BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
July 21, 2009

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Eldon Burk, Selma D'Souza, Myrtle Klebe, Noreen Lake, George Magerl, Elaine Tejcek.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Carol Kidd, Holly Richards Sorensen, Heather Imhoff, Alderman Dan Wilson, Alderman Patricia Haugeberg, Dan Klobnak.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

OATH OF OFFICE

George Magerl took the Oath of Office.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

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

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

None.

CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE – Alderman Dan W. Wilson.

Aldermen Dan Wilson and Patricia Haugeberg were in attendance.

Alderman Wilson asked Library Director Norlin to compile an informational sheet that would compare patron attendance, both in-house and online, circulation of library materials, and staff salaries, including benefits with Park Ridge Public Library, Mount Prospect Public Library and Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Niles Public Library District and Elk Grove Village Public Library information will also be included in the report.

Jeffery Rozovics entered the meeting at 4:12 p.m.

OATH OF OFFICE

Jeffery Rozovics took the Oath of Office.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve the Consent Agenda, as modified. 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 Elaine Tejcek, to approve, subject to audit, expenditures authorized by the Library Director and Board Representatives for library Warrant Registers as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Klebe, Lake, Magerl, Read, Rozovics, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Klebe, Lake, Magerl, Read, Rozovics, 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

Mei-Na Chen retired from the position of Page Supervisor, effective 6.26.09.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

There are many ways to gauge how individual staff members are developing their skills and knowledge. This month I'd like to point out the recent triumphs of some of our staff's group efforts.

On June 26, the annual Cancer Society Relay for Life event was held in Des Plaines, this year in partnership with Park Ridge. Veronica Schwartz, Head of Youth Services, was the Coordinator for this event. The library team, the Book Babes, was led by Cheryl Gladfelter. The fund-raising goal for our team was $5,000, which they surpassed by $600. This year our team was walking the track and raising money to honor the memories of Barbara Saletnik and former team member Kathy Kyrouac, both of whom died within the past year.

On July 12, the library's Book Cart Drill Team competed for the "world championship" at the ALA Annual Conference held in Chicago. Before a standing room only crowd of 1,000+ our team performed beautifully and tied for first place. In the end, the Cart Wheels rolled away with the 2nd Place Trophy: a silver book truck supplied by the competition's sponsor, Demco. WBEZ's Gabriel Spitzer covered the event and produced a radio report, which aired on NPR's All Things Considered on July 13.

On July 4, the Cart Wheels performed a precision routine in the City's Independence Day Parade. The "Singing Librarians" performed crowd pleasing songs from high atop their float.

On July 13, most of the staff (and 3 trustees) rode in two buses to attend the exhibits at the ALA Annual Conference. All the planning and arrangements were handled by the library's In-service Day committee, under the leadership of Holly Sorensen.

Holly Sorensen and Joanne Griffin participated in a panel program at the ALA Conference on Civic Engagement. They described the activities that the Des Plaines Public Library has been engaged in since 2002. Their presentation was very well received, especially because the other panelists gave more theoretical and academic presentations.

All of these efforts show a remarkable esprit de corps, knowledge of logistics, creative drive, and generosity of spirit. The staff have learned by doing, have worked well together, and have enjoyed the creative flow of play.

I presented Employee Bonuses for the second quarter of 2009 to Liz Bialobrzewski, Linda Knorr, and Angy Walker. They are nominated for this award by their colleagues.

PATRON SERVICES

Circulation of library materials increased by nearly 18% over this period in 2008. Self-check was used to check out 72% of the items. There was an impressive 15% increase in children's fiction books. Print items represent 69% of the circulation of children's materials and 43% of the adult materials. Attendance increased by 24% over last June and 19,568 "attended" our website, accessing over 98,000 pages on the site. In-library use of computers increased by 36.5% on the fourth floor, and 2.32% on the second floor.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

I attended a farewell event for Tamiye Meehan, who has retired as director of the Indian Trails Public Library District on June 17, a Library Production Studio Executive Committee meeting on June 17, and a meeting of the SLURP directors on June 19. I participated in the Relay for Life activities on June 26 and attended the fundraiser for the Veterans Honor Flight program on June 30. On July 1, I represented the library at the Maine West Clinical Government class press conference and attended the Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee meeting. I attended the American Library Association's Annual Conference in Chicago from July 11 through 13. I attended the Chamber Non-Profit Networking After Hours meeting at Oakton Community College on July 14.

I will be on vacation from July 16 through July 20.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

George Magerl, Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, reported that Anthony Roofing Company will begin library roof repairs on August 17.

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve the purchase of 12 Levono G530 laptop computers to be used in the computer lab in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00, which is a budgeted expense and in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, D'Souza, Klebe, Lake, Magerl, Rozovics, Tejcek.

NEW BUSINESS

Jeffery Rozovics will attend the August 3 City Council meeting, Eldon Burk the August 17 meeting and Noreen Lake the September 8 meeting and Selma D'Souza the September 21 meeting.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to renew the agreement to provide Mobile Library Service to the Village of Rosemont for 2009/2010 in the amount of $12,900.00. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: MOTION CARRIED.

President Lake stated that she would abstain from voting on the request for payment to Library Partnership Trust for MyMediaMall because she serves on the board of the North Suburban Library System who provides this service.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve payment to Library Partnership Trust for MyMediaMall for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 in the amount of $6,600.00, which is a budgeted expense and is in the best interest of the library. VOTE: AYES: 6. NAYS: None. Lake abstained (potential conflict of interest). MOTION CARRIED.

Sandra Norlin asked for board approval to upgrade the Sprint/Nextel mobile phone service in the amount of $9,294.92. Sandra explained that this upgrade would incorporate mobile library cell phone and wireless service and increase the number of cell phones from 7 to 16. President Lake asked that this service be provided to only a select number of department heads because of the increased costs and Sandra Norlin responded that using this new technology was a great way for department heads to communicate with each other and to keep current with technology and requested that this proposal be postponed if not approved in its entirety.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Myrtle Klebe, to approve an upgrade to the Sprint/Nextel Mobile Phone for annual service in an amount up to $9,294.92. VOTE: AYES: Burk, D'Souza, Klebe, Magerl, Rozovics. NAYS: Lake, Tejcek. MOTION CARRIED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Noreen Lake announced that VFW Post 2992 will host their 1st Annual Fund Golf Challenge on August 15.

Noreen Lake, George Magerl and Selma D'Souza attended the American Library Association conference with staff on July 13, 2009 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

George Magerl stated that he will attend the Illinois Library Association conference in Peoria in October and offered to drive any trustee who wanted to attend the Trustee Day seminars.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to close nominations for the slate of officers for the Library Board of Trustees for 2009/2010. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to reaffirm the slate of officers, Noreen Lake, President, George Magerl, Vice President and Carol Kidd, Secretary, by acclamation. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Noreen Lake took the oath of office for President, George Magerl took the oath of office for Vice President and Carol Kidd took the oath of office for Secretary.

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

Meeting adjourned at 5:24p.m.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd

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