Board Minutes

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
July 18, 2006

The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday, July 18, 2006. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to order at 7:04PM.

ROLL CALL.

Roll call indicated the following board members were present: Eldon Burk, Mary Ellicson, Noreen Lake, Jerry Mahony, Elaine Tejcek, Susan Weinberg.

Members Absent: William Grice, Rhys Read.

Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Hector Marino, Carol Kidd, Wally Meyer, George Magerl, Christina Tropea.

CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Weinberg, 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 announced that National Night Out will be held on August 1, 2006 at the Rosemary Argus Friendship Park Conservatory and at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion. Alderman Brookman stated that this family friendly activity is held in conjunction with the Neighborhood Watch Program.

DEMONSTRATION OF ONLINE DATABASES – Christina Tropea.

Sandra Norlin introduced Christina Tropea of the Adult Services Department who demonstrated how to navigate and use the library’s online resources. Alderman Brookman asked if an online resources demonstration could be presented at the next 5th Ward meeting and Sandra Norlin responded that she would arrange for the demonstration. Eldon Burk asked if Des Plaines businesses could use the databases and Sandra Norlin responded that each Des Plaines business is entitled to one library card for business purposes, which entitles them to use the library’s online databases. Eldon Burk suggested that an upcoming column on the library’s online resources be included in “Splinters from the Board.”

CONSENT AGENDA

Noreen Lake asked that A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting – June 20, 2006, be removed from the Consent Agenda.

MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to accept the Consent Agenda, as amended. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

President Lake stated that she abstained from voting on the motion to reimburse Eldon Burk for the cost of his ticket for Day at the Races sponsored by the Des Plaines Healthy Community Partnership Foundation. President Lake stated that she is on the Board for Des Plaines Healthy Community Partnership Foundation.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to amend the motion to reimburse Eldon Burk for the cost of his ticket for Day at the Races to read that Lake abstained from voting. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

President Lake commended the Des Plaines Police Department for their foresight in planning and preparing for a possible disturbance when the group “Citizens for Legal Immigration” met at the library.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to accept the Consent Agenda, as amended. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

1. Over the Counter Receipts $ 11,744.25
2. Petty Cash Expenditures $ 15.64
3. Budget Expenditures for June $ 447,170.40
4. Expenditures Year to Date $ 2,500,381.60
5. Revenue for June $ 25,529.73
6. Revenue Year to Date $ 2,659,585.90

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

June 05, 2006 $ 56,576.57
June 19, 2006 $ 83,986.07
June 28, 2006 $ 56,895.70
Total $ 197,458.34

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Ellicson, Lake, Mahony, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

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

June 08, 2006 $ 114,719.03
June 22, 2006 $ 117,586.53
Total $ 232,305.56

ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Ellicson, Lake, Mahony, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

I have not received an official request for confidential information since my last report.

PERSONNEL

New employees for June, 2006 are: Suzanne Johnson, Page, and Brian Lee, Circulation Clerk, both in Circulation Services.

Resignations/Separations: Steve Micheas-DeL’Herbe, Circulation Clerk, and Sanjin Salkic, Page, Circulation Services.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

This month I have awarded tuition reimbursement to four employees: Laura Adler, who is beginning work toward her graduate degree in Library and Information Science; Gwen LaCosse, who is continuing her work toward her graduate library degree; Carol Kidd, who will be taking two computer classes at McHenry County College; and Kathy Kyrouac, who is beginning her work toward a certificate in Advanced Website Development at Oakton Community College.

I have also awarded three Staff Bonus Awards. This quarter’s recipients are Dennis Polonsky, Security Monitor; Jim Westen, Technology Page; and David Whittingham, Readers Services Assistant. These awards are given quarterly from nominations by the staff. The winners receive a $250 bonus and a library pin. All nominees receive letters and have their nomination letters placed in their personnel files.

PATRON SERVICES

This month’s circulation recovered from last month’s dip to a 5.4% increase over June of 2005. In the Youth Services department, the increases were in fiction and DVDs and in the Adult Department, the increases were in audio books and DVDs. Print items represented 68% of the circulation in Youth Services materials and 46% in the Adult Services materials. Patrons used Self-Check for 21% of the circulation from the main library. The number of cardholders has increased by 827 since last June.

Over 30 staff, trustees, and family members walked in the 4th of July parade with the library’s entry. Thanks to Hector Marino for organizing this year’s entry for the library.

Computer use continues to increase, this month by 31% in the Youth Services department and 16% in the Adult Services department. In the first six months of 2006 the computers on the adult floors have been used over 50,000 times and on the youth services floor over 10,000 times. Meeting room use declined by 15% over last year at this time.

