Library Board

March 16, 2015 Board President Larry Jirsak called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. in the library board room with the following members present: Larry Jirsak, Connie Schmeichel, Jan Therien, and Virginia Meyer Also present were Library Director Janet Davenport. Members absent: Cindy Slykhuis. 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 March 13, 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 February 16 , 2015 with the following correction under Unfinished Business: Board Member Therien continued discussion of her concern about the room policy regarding scheduling and volunteered to work on revising the Meeting Room Policy. Library Director Davenport volunteered to work with her on this project. Board Member Therien seconded the motion. Carried. Unfinished business - Author Visits - Board Member Meyer indicated she would like to see the proposed author visit take place. She and Board President Jirsak indicated they have now read the book The Chain: Farm, Factory and the Fate of our Food by Ted Genoways and believe it would be a good event to host. Library staff will work on planning the event with the author. The Board discussed the various ways in which these events are scheduled: by staff, by the Friends of the Library and by contact from potential speakers. Library Board Work Plan - The process by which the Library Board Work Plan was developed was reviewed and goals identified by each board member were discussed. Board Member Therien indicated she might like to pursue a goal more directly related to positive outcomes for the library rather than monitoring state legislative activity. The board members committed to refocusing on their goals. Other potential goals were mentioned, a contract with Dodge County for library services, the possible building expansion and working with Friends of the Library, a Trust to expand their activities in support of the library. New Business - Annual Report - Board members were pleased with the annual report and wished to see it distributed to Council and others in the community. Board Member Schmeichel moved that hard copies of the report be printed and hand delivered to City Council and the Mayor. Board Member Meyer seconded the motion. Carried. Strategic Planning - The library’s last strategic planning process took place in May of 2013 and resulted in a two year plan for the library. It is time to start working on an update to the plan. Discussion of the planning process will be added to next month’s agenda with a target of a planning event in September. Wider input from the community is desired. Board President Jirsak suggested sending out letters to a wide variety of community organizations, churches, schools and others to invite them to send a representative to the planning event. Director Report: News  The Fremont Reads Challenge is underway with readers challenged to read 10,000 hours between January 22 and April 7. After a slow start readers have logged over 2,000 books and two volumes have been added to the progress board in the west lawn of the library.  February 7 was “Bring Your Child to the Library Day” and Keene Memorial invited families to bring their children and celebrate with crafts, games, treats and a special story time.  Third Grade Tours are underway. Between February 17 and March 14 each of the Fremont elementary schools bring third grade students to the library to learn about using the library. A tour, instruction in searching the library’s online catalog and a Dewey based story time provide information and entertainment to these students.  PIWI (Parents Interacting With Infants) is being offered at the library as a joint effort of the Fremont Area United Way, The Fremont Family Coalition, the Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Funding Board and KML. Library Assistant Jess Hill went to training to be an instructor in this program, which she and Julie Higgins from the United Way facilitate. Five families are currently participating.  Memorials in honor of Deloris McGee, a long-time teacher in Fremont, were used to purchase new artwork for the library at the family’s request. The prints Magical Storybook by Jen Norton and Boy Dreaming and Girl Dreaming by Barbara Esposito are hung on the wall across from the children’s area near the entry to the library.  A new round of Prime Time was scheduled to start on March 5 and run for 6 weeks. With no registrations and a single family attending on the second week program night, it was determined we would postpone the event until fall. The Youth Services staff is reviewing the marketing of this program and other factors which may have led to such low turnout after 2 years of successful programs.  The NET Family Reading Night also took place on March 5. This event was well attended as students completed a treasure hunt, moving from station to station to look at PBS educational iPAd apps, and collecting a prize for completing the activity. This event was well attend and lots of fun.   The kickoff event for the Smart Investing @ Your Library program was held on Sunday February 22. This program sponsored by the Nebraska Library Commission with funding from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation will offer 4 weeks of online instruction in investing principles through courses targeted at 3 different age groups. A final event is scheduled for Tuesday March 31. The grant has also provided training for library staff in online financial resources and provided books for addition to our collection.  Midlands University’s Children’s Literature class again toured the library, they visit each semester. Students will use our resources for assignment and students without cards were encouraged to sign up. Personnel  The amendment to the City Salary Ordinance John Hemschemeyer, City HR Director introduced was passed and should go into effect for our employees on March 22. Not only does this bring library part-time employees up to minimum wage, it makes them regular part-time employees rather than temporary employees.  Gwen Showers, Library Assistant II retired on March 6 after 37 years of service to Keene Memorial Library.  Two new part-time Library Aides have started, Deb Jokumsen and Shelli Sanchez-Prado. We have advertised for a third to replace Angie Hoffman who will be leaving us at the end of March. The posting has closed and interviews are schedule for March 20.  The City has posted an opening for a Library Assistant III which will close on March 23. This position will include cataloging, outreach and adult programming responsibilities. Mark your Calendars  The Friends of Keene Memorial Library Annual Book Sale will be April 9-12, 2015  Joy Johnson, author of the BOOB Girls Series (Burned Out Old Broads) will visit make a presentation on Tuesday April 7 at 7:00 PM. This event is being sponsored by the Friends.  A musical tribute to the “Dollar-A-Day Boys”, members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) will be presented by Bill Jamerson on Wednesday April 22, 7:00 PM Board Member Change  Board Member Slykhuis has communicated that her family has purchased a new home and will be moving out of Fremont in April. As a result she can no longer serve on the Board. Please consider possible recommendations to the Mayor for filling this position. Following is the report of the Library Director for February, 2015: February February Year to Year to 2015 2014 Date Date 2014-15 2013-14 No. of items issued: 10,556 11,032 54,143 54,206 Attendance: 7,073 37,466 Days Open: 28 28 Av. Daily Circulation: 253 390 Av. Daily Attendance: Reference Questions: 403 290 1,478 1,438 Web Visits: 1,395 1,247 6,373 5,543 On-Line Learning Sessions: 2 39 64 127 Database Searches: 1,554 8,099 10,858 24,607 Internet/Computer Use: 1,842 2,202 9,788 10,568 Interlibrary Loans: 84 104 384 467 Borrowed 11 27 46 95 Lent 73 77 338 372 Meeting Held: 78 72 341 361 Items Added: 375 Items Discarded: 306 Vol. in Collection: 107,284 Friends of the Library’s Report – Board President Jirsak reported a successful annual meeting was held on March 1, 2015. The Friends of the Library Book Sale is also coming up April 9-12. Board Member Therien moved to adjourn and Board Member Schmeichel seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. (Signed) by Janet Davenport, Library Director