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HomeMy WebLinkAbout012599a l 17 PORT TOWNSEND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING Port Townsend Library January 25, 1999 Present: John Sullivan (President), Sarah Muirhead, Kate Schumann, Eileen Price Excused: Bill Maxwell Staff: Linnea Patrick (Director), Carol Costello (minutes) Guest: Richard Hefley, Admiralty Landscaping New board member Eileen Price was introduced. Guest Richard Hefley was introduced. The meeting was called to order by President John Sullivan at 5:15 PM. The minutes from the last meeting of November 23, 1998 were approved unanimously. Communications: Sarah mentioned her conversation with a man who wishes to have an advisory book selection committee formed and would like to be a member of that committee. The Friends of the Port Townsend Library have been working with Richard Hefley from Admiralty Landscaping. Richard presented his ideas for reconstructing the front area of the library landscape. He will be donating part of the labor services to the library. A pop- up irrigation system will be installed. This system has the capability for expansion in the future. Several families are interested in donating trees. Has main concern is getting the irrigation pipe from one side of the building to the other. Director's Report: Since the Friends of the Library will be concentrating on the landscaping project, some of the usual projects will not be funded this year. Linnea discussed the frustration regarding the re- upholstery of three pieces of library furniture. The furniture is deteriorating quickly, however, there is no money appropriated for either re- upholstery or replacement. Bob Polishuk, former children's librarian for King County Library and husband of former board member Orabelle Connally passed away last week unexpectedly. The new Read - Aloud program that begins next week will be dedicated to Bob. The possibility of an adult book group or read aloud program was discussed. A poet who wished to hold a program at the library to speak about understanding poetry approached Linnea. The board also discussed the possibility of a children's illustrator /author panel discussion for a future program. Illustrator Max Grover's paintings wild be on display in the children's library during the summer of 1999. -« i � �10 The board retreat for this year has been cancelled. In its place Linnea has invited Anne Haley, director of Yakima Valley Regional Library District and State Library Commissioner to speak to the board and staff on February 22 "d. Stan McNutt, interim city manager and Tim McMahan, city attorney have been invited to attend. Linnea told the board about her speech to the Higher Education Committee regarding remembering that Jefferson County has had adult education opportunities in place for quite awhile with the Port Townsend Library and Jefferson County Rural Library District. Neither jurisdiction was mentioned on the list made available at that meeting. Foundation: Seed money ($500) for a compact disc collection has been donated the Foundation. Staff: Volunteer coordinator Lynn Ring is working with the Friends to plan a recognition party for the volunteers on March 14t ". The 1998 Youth Services Report prepared by children's librarian Beth deJarnette was presented. Budget committee: The 1998 budget ran over by approximately $1000. Building committee: Sarah has set a meeting for February I la' at 7:30 PM for the newly formed Building and Space Needs Committee. Personnel committee: Sarah moved that it is the intention of the library board to provide the library staff with a cost of living increase equal to the increase given to the general bargaining unit retroactive to January 0, 1999. Unanimous approval. John will write a letter to finance director, Michael Legarsky informing him of this vote. The board approved a training staff retreat day on a Thursday in February. The library will be closed on that day. Community relations: Linnea received a copy of the Jefferson County Rural Library District's policy on annexation and will make copies available to the board members. Basically the procedure begins with a request from the current library board, city council and city manager to the JCRLD board asking them to study the proposal. If they approve, then an election would take place in the city. The city would maintain the facility and pay the costs above 42 cents per thousand of assessed property value. Old Business: Linnea handed out copies of the updated time line from the Library Development Plan. Recommendations to increase staff and hours of service. have not been implemented. Technology and building maintenance are the real winners. Since the library's rearrangement in September, reference question statistics have skyrocketed. Circulation statistics have leveled off from the large increases in 1997. The library has saved $4,500 by ceasing the subscription to Infotrac and by adding ProQuest. i New Business: John Sullivan will remain chair of the board for 1999. Committee chairs and members from the board will remain the same with the exception of the replacement of Chris Johns by Eileen Price. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM. 4