Board Minutes

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

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, October 17, 2006. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 7:07p.m.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Mary Bahamon, Eldon Burk, William Grice, Noreen Lake, George Magerl, Rhys Read, Elaine Tejcek.

Members Absent: Mary Ellicson, Jerry Mahony.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Martha Sloan, Carol Kidd, Wally Meyer, Alderman Carla Brookman.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

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

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

None.

CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE – Alderman Carla Brookman.

Alderman Brookman encouraged everyone to vote in the upcoming election.

CONSENT AGENDA

Noreen Lake asked that VI. A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting be removed from the Consent Agenda.

Noreen Lake asked that the minutes be corrected as follows:

Noreen Lake stated that the Veterans of Foreign War received the Governor’s Hometown Award and has asked Sandra Norlin and Veronica Schwartz to attend the ceremony in Springfield on October 18, 2006.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting, as modified. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

George Magerl asked that VI.D.1. Library Reports, be removed from the Consent Agenda.

George Magerl asked that the Meeting Room attendance report reflect the usage by listing Events, Rooms Used (A, B, C), the number of days the room was used for the specific event and attendance.

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to accept the Library Reports, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

William Grice asked that VI.D.2. Building and Grounds Committee Report be removed from the Consent Agenda.

William Grice asked that the minutes from the September 19, 2006 Building and Grounds Committee report be corrected as follows:

MOTION by George Magerl, seconded by William Grice, to have a key for the Friends of Library book storage room available at the library security desk for the Friends’ use when they are in the building and that the Friends will sign in and out to use the key and that the key will not leave the library building. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Eldon Burk, to accept the corrected minutes from the Building and Grounds meeting on September 19, 2006. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to accept the Consent Agenda, as modified. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

1. Over the Counter Receipts $ 10,674.17
2. Petty Cash Expenditures $ 21.00
3. Budget Expenditures for September $ 437,237.80
4. Expenditures Year to Date $ 4,209,109.34
5. Revenue for September $ 1,636,623.54
6. Revenue Year to Date $ 5,548,677.75

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

September 05, 2006 $ 66,368.74
September 18, 2006 $ 42,523.56
Total $ 108,892.30

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

September 14, 2006 $ 114,907.50
September 28, 2006 $ 118,650.75
Total $ 233,558.25

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, 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 employee for September: Adam Vernola, Page, part-time in Circulation Services.
Resignations/separations: Rena Oster, Page.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

This month I’d like to report how our staff is contributing to professional development. Martha Sloan and Christina Tropea are presenting a program on collection development for Spanish language material through attendance at the Guadalajara Book Fair at the ILA Annual Conference on October 6; Joanne Griffin will present a poster session discussing the library’s Community Conversations grant activities at the exhibits hall at the ILA Conference. I will give a presentation on visionary leadership with Mary Jane Kepner on October 4. I will also participate in the annual Scholars in Residence program at the Chicago Public Library as a panelist. The topic for the day is Appreciative Inquiry. Hector Marino was a featured speaker for a webcast program on the Sister Libraries program on October 2.

Our quarterly All-Staff meeting was held September 26. Gail Johnson of Face 2 Face Communications presented the program “Oh, I wish I’d said…” She and her associate Pam Parr demonstrated through humorous skits the triumphs and difficulties of providing service to the public. They left us with several good suggestions and two phrases that should come to mind when trying to solve problems presented to us: “I’m sorry that happened.” and “I can help you with that.” Feedback from the staff indicates that this was one of the most effective programs we have presented.

PATRON SERVICES

Circulation for 2006 continues its increase over 2005, with a 3% increase year to date. Sixty-seven percent of the children’s collection circulation is in print materials and 45% of the adults is print, with the combined circulations representing 52% of the total circulation. Use of the Self-Check dropped slightly to 20% of the total items circulated from the main library. Attendance at the library increased by 15.7% over last year’s year to date totals.

