HomeMy WebLinkAbout121800PORT TOWNSEND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Port Townsend Library
December 18, 2000
Present: President Bill Maxwell, Sarah Muirhead, Eileen Price, Kate Schumann, Larry Thomas
Staff: Linnea Patrick (Director), Carol Costello (minutes)
Guests: Jody Glaubman, Friends of the Port Townsend Library; Julia Owens
President Bill Maxwell called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. The minutes were approved as
read.
Director's Report: Linnea has talked with City Manager David Timmons regarding the changes
to staff hours and library open hours. David is trying to find the $7,000 - $8,000 that is
necessary to restore the library's open hours to 54. The city council has frozen wages for 2001.
Presently this affects three library staff members' step increases. Kiesy Strauchon has been hired
as a 20 hour per week library assistant. Beverly Moore has voluntarily cut back her hours to 20
per week and her position from senior library associate to library assistant. The change in library
hours will be publicized with book marks and an article in the Leader.
Friends: The Friends want to clearly define their role for the proposed match with the city for
additional funds for book purchases for the library. They will participate as individuals and a
separate entity not as the Friends of the Port Townsend Library.
Foundation: Bill read a letter from the Foundation addressed to the City Council. The
Foundation stated that they do not participate in fund raising for expenses that should be funded
by the city. They stated that individuals might participate but not as Foundation members.
During the April 2001 general meeting the Foundation proposes to change the by -laws to
increase the membership from 7 to 15. They are seeking replacements as well. Jean Camfield
has been mentioned. It was suggested that there should be an article written for the Leader
explaining foundations and their activities.
Staff: The library is hosting an afternoon of holiday movies and popcorn on Tuesday, December
19th at 3 PM. The library's winter holiday celebration, featuring the Library Children's Choir is
scheduled for Thursday, December 21s' at 7 PM.
No committee reports
Old Business: David Timmons has identified areas of the 2001 budget that might help save city
money to give to the library, fire, and other departments.
Linnea explained how the staff work schedules would change for the New Year.
New Business: The Port Townsend Library Board will meet with the Jefferson County Rural
Library District Board Wednesday, February 14th, 2001. The meeting will include a discussion
regarding further cooperation between the libraries and the pros and cons of annexation.
Bill raised the question of whether any one on the board was opposed to raising $10,000 for the
book campaign if the city promises to match the funds. No one was opposed. Bill stated that he
felt it was inappropriate to go ahead with the idea if the city does not formally agree to match the
funds.
Linnea explained that the details of the proposal need to be written down and presented to the
city council. The proposal must include how the library will spend the money that is raised.
Bill emphasized that the Board would be in charge of this effort, not the Friends, not the
Foundation, and not the City Council.
The Board would need:
+ Someone to keep records of those people who have been asked
• Someone to keep a list of responses and dollar amounts
+ A treasurer and a bank account
+ Someone to keep track of the recruiters
Fund - raising suggestions from the Board included:
• Auction or sale of surplus maritime books from the Washington State Library
• Donation table at Safeway
• Donations from the Port Townsend Paper Company, Frontier Bank, etc.
Jody Glaubman will make sure that a letter from the Friends of the Library similar to the one
from the Foundation will be sent to the City Council.
The title of the campaign will be "Once in a Lifetime Book Boost."
Bill expressed some concern about the future of library finances. He suggested annexation to the
Jefferson County Rural Library District or a tax levy for money to run the library. These seem to
be ways we could achieve more stable funding.
The next meeting of the Board will be Monday, January 22 "d, 2001 at 5 :15 PM. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:10 PM.
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