Library Board

June 16, 2014 Board Member Larry Jirsak called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m. in the library board room with the following members present: Larry Jirsak, Connie Schmeichel, Cindy Slykhuis, and Jan Therien. Also present was Director Janet Davenport. Members absent 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 June 13, 2014 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 Therien moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on May 19, 2014. Board Member Schmeichel seconded the motion. Carried. Unfinished business - Recommendation for Library Board Appointment - The Board discussed possible members they had identified and Board Member Therien proposed a person recommended by past Library Director Ann Stephens. Director Davenport will contact this individual to see if they might be interested in serving on the Library Board. Strategic Plan – Discussion of a Second Year Review - The Board will review the Strategic Plan at a future meeting. Election of Officers - The nominating committee proposed reelection of current officers to the positions for the coming year. Board Member Therien moved and Board Member Slykhuis seconded the election of Larry Jirsak as President, Connie Schmeichel as Vice President and Jan Therien as Secretary. The candidates were unanimously approved. New Business – Library Section of Municipal Code - The City Clerk is in the process of revising the city’s Municipal Code and has asked department heads to review the sections of the code related to their departments. Director Davenport presented revisions for the Board’s discussion. The board would like to see the membership expand from 5 to a range of between 5 and 7 members. Other changes removed antiquated designation of “Reading Room, Art Gallery and Museum” from the library’s services, proposed a change in Annual Report delivery to the Mayor and City Council and made language consistent with other departments. Board Member Slykhuis moved and Board Member Schmeichel seconded, motion approved. Director’s Report: • The 2014 Summer Reading Program got off to a big start with a Kickoff Party in John C. Fremont Park on May 29. Parks and Recreation Department summer recreation employees provide face painting and games as well as the “bounce house”. Hy-Vee donated treats for the afternoon. We estimate over 300 participants in the afternoon party  in the park. The first three Monday events were well attended and we have 481 readers, children, teens and adults, registered in the reading program. A total of 27,385 books, pages and minutes have been read to date. • Staff members Barb Bandlow, Kelly Olson, Katie Roberts and I have participated in the Smart Investing @ Your Library seminars in conjunction with the Library’s participation in the Nebraska Library Commission’s grant project funded by ALA and FINRA’s Investor Education Foundation. The library also received a collection of books on the topic of personal finance to add to our collection. • The Friends of the Library, A Trust have provided funds to add a second AWE Early Literacy station and an Afterschool Edge station for elementary learners. • We will be having an author visit by local author Julie Cook on July 17. • Director Davenport attended the Eastern Library System Annual meeting on June 6th. The meeting provided several programs, notably one on fund raising for building projects and one on strategic planning. Also discussed was the plan to reorganize the library systems in Nebraska from 6 to 4. The Eastern Library System will merge with the Northeast Library System. • As a follow up to my participation in the Fremont Area Community Foundations Non Profit Intensive training program for executive directors I was interviewed by Tara Bryan, a UNO professor assisting with evaluation of the project. Following is the report of the Library Director for May, 2013: May May Year to Year to 2014 2013 Date Date 2013-14 2012-13 No. of items issued: 11,692 10,816 88,440 86,284 Attendance: 8,196 10,426 39,833 79,120 Days Open: 30 30 Av. Daily Circulation: 390 361 Av. Daily Attendance: 273 348 Reference Questions: 358 406 2,432 2,977 Web Visits: 1,354 9,820 On-line Learning Sessions: 9 177 Database Searches: 3,650 846 37,761 8,261 Internet/Computer Use: 2,788 20,151 Interlibrary Loans: 65 52 731 697 Borrowed 12 3 132 68 Lent 53 49 599 629 Meeting Held: 63 62 562 653 Items Added: 391 Items Discarded: 16 Vol. in Collection: 102,564 Friends of the Library’s Report – Larry Jirsak reported the Friends are receiving donations to purchase a pedestal for the LaBrezza statue which will be brought out of storage placed in the library. Board Member Therien moved to adjourn and Board Member Schmeichel seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:39 p.m. (Signed) by Janet Davenport, Library Director