Library Board

January 19 2015 Board President Larry Jirsak called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. in the library board room with the following members present: Larry Jirsak, Connie Schmeichel, and Jan Therien, Also present was Acting Director Laura England-Biggs and Jan Kruse. Members absent: Cindy Slykhuis and Virginia Meyer. The meeting was preceded by publicized notice in the Fremont Tribune 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 January 16, 2015 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 November 17, 2014. Board Member Therien seconded the motion. Carried. Unfinished business - Author Visits: After discussion, tabled for February meeting to get report from Board Member Meyer, allow other board members to read the book and investigate other presentations. Work plan progress reports - No progress to report on work plan. Specific date for Advocacy Day has not been announced by Nebraska Library Association. Tabled for February New Business - Right to Read Policy discussion - Discussion about the Right to Read Policy as it relates to the upcoming book club discussion of Fifty Shades of Grey. Guest Ms. Kruse raised some concerns about the staff response to any persons wishing to make an issue of the title selected; Ms. England-Biggs will take under advisement and have another discussion with the lead staff member. This also led to discussion of the meeting room policy, which Board Member Therien would like revisited as the rooms are not always available because groups can reserve for a year at a time. It was mentioned that library-related programs can and do “bump” outside groups regularly, but the perception is that there are certain nights when nobody can meet because another group has the reservations all locked up. Director’s Report: Ms. England-Biggs reported on meetings attended  Three Rivers Library System board, several meetings for personnel committee and as secretary for regular board meeting.   School Readiness/School Success Committee for Fremont Family Coalition, planning the Fremont Reads Challenge launching later this week.  Learning Center Book Club (Tuesdays and Fridays)  Holiday Program at Davenport, our Business Partner school (also joined the PTA)  Friends Board meeting January 2015  PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) meeting at 2 pm with Jess Hill, Julie Higgins, Donna Meismer from United Way. New program aimed at younger parents who need to develop their parenting skills with babies and infants up to age 3.  There continue to be staffing shortages with a part-time resignation (no notice) but the staff is pulling together to cover everything with good spirits.  La Brezza project continues to develop – Pete Wroblewski has completed the restoration work and we’re waiting to select the base in order to complete the installation.  Jess Hill recently traveled to New Orleans to attend training for PRIME TIME Family Reading Time.  The DeLoris McGee art memorial installation is completed. The memorial was funded entirely through private donations.  Our screening of How to Train Your Dragon/HTTYD2 attracted as many as 20 people this afternoon (no school because of the holiday). Following is the report of the Library Director for November, 2014: November November Year to date Year to date 2014 2013 2014 Oct-Nov 2013 No. of items issued: 9,763 10,396 22,054 22,258 Attendance: 7,799 8,370 16,678 18,679 Days Open: 27 27 Av. Daily Circulation: 362 385 Av. Daily Attendance: 289 310 Reference Questions: 264 291 553 535 Web Visits: 835 2,308 On-Line Learning Sessions: 12 23 Database Searches: 2,015 3,619 6,144 4,093 Internet/Computer Use: 1,695 2,089 4,139 4,874 Interlibrary Loans: 79 72 153 186 Borrowed 9 10 17 40 Lent 70 62 136 146 Meeting Held: 63 62 143 145 Items Added: 325 Items Discarded: 1,746 Vol. in Collection: 100,261 Following is the report of the Library Director for December 2014: December December Year to date Year to date 2014 2013 2014 2013 No. of items issued: 9,866 9,795 31,920 32,053 Attendance: 6,235 22,913 Days Open: 29 29 Av. Daily Circulation: 340 363 Av. Daily Attendance: 215 Reference Questions: 138 273 691 808 Web Visits: 1,185 860 3,493 3,106 On-line Learning Sessions: 16 5 39 52 Database Uses: 1,838 3,829 7,982 7,922 Internet/Computer Use: 1,781 2,213 5,920 7,087 Interlibrary Loans: 61 68 214 254 Borrowed 9 8 26 48 Lent 52 60 188 206 Meeting Held: 48 63 190 222 Items Added: 444 Items Discarded: 3,301 Vol. in Collection: 107,423 Friends of the Library’s Report – Board Member Jirsak reported that the Friends had discussions around the Fifty Shades selection for the Novel Ideas Book Club, agreed to fund author Joy Johnson for a program (library will arrange schedule, promotion, etc). The BOOB Girls (Burned Out Old Broads) title raised some discussion as well, with the idea that we will have to promote carefully to avoid any flak from the misperception of the book’s contents. Also a preview of the Lemonade on the Lawn event (Frozen on the Lawn) for 2015 – trying something different than a magician or a band. Board Member Jirsak moved to adjourn and Board Member Schmeichel seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:31 p.m. (Signed) by Laura England-Biggs, Acting Director