The Summer Reading Clubs have been very popular this year. By June 11, 1508 children through 6th grade, 120 7th and 8th graders, and 117 adults and 88 high school students have registered and are participating.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

I attended the Friends of the Library roundtable meeting on 6/27; the Legislative breakfast meeting for libraries, park districts, and municipal government and the library’s volunteer appreciation tea on 6/28; the NSLS Executive Committee meeting on 6/29, and a reception to honor retiring library director Jack Hicks (Deerfield) on 6/30. I walked in the library’s entry in the 4th of July parade; attended a Chamber of Commerce Board Development Committee meeting on 7/7, the Chamber of Commerce networking/after hours reception for not-for-profit service agencies on 7/11. I plan to attend the Chamber Board meeting, the female library directors’ luncheon, and a meeting of the planning subcommittee for the Senior Center on 7/13. I will convene the first meeting of the Centennial planning committee on 7/18.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Noreen Lake reported that the Building and Grounds Committee met on Tuesday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m. and that Friends of the Library requests were discussed including building access, security, insurance and liability. Library Director Sandra Norlin was asked to research a number of the issues that were brought up at the Building and Grounds meeting and she will report her findings at the next Building and Grounds Committee meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

The Board reviewed Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, Chapter VI, “Programming” and Chapter VII, “Access.” This is one of the requirements for the Per Capita Grant.

Sandra Norlin reported that the agreement between the Des Plaines Public Library and the Village of Rosemont for Mobile Library Service to Rosemont will renew automatically on September 1, 2006, unless either party terminates the agreement.

Sandra Norlin reported that usage of the Mobile Library service to Rosemont decreased in 2005/2006 and recommended that service be offered to Rosemont for another year at an increase of 2.6%, which is the latest increase shown in the Consumer Price Index for the Chicago area. The new cost would be $14,500.00.

Eldon Burk asked if this increase would cover the cost of fuel for another year and suggested that the agreement be reviewed in six months and adjusted to reflect changes in fuel costs. Sandra Norlin recommended that the library reserve the right to add a fuel charge during the term of this contract. The Board consensus was to review the agreement in six months.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to renew the agreement to provide Mobile Library Service to the Village of Rosemont for 2006/2007 in the amount of $14,500.00, which is an increase of 2.6%, and to review the contract in six months and adjust the amount of the contract to reflect changes in fuel costs. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Mary Ellicson will attend the August 7 City Council meeting; Jerry Mahony the August 21 meeting; Susan Weinberg the September 5 meeting and Eldon Burk the September 18 meeting.

Jerry Mahony served as chairman for the Building and Grounds Committee at their meeting on July 18, 2006 and reported that the Committee would recommend Jemrick Carpets, Inc. to remove and replace the carpeting on the main library stairway at a cost of $9,690.00. This was the lowest proposal obtained by Gary Valente, Head of Building and Security Services. The current carpeting will be replaced with carpet squares.

MOTION by Committee, to accept the proposal from Jemrick Carpets, Inc. to remove and replace the carpeting on the main library stairway at a cost of $9,690.00, which is a budgeted expense and is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE: AYES: Burk, Ellicson, Lake, Mahony, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Jerry Mahony also reported that plans to build a storage shed in the city owned parking garage were on hold until it could be decided whether the City of Des Plaines would approve the structure. Jerry Mahony stated that Gary Valente, Head of Building and Security Services, was told that the City of Des Plaines would not consider the storage shed until they received architectural drawings of the proposed shed from the library. The cost for these drawings would be approximately $1,500.00 with no guarantee that the City would approve the shed. Alderman Carla Brookman was asked to approach the City Council with the library’s request to build a storage shed in the parking garage. Alderman Brookman agreed to bring this to the City Council’s attention.

Sandra Norlin asked for Board approval to sign a contract with OCLC Net Library to provide eAudiobooks to the library at a cost of $12,000.00 for one year.

MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to approve payment to OCLC NetLibrary in the amount of $12,000.00, which is a budgeted item and is in the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE: AYES: Burk, Ellicson, Lake, Mahony, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Noreen Lake and Sandra Norlin will attend Foundations, Friends and Finances at North Suburban Library System on Thursday, September 14. Wally Meyer and Elaine Tejcek will attend as their guests.

President Lake reported that VFW Post #2992 and Knights of Columbus Council 3627 were nominated for the Governor’s Home Town Award for supporting the troops in Iraq by sending letters and personal care items. Noreen Lake thanked Veronica Schwartz, Head of Youth Services, for making a presentation to the judges based on library participation. The library collected letters and personal care items for US troops in Iraq.

Sandra Norlin will be on vacation July 21 – 30 and Martha Sloan will be Librarian in Charge.

Sandra Norlin reported that the Department Heads went on a field trip to the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum on July 12.

William Grice was not in attendance at the Building and Grounds Committee on July 18 meeting and the Board of Trustees on July 18 meeting due to a death in his family.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

MOTION by Susan Weinberg, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to reaffirm the slate of officers, Noreen Lake, President, William Grice, Vice President and Carol Kidd, Secretary, by acclamation. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Noreen Lake took the oath of office for President and Carol Kidd took the oath of office for Secretary. William Grice was not in attendance and will take the oath of office at another meeting.

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

The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.