HomeMy WebLinkAbout042502PORT TOWNSEND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Port Townsend Library
April 25, 2002
Present: Eileen Price, Bill Maxwell, Sarah Muirhead, Larry Thomas
Excused: Kate Schumann
Staff: Linnea Patrick (Director), Carol Costello (minutes)
Guests: Peter Hiatt (Foundation) Julia Owens
President Eileen Price called the meeting to order at 9:07 AM. The minutes were read from the
March 28`h meeting. Larry noticed the absence of the discussion of a recommendation by Mayor
Kees Kolff to have the city council proclaim the week of April 22nd, Friends of the Library
Week. The minutes were approved as amended.
Peter Hiatt, member of the Library Foundation, was introduced.
Communications: Linnea read the copy of the final letter she presented to a patron regarding
violation of library rules.
Youth services manager, Beth deJamette, received a proposal from a parent for children's Bible
reading story hour.
Linnea read the report from Advanced Mechanical Services regarding the air intake and filtering
problem. Linnea asked Barbara Kaiser to return to work to see if she is still bothered by the air.
Barbara will return to work on May 2nd
Bill attended the April 24`'' Town Meeting. Someone mentioned the need of more library space
and additional open hours.
Director's report: Linnea will investigate the cost of having the air purified, installing a heating
vent near the children's reference desk, and removing the moss from the roof.
Linnea will be on vacation from June 21" until July 12`h. The board meeting for June has been
rescheduled for June 20a'.
Linnea, along with staff members from North Olympic Library System and Jefferson County
Rural Library will attend a Gaylord Polaris demonstration on May 2nd
Linnea reported that some of the money from the Gates grant will be used to pay for a K -20
connection to the intemet. This will happen in August or September.
Friends: The Friends held a successful annual meeting and volunteer recognition on April 19`h
Carol Cahill demonstrated the new laptop computer and projector that were given to the library
by the Friends. She developed a Microsoft Power Point presentation explaining how the
digitization of the Le -er is being accomplished.
The next Friends book and rummage sale will be held June V.
The new meeting time for the Friends will be at 4:30 PM every second Wednesday in the
Coldwell Banker meeting room.
Linnea, city council member Michelle Sandoval and Friends members Jody Glaubman and
Barbara Dyer are working on "If Everyone in Port Townsend Read the Same Book." They will
meet on May 29`h at Skookum and are inviting anyone who is interested in helping out to attend.
New Friends board members are: Co- Presidents Karen Carr and Marilyn Rose, Treasurer
Geralynn Rackowski, and Secretary Barbara Dyer.
Foundation: Peter Hiatt told the group that the library board member representative is eligible to
vote with the Foundation Board. The Foundation is operating under a new system and Peter
explained it to the library board. The Foundation has set up a Capital Endowment fund.
Staff: Carol reported that the children's staff is attending the Washington Library
Association/Oregon Library Association conference in Portland, Oregon, this week.
Old Business: City manager, David Timmons is working on the board member appointment.
Sarah's term is up the end of May. There are currently two interested parties.
The proposal for the children's Bible reading program was discussed. Since no staff members
were involved this technically wouldn't be a library program. The board decided that would be a
community meeting and that our current policies do not permit non - library sponsored groups to
use the library facility for meetings.
New Business: Linnea presented a sample library patron survey that she picked up while she
was in Oregon. Larry added that the survey should include a statement about whether the patron
had asked a librarian for help, and if the information provided satisfied the request.
The board discussed what we really need to know from the public for the next long -range plan.
For sustainable funding:
• Should there be a lid lift levy
• Is Jefferson County Rural Library District really interested in annexation
• Space needs
• Feasibility study
• What can't we do because we don't have the space
• How do we get the problems addressed
• Should we try to involve the consortium for higher education in coordinating for future
space needs
• What are the community's meeting space needs
• Teei 'race needs
• Frienus coffee shop
• Search for a new director
• Who, what, where, when
• Automated systems upgrade
• Technology plan
How will we get from where we are to a plan? Should the board envision or should the
community be involved?
Bill: We could involve the community in general brainstorming or we could involve the
community by presenting them with our plan and asking for input.
Larry: We could approach the public after we have a plan for sustainable funding and plans for
financing the building.
Sarah: We need to revisit what the annexation study points out about needs we face.
Bill will be out of town now until May 20`h. Sarah will be gone May 3rd until May 18`x.
There will be a board study session on May 23`d to discuss the things we already know for the
long -range development plan. The next regular board meeting will be May 30`h.
. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 AM.