BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
September 15, 2009

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Eldon Burk, Myrtle Klebe, Noreen Lake, Jeffery Rozovics, Selma D’Souza, Elaine Tejcek.

Absent: George Magerl.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Carol Kidd, Holly Richards Sorensen, Heather Imhoff, Gary Valente, Alderman Dan Wilson, Jennifer Tsalapatanis, Susan Moylan Krey, Jeff Asta, Matt Wagoner.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

OATH OF OFFICE

Jennifer Tsalapatanis took the oath of office.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

Eldon Burk asked to move E. Award Bid for Proximity Type Keyless Access System to A. in New Business.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Jeffery Rozovics, 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.

Alderman Wilson was in attendance.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Jeff Rozovics, 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 Eldon Burk, seconded by Jeff Rozovics, 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, D’Souza, Klebe, Lake, Rozovics, Tsalapatanis, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, D’Souza, Klebe, Lake, Rozovics, Tsalapatanis, 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 August: Diane Roscoe, Page, and Amanda Smart, Circulation Services Clerk. Resignation: Elizabeth Pearl, Page.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Heather Imhoff was invited to become a member of the Holy Family Medical Center’s new Neighborhood Community Relations Committee. She attended the first meeting of the committee on August 27.

I attended the three-day Writer’s Workshop at Northwestern University August 12 through 14. It was both inspiring and practical and I learned from both the instructors and the other students. Thank you for this opportunity to improve and advance my writing skills.

Nine supervisors attended a 6-session workshop on coaching and supervising. The workshop was also attended by supervisors from the Mt. Prospect Public Library. We found the joint meetings beneficial because of the opportunity to learn from another library’s ways of managing and because of the excellent curriculum planned and delivered by Face2Face Communications. It was also cost-effective to share expenses.

Our All-Staff Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15 from 8 to 10 AM.

PATRON SERVICES

August once was the quiet month in the public library. That, obviously, is no longer the case. When compared with the total circulation for the year, to date, circulation has increased by nearly 12%. When we compare August 2009 to August 2008, we have experienced a 21.3% increase. It is interesting, and gratifying, to note that there was a 21% increase in the number of books checked out from the Youth Services collection. The adults checked out 27% more DVDs than August a year ago. Self-check was used to check out 71% of all items circulated.

Attendance also increased by 24% over this time in 2008. We have a significant number of visits via the internet, with over 100,000 “hits” in August. Positively Ellinwood Street, our blog for readers’ and viewers’ advisory services has increased its use by 204%. Computer use in the adult computer area has increased by 24%, year to date. Our electronic book service was used by 42 new patrons in August. The total number of items checked out was 111. The most popular, system-wide, was Twilight, followed by The Time Traveler’s Wife.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

I conducted a tour for the staff of the Indian Prairie Library District (Darien, IL) on August 25 and the last meeting of the Night Owl Board of Directors on August 26. I attended the Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee meeting on September 2 and the monthly board of directors meeting on September 10.

NEW BUSINESS

Sandra Norlin reported that the library went out for bid for a Proximity Type Keyless Entry System and received 9 bids. Sandra recommended Anderson Lock, a Des Plaines business, who was the lowest bidder, in the amount of $15,834.50.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Jennifer Tsalapatanis, to award the bid for the Proximity Type Keyless Entry System on 12 Doors for the Des Plaines Public Library to Anderson Lock, in the amount of $15,834.50, who is the lowest bidder. This is a budgeted expense and is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Jeff Rozovics, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported that the Finance Committee met on September 8, 2009, to discuss the proposed budget documents. Jeff gave an overview of 2010 budget, which eliminates the quarterly newsletter, Library Cable Network, staff out-of-state travel and staff tuition reimbursement and includes a reduction in the materials budget of 5%. This budget was prepared with the goal of giving property tax relief to Des Plaines residents and businesses.

Sandra Norlin reported that there is a significant Increase in the use of the library in comparison to 2008.

MOTION by Committee, to approve the FY2010 budget as the official 2010 budget for the library, as presented. VOTE: AYES: NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Myrtle Klebe, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve the FY2010 Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization and Grants Application, as presented. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Myrtle Klebe will attend the October 5 City Council meeting, Elaine Tejcek the October 19 meeting and Eldon Burk the November 2 meeting and Jennifer Tsalapatanis the November 16 meeting.

MOTION by Committee, to approve the minutes from the August 18, 2009 Management Committee meeting, as presented. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Selma D’Souza, to approve the purchase of a Video Display System from Global Enterprise Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $21,973.95, which is a budgeted expense and in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Elaine Tejcek, seconded by Jeffery Rozovics to approve the purchase of Display Units for the Community Art Project Display in the amount of $12,079.48, which will be funded through the Des Plaines Public Library Donation Fund. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The City Council will review the library budget at their October 13, 2009 meeting.

Sandra Norlin reported that she talked to David Wiltse, City Attorney, about several library patrons with outstanding balances over $1,000.00. Mr. Wiltse will write letters to the patrons informing them that under Illinois State Law outstanding fines are considered theft up to a Class 3 felony. Sandra was following up on a discussion that members of the Management Committee had about patrons’ owing the library a large amount of money due to lost materials.

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.

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