Library Board

November 18, 2013 Board Member Larry Jirsak called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m. in the library board room with the following members present: Larry Jirsak, Connie Schmeichel, and Cindy Slykhuis. Also present was Director Janet Davenport. Members absent Jan Therien and Jenice Wolfe. The meeting was preceded by publicized notice in the Fremont Tribune and Radio KHUB and the agenda displayed in the municipal building, the Keene Memorial Library, online at www.fremontne.gov/library and distributed and emailed to the Library Board members on November 14 2013 and is open to the public. A copy of the open meeting law is posted continually for public inspection and is located near the entrance to the Board Room. Board Member Schmeichel moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on October 21, 2013. Board Member Slykhuis seconded the motion. Carried. Unfinished Business – Strategic Planning Goals: Goals for the coming year were presented by Director Davenport. After discussion, Ms. Schmeichel moved and Ms. Slykhuis seconded that the goals be accepted and we sent to Richard Miller at the Nebraska Library Commission for review to determine if we are on track with the Strategic Plan or if it needs further revision. New Business – Change of Meeting Time – Board Member Slykhuis moved the starting time for future Library Board meetings be changed to 3:30 PM. Board Member Schmeichel seconded, and the proposal was approved. Director’s Report  The Library Board has been recertified for the next three years. During that period the Board will need to earn another 20 hours of continuing education credit for the next certification.  The East Vestibule project passed at the City Council’s October 29 meeting, awarding the contract to Gifford Realty. The pre-construction meeting was held on November 12. There has been one change already in the project – plastic sheeting to separate the workspace instead of hard-structure walls – which will make it possible to use the entrance when the construction is not actively in progress. We have asked for a week’s notice for the start date (Gifford has been required to have all project materials on hand before starting) in order to post signs about the access change/temporary disruption.  PRIME TIME session 2 had another successful run. Smaller response from the community but more active involvement than the first time. The Friends of the Library have donated $2,000 to Humanities Nebraska to support future PRIME TIME programming. Humanities Nebraska staff visited our sessions as well as guests Carol Waring, Melissa Diers new executive director of the Fremont Area  Community Foundation, Helen Krause and Jeff Hoffman Friends of the Keene Memorial Library president.  October 12 was the last of our One Book, One Nebraska events around O Pioneers. Next year’s OBON has been announced: Once Upon a Town: the story of the North Platte Canteen by Bob Greene.  Mary Ringenberg, Katie Roberts and Laura E-Biggs attended Halloween Hysteria representing the library with face-painting and storytime at Gallery 92 West. Turnout was around 100.  Ready to Read Initiative/Early Childhood Coalition hosted a kickoff for a new program promoting NET/PBS apps for mobile devices, aimed at increasing children’s early literacy skills.  Salvation Army Tree of Lights kickoff was last Friday, and the tree is once again lit up from dusk until dawn on the West/Broad Street side of the Library.  Janet Davenport and Laura England-Biggs attended the recent program at Millard Branch library on how Libraries and Publishers can do better in the eBook world (presented by David Vinjamuri). Following is the report of the Library Director for October, 2013: October October Year to date Year to date 2013 2012 2013 2012 No. of items issued: 11,862 11,996 11,862 11,996 Attendance: 10,309 10,733 10,309 10,733 Days Open: 31 31 Av. Daily Circulation: 383 387 383 387 Av. Daily Attendance: 333 346 333 346 Reference Questions: 244 263 244 263 Database Searches: 474 474 Interlibrary Loans: 114 124 114 124 Borrowed 30 9 30 9 Lent 84 115 84 115 Meeting Held: 83 91 83 91 Computer Use: 2,785 2,747 2,785 2,747 Items Added: 469 Items Discarded: 206 Vol. in Collection: 101,497 Friends of the Library’s Report – Friends of Keene Memorial Library will hosted a Chamber Coffee Tuesday morning in the library, highlighting the new furniture purchased through matching KENO grants as well as the work they do to help us support the community’s reading and information needs. Board Member Schmeichel moved to adjourn and Board Member Slykhuis seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:47 p.m. (Signed) by Janet Davenport, Library Director