BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
October 16, 2007

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Matthew Bogusz, Noreen Lake, George Magerl, Jerry Mahony, Rhys Read, Elaine Tejcek.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Hector Marino, Carol Kidd, Holly Richards Sorensen, Karen McBride, Alderman Martin Moylan, Michael Lake, Jan Provenzano.

Absent: Maria Bahamon, Eldon Burk, William Grice.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to accept the agenda, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Jan Provenzano, a representative of Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman, read a proclamation from the Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulating the Des Plaines Public Library on reaching its one hundredth birthday.

CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE – Alderman Martin Moylan.

Alderman Martin Moylan reported that after speaking with President Lake and Library Director Norlin he was made aware of several needed repairs in the parking garage and clean-up in the park area adjacent to the library. Alderman Moylan stated that the repairs and clean-up had been completed by the Public Work department. President Lake thanked Alderman Moylan for his assistance.

CONSENT AGENDA

Elaine Tejcek asked that D. Acceptance of Reports 1. Director’s Report and 2. Friends of the Library Report be removed from the Consent Agenda.

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to approve the Consent Agenda, as modified. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Elaine Tejcek asked Sandra Norlin if the total number of registered borrowers for Des Plaines was normal when compared to other communities and if so, to what do we owe the low number of registered borrowers. Sandra Norlin responded that one of the ways the library tries to encourage new users is by asking businesses to offer a discount to library users who use their library cards. This promotion benefits both the businesses and the library. Sandra also stated that the library is in the process of trying to encourage Des Plaines business owners to get a library card.

Elaine Tejcek also asked Sandra Norlin if she was concerned with the decrease in the use of interlibrary loan and Sandra responded that two new libraries joined the North Suburban Library System, Evanston and Glenview, so there are more books available for transfer between libraries.

Matthew Bogusz asked Sandra Norlin if statistics for online database use could be separated to differentiate between resident and non-resident library cardholders. Sandra was not sure if this request was possible because of the way the information is gathered. She will inquire and report her finding to the Board.

Matthew Bogusz also asked Sandra Norlin if she thought the increase in the use of the Virtual Reference Desk indicated that patrons are moving away from using library computers and are using their home computers to do their research. Holly Richards Sorensen, Coordinator of Public Services, responded that more patrons are finding the link to our website where they have the opportunity to “chat” online with a librarian who will help to answer their question or to direct them where to look for the answer. Holly also stated that when school starts, students use this service and the number of users increases.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by George Magerl, to accept the Director’s Report, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Elaine Tejcek stated that in the Friends of the Library report it was incorrectly stated that the new SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance) machine was approved, but this will not be approved until the next Friends meeting.

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Matthew Bogusz, to accept the Friends of the Library report, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to approve, subject to audit, expenditures authorized by the Library Director and Board Representatives for library Warrant Registers as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to approve, subject to audit, expenditures for salaries made by the Library Director as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Please note: I have received no official requests for confidential patron information since my last report.

PERSONNEL

New Employees for September/October 2007

Resignations/Separations for September/October 2007
Monica Benz, Part-time Youth Services Librarian, 09/15/07

John Haliotis, IT Manager, 9/7/07

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Carol Kidd and Roberta Johnson attended a two-day seminar on Crucial Conversations held at NSLS.

Four staff members are attending the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference in Springfield October 10 – 13.

PATRON SERVICES

Patron service numbers are down in all categories, with a slight decline in circulation both for the month and year to date. Nearly 67% of the items checked out from the Youth Services collection was from the print collection, whereas 43% of the circulation of adult collection items was print, bringing the overall total print circulation to 52%. Attendance was down significantly, although over 3300 people attended meetings and programs during the month. Attendance at library programs was very healthy. In-house computer use was high at 8557 for adults and 1589 for youth, although overall the use is less than last year at this time.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

I attended the School Media Coordinators and Principals reception on September 19, the Library Production Studio Executive Committee meeting on September 20, the NSLS Board meeting on September 24, the Friends of the Library meeting on September 25, the CCS Governing Board meeting on October 3, and the Chamber of Commerce Board meeting on October 4.

NEW BUSINESS

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve payment to Library Partnership Trust for Annual Membership for the Gale Virtual Reference Library in the amount of $6,629.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by George Magerl, to approve payment to Proquest in the amount of $16,502.14, which is a budgeted item and is in the best interest of the library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve a 10:00 a.m. opening for All Staff Day on December 13, 2007, which is the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library and staff. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Matthew Bogusz, to approve Thomson Gale in the amount of $9,850.83, which is a budgeted expense and in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Rhys Read, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported that several changes to the 2008 budget were suggested by the City of Des Plaines Finance Director at the September 25, 2007 budget meeting.

Rhys Read reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the City of Des Plaines Finance Director’s comments, investigated his concerns and based on that review, recommend that we keep the budget as presented.

MOTION by Committee, to approve the final FY2008 Library Budget. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bogusz, Lake, Magerl, Mahony, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The library budget will be presented to the City Council on November 7, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. Board members were invited to attend.

President Lake reported that she attended the October 15 City Council meeting with Sandra Norlin and Karen McBride to present information on the proposed RFID system to the City Council. President Lake stated that according to the library lease, any building changes must be approved by the City Council. The City Council approved the proposed changes to the building to accommodate the new system.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sandra Norlin reported that the proposal from the Outsource Solutions Group was being postponed and will be presented to the Board at a later date.

George Magerl reported that he attended the Illinois Library Association conference in Springfield and encouraged Board members to attend in 2008 when the conference will be held in Chicago at Navy Pier.

Noreen Lake thanked Library staff, the Board of Trustees and the City of Des Plaines for hosting and helping with the Centennial Celebration.

Sandra Norlin asked for Board approval to change the Board meeting date in September, 2008. The Board meeting dates will be approved at the November Board meeting and the date for September, 2008 will be Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Noreen Lake stated that she invited Alderman Walsten to attend the November Board meeting.

Sandra Norlin reported that the Planning Committee did not meet in October. George Magerl, Chair of the Planning Committee, suggested that the Committee meet on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

OTHER

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by George Magerl, to suspend the rules of order to allow Michael Lake to speak on behalf of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Michael Lake thanked Sandra Norlin for providing space in the library to place a barrel for donations for American troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd

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