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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-05 Library Commission SummaryWENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM AUGUST 5, 1997 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL ,,, ITEM 2' ROLL CALL ITEM 3: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 4: APPROVAL OF MINUT~ ao June 3, 1997. ITEM 5: DH/ECTOR'S REPORT ITEM FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT ITEM 7: OLD BUSINESS a. Library Addition Discussion ITEM 8' NEW BUSINESS a. Economic Outlook Forum Report Review ITEM 9'. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/QUESTIONS ITEM 11: INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agendas of June 18, July 2 and July 16, 1997. ITEM 12: ADJO~ENT Library Commission *** MINUTES *** August 5, 1997- 7:30 p.m. Kenai Library Activity Room Chairman Bob Peters ® ® ® 0 Se ® CALL TO ORDER Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at approximately 7'35 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chairman Bob Peters, Janet Brown, Janice Rodes, Vincent O~eilly, Carol Brenckle Members Absent: Kathy Heus, Lorrene Forbes, Elissa Fahnholz Also Present: Linda McNair, Contract Secretary Barb Roper Quorum was established. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COMMISSIONER BROWN MOVED TO APPROVED THE AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRENCKLE. AGENDA WAS APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. APPROVAL OF MINUTES BROWN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JUNE 3, 1997. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BRENCKLE. MINUTES OF JUNE 3~ 1997 WERE APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. DIRECTOR' S REPORT Linda McNair reported that the Library Director, Emily DeForest was in Seattle at the Pacific Northwest Library Association conference and would return on August 15, 1997. McNair provided the end of the fiscal year report and the report for the month of June. McNair noted that total circulation for last year was 100,767 and this was up a little from last year. She also noted the total number of people through the door was just short of 88,000. McNair noted that the Library has approximately 70,000 items so 100,000 items going out was substantial. It was requested that copies of the reports be attached to the minutes. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT Library Commission August 5, 1997 Page 1 Commissioner Brown reported a reception was held on July 25 for Emily DeForest's anniversary. Nora Satathite and Dottie Sanders did a nice job in organizing the event. There were approximately 200 signatures in the guest book. The City sent a beautiful basket of flowers and presented DeForest with a certificate and a plaque. Mayor Williams made a very nice speech. Brenckle noted that she liked the stories attendees told about DeForest. Brown reported that Friends met on August 4 and they plan to have a raffle for cash prizes. A general discussion was held and the following information provided' Tickets: Cost is set at $100.00 per ticket and only 300 tickets will be sold. A ticket entitles the purchaser to two dinners and a chance to win various cash prizes, the top prize is $7,500.00. The purchase of a ticket can be shared. Any unsold tickets will be randomly placed on the prize board and not put in for the draw. Tickets should be available at the Friends August 18 meeting and assistance in selling them is required. Location: Brown reported that the Eagles Club had very kindly offered their facility to Friends for the event. It was also noted that the Eagles had provided a lot of good advice and will also assist with ticket sales. Date of event: The event will be held on two dates due to the limited seating capacity at the Eagles. The dates are October 31 for a dinner and the prize drawings and November i for a dinner, dancing and costume contest. Menu: The event will be catered by Akio on both nights and the menu includes prime rib, halibut, marinated vegetables, cole slaw, potatoes augratin, and a rice dish. Proceeds: It was noted that if all 300 tickets were sold it is estimated that, after expenses, $10,000.00 will be raised. The proceeds from the raffle will go into the building fund. Advertising: Brown reported that advertising for the event will not begin until after they see how the ticket sales go. ® OLD BUSINESS Library Addition Discussion: Brenckle suggested an article be included in the paper about Friends, their fund-raising activities and highlights on their efforts for the raffle. Various suggestions for positive publicity included articles in the Clarion, Dispatch, and attendance at the Kenai and Soldotna Chamber luncheons. Brenckle asked if it would be possible Library Commission August 5, 1997 Page 2 to collect money at the library. Brown noted that the City attorney would need to be notified as there may be a problem with soliciting funds at the library. McNair also pointed out that any type of money collection at the library would require a person to handle it and at this time workloads are quite heavy. O~Reilly suggested approaching Microsoft or similar corporations, agencies, or foundations to ask for assistance, however, he expressed concern in doing so when the library was turned down by its own community. Discussion was held on how to approach outside sources for assistance. O~eilly suggested a permanent P.R. committee be developed which would consist of Library Commission members. This committee will keep the library addition out in front of people. He further suggested a meeting with other library commissions or boards on the Peninsula to see what they were doing and perhaps develop a joint proposal to go out to Microsoft. O~Reilly stated the problem with community funding seemed to be with property tax and suggested that this group come out advocating a sales tax increase. McNair noted that several communities outside the State of Alaska initiated a dedicated sales tax percentage for library use. It was also noted that this may not be legal in Alaska but it can be checked into as the library is used by more than just residents. BRENCKLE MOVED TO DEVELOP A PR COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE THE KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY O~REILLY. MOTION PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Additional discussion was held on publicity for the library and it was suggested that a weekly article be run focusing on what local celebrities are reading. Rodes asked if Council would have concern with the type of articles run in the paper. It was noted that the goal of this Commission was to promote the library and monthly reports could be provided if necessary. Peters suggested that selection of a P.R. Committee be included on the next Library Commission agenda as not all members were present at this meeting. O~Reilly stated this town lacked a bookstore and suggested that Friends contact some major retailers to see if there would be any interest in opening a store in Kenai. O~Reilly asked when the Challenger Board meetings were scheduled. McNair will obtain that information and pass it on. Library Commission August 5, 1997 Page 3 Discussion was held on what the schools were intending to do about computer functions. It was suggested the technology person for the Borough be invited to a library meeting to give a presentation. McNair will do the invitation. Discussion was held on the library home page on the City's web site. was noted the page had recently been updated. Brown reported that Friends will attempt to advertise the raffle on the library home page. It 8. NEW BUSINESS Economic Outlook Forum Report Review: A group discussion was held on the forum report and members commented that they didn't know where some of the information came from. Peters stated that he thou§ht the forum served a positive purpose as it §ota lot of people to§ether in the community who aren't normally interested in §overnment. ® COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS / QUESTIONS Commissioner Brenckle - No comment Commissioner Rodes - No comment Commissioner Brown reported that the summer reading program is over and it was very successful. Corey Hall did a great job and was instrumental in getting a lot of boys into the program through her connection with baseball. Brown reported there were approximately 200 kids involved this year. Local support for the farewell party included the Oilers, who played baseball with the kids; the Kenai Chrysler Center, who supplied the hot dogs; McDonalds, who supplied the drinks; and Friends, who supplied the prizes. Brenckle expressed interest in obtaining comparative numbers from last year's summer reading program to include total number of participants and the boy/girl ratio. Commissioner O'Reilly reported that he will sit in on a Challenger Board meeting and get the other activities underway. Chairman Peters thanked everyone for attending the meeting. O~REILLY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BROWN. MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Roper Library Commission August 5, 1997 Page 4