Board Capsules
August 21, 2001

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, August 21, 2001. President John Ciborowski called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

PLANNING COMMITTEE – John Burke.

John Burke introduced Walter Roth from Executive Service Corps. Walter Roth gave an overview of the ESC final report to the library and offered suggestions to the board for more effective meetings.

The Board consensus was to begin implementing the recommendations made by Executive Service Corps.

John Ciborowski introduced new Board member, Noreen Lake, to the Board of Trustees.

BOARD REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES – Bob Blanchard.

Sandra Norlin introduced Bob Blanchard, Head of Community Services who gave an overview of the department and its activities. Bob provided information on several new stops that have been added to the Mobile Library route. Bob gave a detailed report of the Community Services Department and a PowerPoint presentation of the mobile library, past and present.

Susan Burrows distributed minutes from the August 14, 2001 Finance Committee meeting.

Susan Burrows reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the first draft of the FY2002 budget. Sandra Norlin reported that priorities include a modest staff increase that will begin in July 2002, an increase to the book budget and an 18.6% decrease in the capital outlay.

Rhys Read commented that the tax levy would actually decrease with the minimal increase in the library budget.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Ellen Yearwood, to approve the draft of the FY2002 Budget papers dated August 14, 2001 as prepared by the Finance Committee. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The following motions were presented to the Board by Finance Chairman, Susan Burrows:

MOTION by Committee to approve additional expenses to Rentacrate in the amount of $1,609.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Committee to purchase 15 Booktrucks from Demco in the amount of $2,310.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Committee to approve the redesign and repair of the boat in the Youth Services Department in the amount of $12,491.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Committee to approve the purchase of upgrades to 90 Microsoft Office XP users at the Des Plaines Public Library at a cost of $4,770.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Committee to approve a one-year maintenance contract with ThyssenKrupp Elevator for elevator maintenance at a cost of $7,560.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Susan Burrows, seconded by John Burke, to approve additional SIRSI training for library employees at a cost not to exceed $3,000.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Susan Burrows, seconded by John Burke, to approve a one-year contract with High Voltage Maintenance (HVM) UPS services at a cost of $4,680.00. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE – John Ciborowski.

John Ciborowski reported that the City of Des Plaines Executive Committee will deal with library building problems that include the elevator and air conditioning system. The Community Block Grant will sponsor the installation of the handicap accessible side door leading from the parking garage into the library. Pinkus Woodworking Group will install maple moulding around the aquarium and surrounding wall, which includes doorway casement and floor and ceiling trim.

John Ciborowski also reported that the library will have some of the outside brick power washed due to salt residue.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – Ellen Yearwood, Chairman.

Ellen Yearwood scheduled a Management Committee meeting for Monday, August 27, 2001 at 6:00 PM.

SYSTEM MEMBERSHIP – John Ciborowski.

John Ciborowski reported on an Internet pilot project through North Suburban Library Systems with the address www.answersunlimited. org that will eventually operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY – Inara Brubaker.

Inara Brubaker reported that the Friends will hold their semi-annual booksale beginning September 14, 2001 for members and concluding September 16, 2001. The Friends did not have a meeting in July, but will meet on Tuesday, August 28, 2001 at 7:00 PM in the second floor conference room of the library.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

New employees for July/August are Dale Loux, Maintenance Assistant, Full-time; Jason Pluta, Technology Page, Part-time; and Kassam Master, Circulation Page, Part-time.

Joseph Mershon, Amy Warman, and Jennifer Weber ended their employment during this time period.

The Work Analysis Team presented results of their activities to the library staff on July 26. They are preparing their final report for the Department Heads.

Training for migration to the new computer system SIRSI has begun in anticipation for the installation and changeover in December.

This month’s statistical charts do not show a clear picture of our growth in services and demand because we were closed most of July 2000 in preparation for the move into our new facility. If compared to July 1999, we show an increase of 9.22% in circulation.

Our Summer Reading Club event on August 5 was successful, as was the entire program. The Youth Services Department enrolled 903 children, the largest number in their history. They are especially proud that this was accomplished without staff visiting the schools to announce the program and without "fancy" incentive prizes. The YS staff feels that over 900 children were reading this summer merely for the pleasure of reading.

The Adult Services Department enrolled 144 people in their program, with 43 readers turning in their game cards (four books read) to qualify for great prizes, provided by local merchants through the extraordinary efforts of Laurie Papadourakis of the Readers Services Department.

The Mobile Library service will include five new stops in their September schedule. Bob Blanchard, Head of Community Outreach will give a full report of Mobile Library activities at this month’s Board meeting.

Since my last report I have attended the following meetings: City Holiday Decorations Committee (7/18 and 8/15); Santa Arrival Committee (8/15); Mary Walsh regarding Mobile Library service in Rosemont (8/19); Chamber Advisory Committee (7/31); Poetry Corner Discussion (7/31); Board Ad Hoc Committee on Televising Board Meetings (8/6); and Board Finance Committee Meeting (8/15).

Mike O’Connor, Dominican College Library Science Student interviewed me about the building project. (8/9)

NEW BUSINESS

John Ciborowski will attend the September 4 City Council meeting, Eldon Burk the September 17 meeting, Susan Burrows the October 1 meeting and Ellen Yearwood the October 15 meeting.

President Ciborowski asked Board members to call him regarding their choices for Committee assignments.

Sandra Norlin was notified that the Des Plaines Art Guild will host their annual Art Fair on September 8, 2001 and asked for approval for a purchase award. Sandra explained that in past years art purchases were funded by the interest from the Gertrude Downing Trust.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to authorize Library Administrator, Sandra Norlin, to approve an art purchase in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 to be purchased with interest funds from the Downing Trust and that the artwork be displayed in the library for a period of one year, after which time the artwork will become part of the library’s art collection. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Brubaker, Burk, Burke, Burrows, Ciborowski, Grice, Lake, Read, Yearwood. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Sandra Norlin reported that the Special Events Commission has asked the library for permission to use the first floor meeting rooms and washrooms for a New Years Eve celebration. The Board postponed this discussion until the September 18, 2001 meeting. The Special Events Committee will meet again on September 5, 2001.

Eldon Burk proposed selling a library building ornament as a fundraiser for the library. The Board will address this again in the spring and take no action at this time.

OLD BUSINESS

John Ciborowski reported that the Ad Hoc Committee met at the City of Des Plaines in the Council Chambers on August 6, 2001. The recommendation by the Committee was to videotape the Board meetings at the library through Library Cable Network and broadcast the meetings on Channel 17 through the City of Des Plaines.

MOTION by Committee, to videotape Des Plaines Public Library Board meetings from the second floor conference room of the library on a quarterly basis funded by a library grant and to broadcast the meetings on Channel 17 through the City of Des Plaines. Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Josh Pfluger from Library Cable Network will attend the September Board meeting and present information on the taping.

The Ad Hoc Committee asked that library patrons be polled for a response to the televised meetings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sandra Norlin announced that the library will celebrate its one year anniversary on Sunday, September 30, 2001 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Inara Brubaker, to enter into an Executive Session at 9:40 PM to discuss Purchase or Lease of Real Property. Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The regular session reconvened at 9:55 PM and was called to order by President John Ciborowski.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Inara Brubaker, to adjourn the regular meeting. Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The meeting adjourned at 9:55 PM.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.

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