Computer use continues to increase, by 27.4% on the fourth floor and 122.9% on the second floor (youth services), for a total of 123,814 uses through September, 2006.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

On September 20 I attended a Trends discussion with Miriam Pollack and a meeting at City Hall regarding the 2006 Holiday Lighting Ceremony, which will be held at the Metropolitan Square this December. I attended an NSLS Board meeting on 9/25, an LCN Executive Committee meeting on 9/26, a SLURP luncheon on 9/29, an LCN Cable Division meeting on 10/3, and the ILA Annual Conference on 10/4. I will be on vacation from October 5 through 15. Martha Sloan will be Librarian in Charge during my absence.

NEW BUSINESS

Sandra Norlin asked the Board to approve the proposed FY2007 budget with the following changes that were voted on at the September 19, 2006 Board meeting:
Transfer $84,950 from line item 980410 Computer Hardware from Fund 201 to Fund 202.
Add $50,000 to line item 990940 Trans to Capital Projects Fund.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by George Magerl, to approve the FY2007 budget, as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Eldon Burk reported that the Management Committee met on October 16, 2006 and that the committee was in the process of preparing guideline for the Friends of the Library use of the Friend’s book storage room, library facilities, library equipment and library personnel. The Building and Grounds Committee and Management Committee will meet to further discuss these guidelines.

Eldon Burk also reported that the Management Committee approved a new job description for a newly created position, Web Services Librarian, and asked for approval for changes to the Administration Services Clerk position. Sandra Norlin explained that the Web Services Librarian position will replace an open Readers’ Services Assistant position and has been included in the 2007 budget. Sandra also explained that the Administration Services Clerk position is being upgraded due to added responsibilities and additional hours for the position.

MOTION by Committee, to approve the newly created Web Services Librarian position and to begin the process for filling the position and to approve the changes to the Administration Services Clerk position. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Eldon Burk also reported that the Management Committee will discuss at their November 20, 2006 meeting complaints being made by adult library patrons regarding computer use and disturbances by younger people on the fourth floor.

MOTION by William Grice, seconded by George Magerl, to approve payment to Lodestone Digital for training for the LSTA Grant, Clickable Content in the amount of $5,900.00, which is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by William Grice, to approve payment to Thomson Gale for Literature Resource Center in the amount of $8,000.00, which is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Elaine Tejcek, to approve payment to Thomson Gale for Student Resource Center and Biography Resource Center in the amount of $9,381.75, which is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION by Elaine Tejcek, seconded by William Grice, to approve payment to Ebsco in the amount of $36,169.36, which is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Bahamon, Burk, Grice, Lake, Magerl, Read, Tejcek. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Sandra Norlin reported on changes being made by Library Cable Network, including the addition of a library production studio. Library Cable Network members are Prospect Heights Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Skokie Public Library and Des Plaines Public Library.

Sandra Norlin stated that the informational sheets she sent to Board members were compiled from the statistics from the Illinois Public Library Annual Reports (IPLAR).

George Magerl suggested that small businesses be notified that they are eligible to receive a Des Plaines Public Library card.

Sandra Norlin reported that the North Suburban Library System will no longer use the services of NorthStarNet and that the Des Plaines Public Library will be affected because another service provider will have to be chosen to host the library’s website.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

George Magerl and Elaine Tejcek reported on programs they attended at the Illinois Library Association conference.

Elaine Tejcek, Noreen Lake and Sandra Norlin will attend training in Parliamentary Procedures at North Suburban Library System on October 23, 2006.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Eldon Burk, to enter into an Executive Session at 9:10 p.m. to discuss Compensation, Discipline or Performance of a Specific Employee. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

The regular session reconvened at 9:17 p.m. and was called to order by President Noreen Lake.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Mary Bahamon, Eldon Burk, William Grice, Noreen Lake, George Magerl, Rhys Read, Elaine Tejcek.

MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Rhys Read, to affirm the decision made in Executive Session regarding Compensation, Discipline or Performance of a Specific Employees. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.