes. A copy of the report will be provided to the insurance company. Director Kemp also obtained an estimate for the replacement cost of the entire collection of lending materials. W. Shannon moved to approve the September bills as presented. Seconded by V. Lecy-Luebke. Roll call vote: Aye: E. Eager, V. Lecy-Luebke, W. Shannon, K. Miller. Opposed: S. Kruser.

4. Librarian’s Report.
Several library programs coming up include: Banned Book week read aloud on Oct 1. Hispanic Heritage Festival on Oct 9, 2010 and One Book- One Town book discussion and movie on Oct 29. The Spanish language computer classes in Beloit are going well.

Discussed budget situation. Operating costs continue to increase but operating funds have essentially decreased resulting in reduced money for everything including collection acquisition. On average, the libraries in our area spend 12% of their budget on collection materials but Eager Free is only at 9%. As a result the library’s participation in the Arrowhead Library shared collection system may be in jeopardy if we do not make significant additions to the collection before the end of the year. Director Kemp will get additional information on this and the formula used for computing annual spending needs. Spirited discussion ensued re the budget situation and proposed cost cutting solutions such as checking into cheaper computer anti-virus protection, mowing the lawn less frequently and foregoing carpet and tile cleaning this year. A “Buy a Book” fundraiser was suggested and will be conducted before the end of the year.

In addition, adjusting the library hours to close 1 hour earlier at 7pm (slowest time of the day for library usage and circulation) 4 days a week was suggested and discussed. S. Kruser made a motion for the library to change the hours of operation to close at 7pm Monday through Thursday starting October 11 2010. Roll call vote: Aye: S. Kruser, G. Clendenning. Nay: E. Eager, V. Lecy-Luebke, W. Shannon, K. Miller. The motion did not pass.

V. Lecy-Luebke made a motion that if we do not receive relief from the ALS (circulation expenditure) requirement or we do not receive adequate financial support from the Friends of Eager Free Public Library or elsewhere, then propose amending the hours of operation to close at 7pm, Monday through Thursday starting October 18, 2010. Roll call vote. Aye: E. Eager, V. Lecy-Luebke, S. Kruser, W. Shannon, K. Miller, G. Clendenning.. None opposed. Motion carried.

The Director evaluation online form link was distributed to staff; the Board’s survey will be sent next week.

5. Adjourn.
V. Lecy-Luebke moved to adjourn. S. Kruser seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 7:50pm.

Minutes prepared by Board Secretary, Kim Miller.