Library Board

May18, 2015 Board President Larry Jirsak called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. in the library board room with the following members present: Larry Jirsak, Jan Therien, and Connie Schmeichel. Also present were Library Director Janet Davenport. Members absent: 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 May 15, 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 Therien moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on April 20, 2015. Board Member Schmeichel seconded the motion. Carried. Unfinished business – Library Board Work Plan - The Board discussed the plan document further. Board Member Schmeichel requested a library staff member be invited to the first portion of future meetings to promote Board knowledge of the library and its operations. Visits to areas of the library and discussion of their function was another suggestion. Board President Jirsak suggested many Board activities will continue as before. Recommendations of Possible New Board Members to Mayor – Board Member Meyer had planned to share information from contacts she had volunteered to make at the previous Board Meeting. Since she was unable to attend discussion will be carried over to the June meeting. New Business – There was no New Business on the Agenda. Board Member Therien requested to discuss items reported in the Director’s Report in the Minutes of the April Meeting;  Priorities were suggested for the facilities maintenance needs noted. If funding was tight elevator work and HVAC should take priority. The Terrazzo floor refurbishing would be of lessor priority as it is a cosmetic not operational need.  Ongoing issues with the HVAC were discussed. The Board was concerned that Director Davenport was working on issues that were not her area of expertise and wanted the City to take responsibility for facilities issues like the HVAC. Board President Moved that Director Davenport ask the city to assist with the HVAC issue. Board Member Schmeichel seconded. Carried.  The Bill Jamerson Program of April 22 was discussed. While the audience was very interested it was also quite small. Additional marketing ideas for future programs were suggested. Director Report: News  The Friends of Keene Memorial Library Board approved 3 contributions to the Library at their May meeting. A gift of $5,000 was given as enrichment funds for the materials collection, reviving a past tradition of an annual gift to the materials collection from the group. They also approved $2,000 to purchase books to serve as prizes for reading in the Summer Reading Program for the current year. Looking ahead, $3,500was approved for next year’s Summer Reading Program, continuing their support of Movies on the Lawn, prizes and providing each staff member a tee shirt promoting the reading program theme for the summer. The Youth Services staff and I greatly appreciate the support the Friends provide the Summer Reading Program.  Summer Reading Program will soon be here. Our first Monday Performance will be on Tuesday May 26th due to the Memorial Day holiday followed by a Kickoff event in the John C Fremont Park on Thursday May 28. This year the library will “Read to the Rhythm”, using the iRead (Illinois Reading Enrichment Development) program. Library Youth Services staff felt there were more programming opportunities related to this theme than to the superhero oriented Collaborative Summer Library program most libraries in Nebraska are using.  Director Davenport attended the Nebraska Library Association PLTS Spring Meeting in Columbus on April 24th. The full day workshop Who We Are, What We Do, Why It Matters: Why Nebraska Needs Libraries More Than Ever. Presenter Valerie Gross is the President and CEO of the Howard County Library System in Maryland. She believes is public libraries should identify themselves with the education community and in presenting themselves to the community should stress the value and educational nature of the services we offer. She attributes increased funding and stability for her library stem to this approach. Personnel  A new Library Assistant III Danielle Rein started work with KML on May 4th.  Librarian I, Barb Bandlow will return to full time status on June 4 after a prolonged medical leave. Mark your Calendars Upcoming events at the library include:  June 19 – Overdrive, the vender we receive our e-books and half of our e-audio from, has a touring “Digital Bookmobile” and are scheduling a stop in Fremont at the Library. Following is the report of the Library Director for April, 2015: April April Year to Year to 2015 2014 Date Date 2014-15 2013-14 No. of items issued: 10,157 11,435 74,241 76,748 Attendance*: 7,447 3,886 52,789 31,637 Days Open: 29 29 Av. Daily Circulation: 350 394 Av. Daily Attendance: 257 134 Reference Questions: 311 324 2,137 2,074 Web Visits: 1,468 1,372 9,410 8,466 On-line Learning Sessions: 25 37 126 168 Database Searches: 3,602 5,889 18,699 34,111 Internet/Computer Use: 1,930 2,346 13,805 15,404 Interlibrary Loans: 104 106 561 666 Borrowed 17 15 76 120 Lent 87 91 485 546 Meeting Held: 65 67 470 499 Items Added: 573 Items Discarded: 197 Vol. in Collection: 107,289 *Note: April 2014 - Attendance only for ½ month Friends of the Library’s Report – Board President Jirsak, the Board liaison to the Friends reported that Lemonade on the Lawn will be held on Saturday July 11 at 2 PM. They are planning a “Frozen” themed event. He also an update on the project of returning LaBrezza to the library, noting that the pedestal base has been ordered. Board Member Schmeichel moved to adjourn and Board Member Therien seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. (Signed) by Janet Davenport, Library Director