Library Board

September 21, 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, Connie Schmeichel, Lori Dahl and Valeria Marquez. Also present were Library Director Janet Davenport. 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 September 17, 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 August 17, 2015, Board Member Vasquez seconded the motion. Carried. President Jirsak welcomed new board member Lori Dahl and ask her to share a little about herself. Board members introduced themselves to Ms. Dahl. Library Staff Member Visit – Laura England-Biggs, Youth Services Librarian II Ms. England-Biggs has been with the library 10 years. She has served as Assistant Director, Interim Director and is now Librarian II responsible for Youth Services. She told the Board how much she loves her current job working with children. She shared a new brochure publicizing library story times. President Jirsak thanked Laura for her exceptional service to the Library and the city. Unfinished business – Budget Update - Director Davenport reported the budget had been passed as presented. New Business – Library Wi Fi – 24 hour access - Director Davenport explained that Library Wi- Fi is available 24 hours per day and can be received in the on the porch and in the parking lot. As a result we have individuals using their cell phones and portable devices on the porch, near the door and in vehicles at all hours of the night and early morning. Some staff are concerned for safety and would like to limit this available to the library’s service hours. The Board discussed this issue, the Cassie time and access controls used on regular PC’s and other security responses, such as more cameras. Board members noted this could be considered another use of our services, but saw it as a grey area. Wishing to give this further thought the board asked to have this placed on the next month’s agenda. They also recommended she discuss the issue with the City Administrator. Resignation of Board Member Jan Therien - Board members were asked to identify a possible candidate to serve out the remaining term of Member Therien’s term and bring them to the next meeting. The Board’s suggestions will be forwarded to the Mayor. Following is the report of the Library Director for August, 2015: August August Year to Year to 2015 2014 Date Date 2014-15 2013-14 No. of items issued: 11,421 12,098 124,786 131,190 Attendance**: n/a 8,664 n/a 68,914 Days Open: 31 31 Av. Daily Circulation: 368 390 Av. Daily Attendance: 279 Reference Questions: 289 366 3,337 3,376 Web Visits: 1,540 1,352 15,886 14,202 On-line Learning Sessions: 12 24 186 274 Database Searches: 7,467 4,137 33,592 48,058 Internet/Computer Use: 2,314 2,465 22,478 24,892 Interlibrary Loans: 102 82 900 962 Borrowed 9 14 116 165 Lent 93 68 784 797 Meeting Held: 45 67 772 785 Items Added: 437 Items Discarded: 738 Vol. in Collection: 106,298 **Attendance is unavailable at this time, will update when it becomes available. Director Report: News  Keene Memorial Library has applied for a Youth Grants for Excellence from the Nebraska Library Association. The grant will replace a hodge-podge of aging toys with sets of early literacy focused toys for use with our programs for Story time, Baby Play, Toddler play and Ready for Kindergarten story time.  A new story time is being offered on Tuesday mornings. It is “Read for Kindergarten” story time and teaches parents and care givers to help build their child build the skills they need to have on starting Kindergarten. This is being well received with an average of 14 kids in the first weeks of the program.  Representatives of City Finance and City IT joined Director Davenport for a conference call on the SirsiDynix’s (our library automation provider) new product called “Blue Cloud Commerce”. This product will allow the library to accept credit card payments for  fines and fees and be accessible to library customers to make payments from outside of the library and be fully interactive with library records. We are studying this product for use by the Library  A series of computer classes has started at the library. Kelly Olson and Dorlissa Beyer have developed the classes and are offering them to the public. This is a service we have often received questions about.  The Nebraska Library Association Conference will be held in Lincoln on October 15 and 16. Library Board members were invited to attend. Board members also were asked to fill out membership applications to NLA if interest. Memberships for staff and Board will be provided by the Friends of the Library, a Trust.  The Library will be hosting a Job Fair in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Labor on October 20.  A new project the Youth Services Department has undertaken is a Halloween costume exchange. They are accepting donations of used costumes from the public and will host an exchange party on Saturday October 17. This is a joint project with Keep Fremont Beautiful. Personnel  Anne Hoppe has joined the staff as a Library Aide (half-time). Mark Your Calendars (Due to time constraints at the meeting events are listed in the minutes)  October 6th – Humanities Nebraska speaker Jeff Barnes presenting on Buffalo Bill's Nebraska, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Buffalo Bill Cody's July 9, 1915 Wild West Show in Fremont!)  October 12th- - Bronwyn Zitka presents “My Life as a Sex Slave” sharing her experiences in an abusive marriage.  October 19 – Midland University professor Tom Adamson will present a reading of his poetry. (canceled)  October 26th – Humanities Nebraska speaker Thomas Berg (UNL professor) presents on Beverly Deepe Keever: An Unconventional Woman for an Unconventional War. This book is the 2015 One Book, One Nebraska selection.  November 4th – Young Adult Author Colleen Oakes  November 6th – the Friends Fall Event will feature Christine Fiore, producer, will discuss the process of taking a book and making it into a movie, based on her project making “The Persian Pickle Club” a book by Sandra Dallas into a feature film.  November 8th – Author Mark Langan discusses his book, “Busting Bad Guys”, which relates his experiences as a police officer and will sign books. At the conclusion of her report Director Davenport shared with the Library Board her decision to leave the library at the end of December 2015. Director Davenport indicated she greatly enjoyed her work at Keene Memorial Library and that she was very sad to leave the library position, but felt it in her best interest to retire and address health issues. Friends of the Library’s Report – No report Board Member Schmeichel moved to adjourn and Board Member Vasquez seconded, with no further business, meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. (Signed) by Janet Davenport, Library Director