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PORT TOWNSEND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Port Townsend Library, Carnegie Room
August 25, 1997
Present: John Sullivan (President), Sarah Muirhead, Orabelle Connally, Jody Glaubman,
Bill Maxwell
Staff: Linnea Patrick (Director), Carol Costello (minutes)
Guests: Bill Davidson (city council), Joe Finnie (city council candidate)
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of July 28 were approved except for a change in the
personnel committee report. Orabelle asked that Draft A be changed to Draft 1.
Approval of Bills: The bills were approved. Linnea reported that the supply and
reference/ILL (interlibrary loan) lines were far above what was appropriated for this time
of year. Linnea concluded that this coincides with the fact that circulation is up at least
30% over last year's totals. Michael Hildt from City Hall has again suggested that the
Library consider charging for ILL requests. Linnea figured that an ILL request costs
between $6 and $7 per item. Linnea stated that these costs are part of the library's
educational support system and the library should absorb the costs. Orabelle raised
concern that charging for ILL's might violate state law which dictates that basic services
should be provided free of charge.
Public Comment: Bill Davidson mentioned that there will. be a new finance director at
City Hall beginning September 2. His name is Michael Legarsky. Linnea did a fantastic
job as an "angry library director" during the hiring process assessment center.
Bill Davidson said that as we are entering the 1998 budget cycle the library has many
advocates.
Director's Report: The Library Behavior Policy has been posted on the bulletin board in
the lobby. The city attorney says that the staff may call the police to escort offenders
away from the building.
Mayor Julie McCulloch has received two applications for the library board trustee position
which will be vacant after August 31. The replacement will be approved at the September
2, city council meeting.
Friends of the Library: The next meeting of the Friends will be September 9th at 5:30
pm. Bill Davidson and Mike Mortenson have volunteered to build a booth for library
sales. This is subject to a review of the plans.
Foundation Report: No report. Next meeting: September 3rd at 9 am.
Staff Report: Beth deJamette's father is doing well after surgery. Staff members Lynn
beRing and Bev Shelton have trained 3 new circulation volunteers. Dahti Blanchard has
made plans for the library to purchase a returned studio piano made in Czechoslovakia
from Langlois in Silverdale. It will be delivered August 28th. The old piano has been
sold.
Budget Committee: The next meeting will be September 4th at 1 pm.
Building Committee: Linnea is waiting for an estimate from Bob Little regarding the
structural changes to the building to enable rearrangement of space. City Council has
tentatively agreed to add those costs to the amount they appropriated for facilities
maintenance.
Personnel Committee: Next meeting, August 26th at 1 pm. The committee will work
on recommendations for page and substitute step increases, and a memo to Michael Hildt
regarding the new sick leave ordinance and part time library staff
Community Relations Committee: Bill Maxwell has looked at the 1994 study of the
relationship between the Jefferson County Rural Library District and the Port Townsend
Public Library. Bill will meet with Jack Westerman, County Assessor, in September, after
the next property tax report has been run to obtain assessment information necessary for
completion of a current study.
Old Business
CLAN Issues: The change from a dedicated line to a frame relay system will cost the '
library less per month when we switch over. The savings will be between $10 and $15 per
month. The new system will be faster and have abetter connection. In the future the
library will switch to a fractional T 1 line.
A system upgrade will cost $70- 80,000, of which Port Townsend Library must pay 33 %.
If CLAN does not receive a grant for this, Jefferson County Rural Library District has
offered to pay the total cost up front. The other CLAN member libraries will then be able
to pay them back over a period of 3 years.
Plans to hire a 20 hour a week technical helper for CLAN are being prepared. Port
Townsend Library will be responsible for paying 33% of 12 hours per week for this
position. Each CLAN library will be able to pay above and beyond this amount for
individualized technical help.
New Business
Sarah Muirhead asked to be excused from the next regular meeting of the board,
September 22, 1997.
Lesa Barnes from the Friends of the Library will be attending the WILL conference. 4W
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The board went into executive session at 6:40 pm.
The meeting reconvened at 6:50 pm when the following action was taken.
Orabelle moved that the director continue to accrue 5 weeks vacation leave plus 1 week
(40 hours) discretionary leave. The discretionary leave is to be listed in the cite personnel
policy schedule for FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) exempt positions, "_additional
Discretionary Leave." Unanimous approval.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 pm.