BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
January 17, 2006

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, January 17, 2006. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 4:10 PM.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Eldon Burk, Susan Burrows, Mary Ellicson, William Grice, Jerry Mahony, Noreen Lake, Rhys Read, Elaine Tejcek, Susan Weinberg.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Martha Sloan, Hector Marino, Leslie Steiner, Carol Kidd, Veronica Schwartz, John Haupt, Alderman Carla Brookman, Alderman Rosemary Argus, Alderman Laura Murphy, Alderman Dick Sayad, Pat Krochmal.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by William Grice, to accept the agenda, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Susan Weinberg entered the meeting at 4:12 PM.

VFW PRESENTATION.

John Haupt, VFW Post #2992, presented Veronica Schwartz, Head of Youth Services, with an imprinted t-shirt to thank the library for supporting the troops in Iraq by sending letters and personal care items.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

None.

CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE – Alderman Carla Brookman.

Alderman Brookman reported that the City of Des Plaines immediately acted on patron requests to have more handicapped parking spaces and to improve signage in the parking garage adjacent to the library.

Alderman Brookman stated that she approves the library’s request for an increase in the tax levy, but does not approve the increase asked for by the City of Des Plaines.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to accept the Consent Agenda, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to approve the Financial Reports for December 2005, as presented. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Following monthly reports to be reviewed and placed on file for audit:

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to approve, subject to audit, expenditures authorized by the Library Director and Board Representatives for library Warrant Registers as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to approve, subject to audit, expenditures for salaries made by the Library Director as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

I have received no official requests for confidential information since my last report.

PERSONNEL

There were no new employees from December/January. Resignations or separations: Thomas Rice, and John Kim, Part-time Pages, Circulation Services.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Five staff members will attend the Public Library Association’s Biannual Conference in Boston, MA March 21 through 25.

Gail Johnson and an associate have worked with the circulation staff and observed their customer service skills.

A clinical supervisor from Maine Center for Mental Health met with me and two department heads to discuss how she can help staff understand the behaviors of people with mental health problems and how to become more skilled in providing library service while being both compassionate and professional.

I will attend the NSLS program on Advocacy on January 16.

PATRON SERVICES

Although we surpassed a million circulations for the third year in a row, we did experience an overall decrease in the number of items that were checked out in 2005 compared to 2004. The decreases in use were in children’s fiction and video cassettes. Forty-eight percent of all items checked out were print items; 63% of the children’s items were print, 42% of the adult items were print. Twenty percent of the circulation was managed by our patrons using the self-check machines.

The Mobile Library received a new look with a complete paint and partial vinyl wrap. We also had new carpeting installed. Unfortunately, on one of its first trips out after this facelift, the starter failed and the vehicle had to be towed in for service.

At year’s end, we have 303,289 items in our collection, a slight decrease from this time in 2004.

We have increased our number of cardholders by 478, which represent 62% of the population of Des Plaines.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

On December 22 I received a $1200 check from the now disbanded Special People, Inc. They have asked us to use these funds for assistive devices for people with visual or hearing impairments.

I attended a meeting of the CCS Long Range Planning Committee (1/5), a Trends Discussion moderated by Miriam Pollack (1/9), a CCS Executive Committee meeting (1/11), participated in the selection of the Synergy class of 2006 (1/12), and will attend the Library Cable Network Executive Committee meeting (1/17)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

MOTION by Susan Burrows, seconded by Rhys Read, to open the meeting up for discussion to include visitors. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

President Lake thanked the Aldermen for attending the Board meeting.

President Lake stated that library employees receive one increase per year based on their evaluation and that library employees do not receive a general wage increase. Library Director Sandra Norlin stated that this merit based system began two years ago and that most employees receive a 5.5% annual increase. Sandra Norlin explained that the salary for a beginning librarian who has a Master’s Degree would be paid the same as an incoming teacher in the local schools who also has a Master’s Degree.

Aldermen Murphy, Argus and Sayad asked the library board to re-examine their 2006 budget and library salaries.

Alderman Murphy stated that a 5.5% increase to library employee salaries was excessive and not warranted in these economic times. Alderman Murphy also stated that the City Council is held accountable for the library’s increased expenses.

Alderman Sayad asked the Board to notify the Chair of the Finance Committee in the future when the Board meets to discuss the library budget. Alderman Sayad also stated that the conversion to a district library has been suggested as a way for library trustees to be more accountable to the public.

Alderman Argus stated that she voted no for both the library budget and the city budget because she wants expenses cut by both. She also stated that a lot of people do not use the library, including seniors.

The Board of Trustees thanked the Aldermen for attending their meeting and for expressing their concerns about the library budget. President Lake will increase the communication between the Board and the City Council.

NEW BUSINESS

MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Susan Burrows, to have Board meetings recorded for television broadcasts for the months of April, July and October in 2006 and January in 2007. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Eldon Burk will attend the February 6 City Council meeting, Rhys Read the March 6 meeting and Jerry Mahony the March 20 meeting. Alderman Brookman will advise the City Council that the Library Board meets on February 21 and will not attend the Council meeting.

Sandra Norlin reported that the contract with Wagner Office Solutions, Inc. was renegotiated with reduced copier costs. The approximate cost based on per copy costs, repair and maintenance and copier supplies is estimated at $9,900.00. The costs for 2005 were approximately $14,000.00, which is a savings of about $4,100.00.

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to approve the photocopier contract with Wagner Office Solution that includes per copy costs, repair and maintenance and copier supplies and is estimated at $9,900.00 for one year, which is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

William Grice asked that either President Lake or another Board member attend the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and installation of officers to be held on Friday, February 3, 2006. William Grice also asked that the library pay for the Board president and a guest to attend (or designated Board member) and asked that the library pay for the Library Director and a guest to attend the dinner. William Grice stated that this is an important business networking dinner.

MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Eldon Burk, to ask President Lake and a guest to attend the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and installation of officers on February 3, 2006 and to ask Library Director Sandra Norlin and a guest to attend the dinner and that the library pay for the tickets. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Lake and Library Director Norlin attended “Lobbying for Smarties” at North Suburban Library System on Monday, January 16, 2006. The class reviewed some of the strategies for advocating for libraries.

Sandra Norlin invited the Board to attend Illinois Library Day, which will be held in Springfield on Wednesday, March 1, 2006. Noreen Lake invited interested Board members to apply for one of three scholarships to attend National Library Day in Washington DC on May 2 and 3, 2006.

William Grice invited the Board to again participate in the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Board of Directors “Food Fight”. The Board also invited library staff and the Friends of the Library to participate by bringing non-perishable food items to the library during the month of February.

Eldon Burk asked Sandra Norlin for permission to place a collection container in the library lobby for patrons to deposit their used inkjet cartridges. The Kiwanis Club will recycle the cartridges and all money from the recycling will be returned to the community.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to enter into an Executive Session at 5:40PM to discuss Probable or Imminent Litigation. Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The regular session reconvened at 6:43PM and was called to order by President Noreen Lake.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ACTION

Motion by Susan Burrows, seconded by William Grice, to affirm the decisions agreed to during Executive Session pertaining to Probable or Imminent Litigation and to direct Sandra Norlin to take appropriate action. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to adjourn the regular meeting. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The meeting adjourned at 6:46PM.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.

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